Composite veneers, which in essence are just a special type of veneers, happen to be a common practice in cosmetic dentistry. And if you’re unfamiliar with the procedure, we’ll start from the root: Dental veneers.
Veneers are very slim shells that go on the front of your teeth. Typically, to improve their appearance and hide any defects on your natural teeth. They’re among many other solutions In cosmetic dentistry to give you a flawless smile.
Dentists can make veneers from various materials, and one of them is composite veneers. The other option for veneers is porcelain, known as laminate veneers. Each with its differences, but this article will focus more on composite veneers.
What Are Composite Veneers?
Composite veneers are veneers made from resin. Which is a material that dentists mostly use for fillings.
Composite resin happens to be clay-like and that material can be easily color-matched to your teeth.
Read more: Veneers Vs Composite Bonding
How Do Composite Veneers Differ from Porcelain Veneers?
Most of the manufacturing process for porcelain veneers takes place in the lab. Typically, your dentist will have you bite onto a mold to capture an impression of your teeth. This mold is then sent to a laboratory that manufactures your veneers.
On the other hand, composite veneers are made right away in the dentist’s office or sometimes in a lab.
Types of Composite Veneers
1- Direct Composite Veneers
Direct composite veneers are veneers that your doctor places right away at the clinic. Because it is similar to clay, the resin is easy to customize. After applying the material, your dentist exposes it to UV Rays to cure and dry it.
2- Indirect Composite Veneers
Indirect composite veneers on the other hand are made outside of your mouth first. Instead of shaping the material directly on your teeth, your dentist designs and shapes the veneers separately either in the clinic or in a lab; and then attaches them to your teeth.
Sometimes, this process may not be done immediately and you’ll leave the dentist with a set of temporary veneers until the permanent ones are ready.
What Can Composite Veneers Fix?
Composite veneers can fix a variety of dental aesthetic issues. In fact, they can correct just as many defects as porcelain veneers. These include:
– Chipping and breaking
– Gaps
– Pigmentation
– Minor misalignment
Yet, veneers remain an aesthetic solution. This means that for extreme cases where a tooth is damaged beyond repair, we tend to replace it using an implant. Discover closely the difference between an implant and veneers: Veneers vs. implants
Porcelain Veneers vs Composite Veneers
Although both options meet their expectations, and both options also provide a natural flawless smile; there are still a few differences between them.
In terms of costs of veneers, direct veneers are the cheapest, followed by indirect composite veneers and then porcelain veneers.
As for durability, porcelain veneers take the crown with a longevity period of 10 to 15 years. Both types of composite veneers, on the other hand, are durable for 5 to 7 years.
Read more: How Long Will My Veneers Last?
In terms of immediate application, direct composite veneers are your only option for a quick fix. At times, you can also get the Indirect veneers, but it’s not always the case. As for porcelain, it usually takes a few days. Both options require shaving the enamel of the teeth, although composite veneers require fewer teeth shaving, which is a good thing if you are looking for the least damaging option.
In regards to strength, composite veneers can hold up alright, but they’re still more prone to chipping. Indirect composite veneers have more strength than direct ones. They can resist abrasions and are better at withstanding pressure. But hands down, porcelain is the superior option in this regard.
Overall, a study that lasted two years showed that composite veneers are a practical option and one of the most promising in the field of smile restoration.
Process of Application
The procedure begins with a cleaning session followed by an evaluation. Sometimes your dentist will require an x-ray image if they suspect there are underlying issues.
If your dental health is in good shape, you can proceed to the next step: filing. A layer of your enamel has to be removed to make space for the veneers. This stage is painless as it doesn’t go too deep into the tooth’s enamel, and it is usually performed after injecting local anesthetics.
Once the filing is over, if you’re opting for direct veneers, your dentist will place a layer of the material on your teeth and shape it out to make it look natural. Then after applying the resin, they’ll expose it to UV light so it hardens right away.
For indirect veneers, and after filing down your teeth, your dentist will have you bite into a mold to take an impression of your mouth
Following this, they’ll design and make your veneers outside of your mouth. Once it’s ready, they’ll apply an adhesive to your teeth to secure the veneers. After placement, comes the stage of polishing the veneers ensuring the edges are round and natural.
Composite Veneers Cost
The cost of composite veneers varies from one country to another. For instance, in the USA, you get charged per tooth at a rate that ranges between $950 to $1500. And the cost doesn’t include consultation & dentist fees or the use of clinical facilities such as x-ray scans.
Likewise, in the UK, the charging system works per tooth, and every veneer costs between $200 to $300. These costs don’t factor in consultation and dentist fees or the use of clinic facilities.
In Turkey, the cost is far more appealing, hence why it’s the world’s biggest attraction for cosmetic dentistry. For a full set of composite veneers, you can receive treatment for $2,500. This usually includes consultation and dentist fees in addition to other services like accommodation, transportation, and professional interpretation.
Read more: Veneers in Turkey: Why Are They Cheaper?
The Takeaway
Composite veneers offer numerous benefits, the biggest of which is affordability. On the other hand, they do compromise on aspects such as durability. If this is the option you think most suits you, then go ahead and get it.
However, provided the costs of treatment in the USA and UK for composite veneers, you can go for the better treatment that is porcelain veneers in Turkey for much less. Better yet, it can be coupled with a quick getaway in beautiful Istanbul.
Contact Us
If you want to learn more about dental veneers and get a free online diagnosis, contact us today. Our medical specialists will get back to you right away.