Improving Your Dental Care

How A Cosmetic Dentist Can Restore Badly Stained Teeth With Veneers

Cosmetic dentists can treat stained teeth in two main ways: teeth whitening or veneers. But whitening isn't always effective when teeth are badly stained. Sometimes, the stains are intrinsic, which makes it difficult for the whitening agent to remove them. Fortunately, veneers are an effective and long-lasting alternative to whitening for badly stained teeth.

There are two main types of veneer, composite veneers, and porcelain veneers. If you aren't sure what might be best for your case, it's helpful to learn the differences between the two types.

Composite Veneers

Perhaps the most important difference between composite veneers and porcelain veneers is that composite veneers are notably cheaper. And because composite veneers can be prepared and added to your teeth in one visit, you can have your stained teeth restored in just one dental visit.

The process to create a composite veneer is also very different from that of porcelain veneers. To create a composite veneer, a cosmetic dentist creates a resin paste, which contains ceramic and plastic. They match the shade of this resin to your teeth, and then they add the resin to the surfaces of your stained teeth. Once they have shaped the resin, they then harden it with a special light.

Composite veneers are a good option if:

  • You have a limited budget.
  • You need your veneers quickly.
  • You suffer from dental anxiety (minimal treatment).

If you opt for composite veneers, remember that you'll need to replace them within about 5 to 7 years.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are more beautiful, resemble natural teeth more, and they last twice as long as composite veneers. This is because the process to create and attach porcelain veneers to teeth is much more complicated than that of composite veneers.

One major difference is that the cosmetic dentist will need to remove more enamel from your stained teeth before they place porcelain veneers. This is necessary; otherwise, the porcelain veneers might appear too bulky once placed on your teeth. And because porcelain veneers are created in a laboratory, based on a mold of your teeth, they take about 2 weeks to create.

Porcelain veneers are a good option for you if:

  • You want longevity.
  • You have a large budget.
  • You want your veneers to look as natural as possible.

You don't have to live with badly stained teeth if whitening isn't working for you. Talk to a cosmetic dentist, like Pinon Hills Dental, about veneers and they'll help you decide which type of veneer is most suitable for you.


Share