4 Reasons to Replace Your Composite Veneers With Porcelain Veneers

The two most common materials for veneers are composite and porcelain. Composite veneers are attractive and durable when done by a skilled cosmetic dentist, but they can't compare to porcelain veneers.

If your composite veneers are beginning to deteriorate, then you'll be pleased to know that you can replace them with porcelain veneers. This is a wise transition because porcelain veneers are superior to composite veneers in several ways.

1. Porcelain veneers are more stain-resistant

Composite resin is similar to enamel in that it is porous and therefore picks up staining molecules from foods. The staining molecules gradually penetrate the composite material, causing it to change color. Porcelain is not porous and thus does not pick up stains the same way composite resin does.

2. Porcelain is stronger than composite

Enamel is harder than bone; it's actually the hardest substance in the human body. Porcelain is even harder than enamel. Composite bonding is weaker than both enamel and porcelain. This means that you can eat what you want with porcelain veneers and not have to worry about breaking them. The same is not true for composite veneers, which can chip and crack under pressure. The strength of porcelain veneers, along with their stain resistance, means that they last much longer than composite veneers do.

3. Porcelain looks more like enamel

An important feature composite bonding lacks is translucency. In certain lighting then, composite veneers are easy to notice because they reflect light in a different way to natural teeth. Porcelain reflects light in much the same way as enamel. If you have noticed that your composite veneers are too obvious in certain lighting then, replace them with porcelain veneers. Because porcelain veneers reflect light in the same way as natural teeth do, they look more like natural teeth in all shades of light.

4. Composite veneers are easy to remove

The transition from composite veneers to porcelain veneers is a simple one. Your cosmetic dentist will first need to remove the composite veneers from your teeth, which is a simple task. Then after creating a mold of your teeth in the same appointment, you simply need to wait about two weeks for your porcelain veneers to be ready.

Composite veneers are a good option at first if you lack the finances to invest in porcelain veneers. And later, you can progress to porcelain veneers in a simple transition that takes no more than two weeks. For more insight, contact local cosmetic dentists.