What Are Dental Veneers Made Of?

Dental veneers are one way that you can fix your smile if you aren't happy with it. But before you get veneers for your teeth, you may want to know what kinds of materials veneers can be made of. 

Porcelain

Porcelain veneers are the traditional material for veneers. But this isn't the same kind of porcelain that things like sinks are made of. Porcelain dental veneers are made of a material that is specially made for dental purposes. The material is somewhat similar to your teeth, so it shouldn't irritate you or your mouth. 

If you choose porcelain veneers, your dentist will take a mold of your mouth. The mold will then be used to build the veneers up. Some dentists will do that on site, while others will send the work out to a lab. The material will be dyed so that it will match any teeth that you aren't getting covered with the veneers. When you go back to the dentist to get your veneers, they will have to do some work to make sure that the veneers will stay on your teeth. 

Part of that work includes etching your teeth. That means that they are going to use a tool that will create lines in your tooth. That roughs it up so that the adhesive for the veneer will stick better. 

Porcelain veneers tend to be more expensive at the outset, but they also tend to last longer. They also show less wear and tear over the years. 

Composite

Composite veneers are made up of a dental resin. The resin is similar to that which is used for dentures and fillings. It can also be dyed so that it matches the color of your teeth. 

Instead of creating a mold and using it to create the veneer, the dentist is able to use the resin and build up the veneer directly on your tooth. Your dentist won't have to etch your tooth as much as with porcelain veneers in order to adhere the composite resin to your teeth. Composite veneers are generally less expensive than the porcelain veneers are; however, they don't generally last as long. The entire process is shorter than if you use porcelain veneers. 

If you have damaged, chipped, or stained teeth, veneers can be a good way to cover that damage up and give you the teeth that you have always wanted to have. Contact a company like Kimberling City Dental Center for more information.

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