Porcelain vs Composite Veneers: Which Is Right for You?
Veneers can change the shape, colour and alignment of your smile. The main choice is between porcelain and composite.
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin layer that covers the front surface of a tooth. It can close gaps, repair chips, even out shape and improve colour.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory from ceramic and bonded to the tooth.
- Look: very natural, and they reflect light like enamel
- Staining: highly resistant
- Process: some enamel preparation, impressions and more than one visit
- Reversibility: not reversible, because enamel is shaped
Explore porcelain veneers.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers use tooth-coloured resin sculpted directly onto the tooth. This is composite bonding used across the front of the teeth.
- Look: natural when shaped and polished well
- Staining: can pick up stain over time
- Process: usually one visit, with little or no preparation
- Repair: easily polished, adjusted or repaired
Explore composite bonding and veneers, or read our composite bonding guide.
How do you choose?
| Porcelain | Composite | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | Several | Often one |
| Tooth preparation | Yes | Little or none |
| Stain resistance | High | Moderate |
| Repairable | Replaced | Adjusted easily |
Choose based on how much you want to change, how long you want it to last, and how you feel about tooth preparation. Many patients start with whitening or composite and move to porcelain later.
Do whitening and veneers go together?
Whitening does not change veneers, so we recommend whitening first and matching veneers to your new shade. See teeth whitening.
To find out which suits you, book a smile consultation.
