2 Types Of Porcelain Veneers: Which Is Right For You?

If you are thinking of visiting a cosmetic dentist for a smile makeover, then you may be thinking of having a full set of dental veneers placed on your teeth. While there are two main types of dental veneers -- porcelain and composite resin -- dentists typically recommend porcelain veneers for smile makeovers due to the fact that porcelain is a much stronger material than composite resin. However, unlike several decades ago, many cosmetic dentists now offer two types of porcelain veneers: classic feldspathic porcelain veneers and pressed porcelain veneers. 

Which type of porcelain veneers are right for you? Read on to learn how they differ, so you can make an educated decision when you visit your cosmetic dentist. 

Feldspathic Porcelain Veneers: The Classic Contender

For decades, the only porcelain veneers offered by cosmetic dentists were made out of feldspathic porcelain. This type of porcelain is much stronger than composite resin and is a great option if you would like a set of dental veneers that appear as natural as possible. 

Before a ceramicist can create this type of veneer for you, your dentist will remove a small amount of your existing tooth structure to make room for the veneer and take dental impressions to send off to a laboratory. At the laboratory, a ceramicist will "paint" your dental impressions with many thin layers of feldspathic porcelain until the final veneer is created. 

The way this type of porcelain is layered allows the veneer to be customized a bit more than pressed ceramic veneers can be. Porcelains of different tones can be layered to achieve a very natural look, if that is what you would like to achieve. 

Pressed Ceramic Veneers: The Newest Porcelain Veneer on the Market

About 15 years ago, cosmetic dentists began offering pressed ceramic veneers to their patients as an alternative option to feldspathic porcelain veneers. While traditional feldspathic porcelain is already very durable, pressed ceramic veneers are actually twice as strong as the classic porcelain veneer due to how they is created. This makes this type of veneer a great option if you want to ensure your veneers last as long as possible without breaking or cracking. 

Instead of painting layers of porcelain on a dental mold, a ceramicist instead injects the mold with a different type of porcelain made of leucite and then applies hydraulic pressure to the porcelain. This intense pressure is what makes this type of dental veneer super-strong. 

While feldspathic porcelain veneers are more easily customizable than pressed ceramic veneers, after the initial pressed ceramic veneer is created, ceramicists can layer additional porcelain over the final surface of the veneer to customize the color to an extent. 

Which type of porcelain veneer is right for you? Keep these key differences in the two types of porcelain veneers currently offered by cosmetic dentists in mind while you speak to a dentist, such as at Advanced Family Dental Care LLC, about the goals you have for the appearance and durability of your new smile. 


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