23 Jun

Central London dentists help patients decide between composite resin veneers and porcelain veneers

If you have one or two unsightly teeth that you want to conceal to improve the look of your smile, your dentist will explain the different types of veneer that are available. A veneer is basically a thin strip of material that is attached to the front of the tooth in order to cover up staining, a crack, a chip or just to improve on the appearance of dull colouration.
Essentially there are two main types of veneer and your Central London dentist will explain the differences. The main difference lies in the material that they are made from: composite resin or porcelain. Both types of veneer have their pros and cons and ultimately it will be up to you to weigh up your needs and decide which is best for what you have in mind.
Porcelain veneers are relatively new, compared to composite resin veneers. This means that they tend to be more expensive. In the past composite resin veneers had the advantage of being more convenient because they could be fitted in just one visit to the dentist whereas porcelain veneers had to be constructed off-site in a special lab which meant a couple of visits to the surgery. Increasingly though, dentists are using CEREC or CAD/CAM tools in their surgeries which allows porcelain veneers to be fabricated in just over five minutes by an online machine.
Porcelain veneers have the advantage that they will not stain. If there is damage sustained to a porcelain veneer the whole thing will have to be replaced; with composite resin veneers they can simply be repaired. Ask your dentist for more details.