Composite Veneers

Composite is a plastic tooth colored material that is widely used for fillings and other types of dental restorations. A huge benefit of composite is its versatility and in the right hands, it can be an excellent material to cosmetically enhance teeth. It is also less expensive and less invasive than porcelain. Some downsides of composite are that it can dull over time and it is not as strong as porcelain. When deciding which type of restoration would be best suited for your needs, it is important to find a dentist that is skilled at providing both types of treatments. From the dentist’s perspective, composite veneers are more difficult and in most cases more time consuming to deliver than porcelain, so if they are not comfortable with handling composite, this option will likely not be offered to you.

The most ideal patient for composite veneers is someone without any cavities or fillings, and wants to change the shape of their teeth. They may have teeth that are small with spacing and want to close them. This is where the benefits of composite are really important. Composite can be shaped and bonded directly onto the enamel of the tooth, so zero removal of tooth structure is needed. This makes it an extremely low risk procedure. It also makes it reversible. Composite comes in an incredible variety of shades and tints, and through precise layering, a great color match can be achieved. This also works well for someone that has chipped their front teeth.

Once we decide to use porcelain to restore a tooth, there are more risks involved. The first requirement is to remove some enamel in order for the laboratory that makes the restoration to have enough room. If you are doing one or two teeth, getting a color match when using an outside lab can be difficult as well if the dentist and lab are not skilled in these techniques. Another downside of porcelain is it can be more expensive than composite because more laboratory fees are involved. Some benefits of porcelain are that it maintains its color and polish for longer and it is a stronger material than composite. An ideal patient for porcelain restorations is someone looking to change the color, position and shape of their teeth and already has existing veneers, fillings or crowns on their teeth.

At Domino Dental, we provide both composite and porcelain veneers, and we work with each patient to provide the most low-risk customized solution to fit their needs. We offer virtual consultations so you can get an idea of what would work best for you before making an in-person appointment. Please check out our booking page as well as our before and after page which showcases our composite and porcelain work.