If you have teeth that have been damaged or are worn down before their time, composite or porcelain veneers might be just what you need to feel good about your smile again. Dental veneers are used to protect teeth that have experienced trauma or simply to improve their appearance. Veneers are placed directly over the surface of the tooth and give you and your cosmetic dentist additional options beyond crowns.
Veneers are generally fabricated from one of two different types of materials: porcelain or composite. A veneer made of porcelain must be created in a lab by an experienced dental technician and then applied to the tooth by the patient’s dentist. On the other hand, cosmetic dentists can directly place a composite veneer in the patient’s mouth by building it up on the tooth’s surface. However, some believe composite veneers are less durable and more prone to stains than porcelain.