Veneer Types and ChoosingThe Best Option for You
The success of dental veneers is typically based on the preparation design and making the best material and choice of veneer type.
Knowing how to select the best veneers can seem confusing, but with assistance from your cosmetic dentist, you’ll make the right decision. One challenge many patients face is knowing which veneers to ask the dentist for. Or to understand their dentist’s “veneer talk”. This article can help solve that task for you.
Various Types of Veneers offer Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantages and disadvantages vary based on multiple factors. These may include your immediate and long-term dental needs, shape, material, and budget. A talk with your dentist can sort through all of this.
Dental veneers have long been a top requested cosmetic dental procedure for a personalized smile design. They are a popular method to enhance your smile and significantly boost your appearance for good reasons. Whatever has prompted you to consider this service, the end result is improving your smile a few notches (or more).
Whatever prompted you to consider this service, the result is improving your smile a few notches (or more).
Okay! Let’s look at your options.
Comparing Different Types of Dental Veneers
All of the following options are made to match your teeth (or whiten them) and improve your overall smile. Because so many people who request a smile makeover have heard of one veneer type or the other, the following table can help to understand their differences.
| Type | Quality | Results | Use | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain Veneers | Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials. They are often considered the best quality in terms of glossy aesthetics and functional durability of 20-30 years. | Excellent aesthetic results | Designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance | Predictable longevity of the treatment. |
| Composite Veneers | Composite veneers are engineered resin affixed to the outer-surface. They are a (cost) conservative alternative to porcelain. | They are made from translucent resin, and the result can be a carefully sculpted and hardened veneer (possibly completed in a single appointment). | If you have worn chipped or damaged teeth, then composite resin can be sculpted directly onto the teeth to produce beautiful, lifelike results. | A good conservative option, but with less durability. |
| Resin Veneers | This type has been around for about 30 to 40 years. They’re more porous, which also may make them more vulnerable to staining. | They can offer great aesthetics but lose overall strength over time. | Resin veneers last half as long as porcelain to match their value. They may work sufficiently for the 5 to 7 years at a lower cost. They can be a cost-effective option to add small changes to teeth. | |
| Removable or Temporary Veneers | Also known as “Snap-on veneers”, they are removable plastic trays that cover tooth imperfections. Also known as reusable, fake, clip-on, or pop-on veneers, snap-on veneers are relatively cheap and available without a dentist. | The result is a less invasive, cost-effective solution that provides many of the same benefits while being easily removed. However, they may discolor, be easily stained, and easily chip or crack. | When a non-permanent veneer is temporarily needed. They may be used to get an idea of how you’ll look with your permanent smile and to have any necessary adjustments made before your treatment is finalized. | They have a short lifespan. Generally, that makes them a poor alternative to porcelain dental veneers. |
| Palatal Veneers | Also known as “Palatal Onlays”, they are special onlays that is made out of gold, composite materials, or porcelain. | These custom-built veneer (appliances) are most often used to restore anterior teeth when damage by dental erosion or other similar problems have occurred. They are used to improve a person’s bite and protect their gums. |
There are also blends of the above types. For example, some different types of composite veneers are Renamel® by Cosmodent, and Filtek™ by 3M. We always recommend that you seek a dentist who understands the various types of veneers and has updated skills to produce a lifelike restoration.
You may have heard of Lumineers, which are a specific type of veneer that is sometimes recommended to help reshape your teeth. Let’s circle back a moment to composite veneers, as people ask the following question.
What are the two types of composite veneers?
The two types of composite veneers:
- Direct composite veneers.
- Indirect composite veneers.
Direct composite veneers are made up of resin that’s applied directly to the tooth. It’s quick, easy, and a simple dental office procedure. It can often be done in a single appointment. However, these are especially delicate and require extra special care on the patient’s side.side.
Indirect composite veneers are created much the same as porcelain veneers; generally, the resin veneer is formed in a third-party lab and then returned to the dentist’s office. The patient experiences minimal tooth preparation while the veneer is applied in a separate appointment. Indirect composite veneers provide better durability than direct composite veneers, but porcelain is the superior option by far.
What are permanent veneers?
Permanent veneers are the types of veneers that protect and enhance your teeth over a long period of time. If you are considering the cost of veneers, these are the most expensive – but also the most natural and long-lasting.
Dental Veneers Can Fit Many Tooth Shapes
Before beginning the process of installing your dental veneers, your dentist will assess the finer details of your smile design. Different types, styles, and shapes are commonly used in artistic cosmetic dentistry.
The five main categories of veneer shapes:
We admit that we added a fifth to the traditional four types, but often, it ends up giving you that ideal shape and smile you’ll love.
- Square-shaped veneers: When someone’s appearance lends toward a more angular and boxy appearance. Some consider them a more masculine or assertive aesthetic look. They are also known as “Hollywood-style veneers”.
- Round-shaped veneers: This veneer shape has softly curved edges when a more gentle and natural look is preferred. Some consider them a more feminine smile design.
- Oval-shaped veneers: For many people, this is a strong preference as it combines the qualities of both square and round shapes. They have slightly rounded corners that typically result in a balanced, harmonious look.
- Triangle-shaped veneers: There are so many unique face and tooth shapes; sometimes, a veneer with a pointed or tapered edge is favored. This shape may provide an illusion of a wider smile or even emphasize specific teeth.
- Natural contour shape: A veneer style and shape that is enhanced and highly customized to look the most like you always have. Your dentist will create symmetry that mimics the shape and contour of natural teeth.
Making a veneer decision based on how vital the tooth is
Study results published by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Feb 10, 2023, conclude that ceramic veneers showed a satisfactory clinical performance both on vital teeth and non-vital teeth. It also reports a high porcelain veneer survival rate.
“In the present (NIH) study, the porcelain veneers exhibited a higher survival rate of 97.9%–100% after 8 years of performance, which is supported by others reporting survival rate of 91% to 100%. A survival rate varying from 80.1 to 100% was found after a follow-up of less than 5 years and of 47 to 100% after 5 to 7 years of clinical service. In addition, studies with a follow-up of 10 to 12 years presented a survival rate of 53 to 94.4%” – Porcelain Veneers in Vital vs. Non-Vital Teeth: A Retrospective Clinical Evaluation
Does my daily oral hygiene routine change with dental veneers?
Overall, your daily oral hygiene routine should remain the same. Excellent personal hygiene goes a long way to protect you. If you’ve maintained a healthy daily dental hygiene routine, continue this same cleansing after having veneers placed. Continue brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, and at a minimum, floss at least once daily.
Are dental veneers good for seniors?
Fortunately, dental veneers are an ideal option in restorative dentistry for seniors dentistry. They are great at covering tooth stains and making your smile bright and white – at any age. Over time, teeth may darken, and many seniors embrace tooth whitening services or veneers.
When your permanent veneers are ready to place, our skilled cosmetic dentist will adhere them to your teeth. If the size or shape of the tooth was altered in any way, rest assured that they will feel completely natural within a bit of of bit time. This provides seniors and adults of all ages with gorgeous teeth again.
If you’re interested in learning if veneers are a great option for your smile, then contact our office, and we’ll be happy to help you choose the perfect type, shade, shape, and style of veneer for you. If you are seeking to find a good dental provider , we’d love to meet you.
When it comes to veneer choices, Montgomery Dental Care can help you make the best selection for your needs. Once your type of veneer is determined, then dentist becomes your smile artist! View our Veneer Gallery and learn first hand how stunning your smile can be.
