Do veneers hurt? What you feel at every step
What you feel at each visit, how much tooth is reshaped and what's normal in the first days after getting veneers.
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Porcelain or composite veneers: which one is really right for you
Both fix color, shape and size. But they don't last the same, don't age the same and don't cost the same over time. Here's the comparison we'd walk you through in a consultation — straight to the point.
60-second quiz
Does your smile qualify for a makeover?
Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you within minutes: whether you're a candidate, which treatment fits you and what it would cost. No commitment and no impact on your credit.
- Under a minute
- No commitment
- Doesn't affect your credit score
What would you like to improve about your smile?
Choose all that apply.
The difference in one sentence
Composite is sculpted directly on the tooth: cheaper up front and quick, but it stains and wears over the years. Porcelain is custom-made from a digital design: it costs more up front, but keeps its color and shine much longer.
Real patient · porcelain veneers
BeforeAfterReal Delta Smile Center patients, shown with their permission. Results vary from case to case.
Point-by-point comparison
Lifespan
With good care, porcelain usually lasts 15 to 20 years. Composite typically needs touch-ups or replacement sooner because it's a softer material.
Color and stains
Porcelain doesn't absorb color from coffee, wine or smoking. Composite slowly picks up stains and loses shine, although it can be polished.
Look
Porcelain reflects light very much like natural enamel. Well-done composite looks good, but the difference shows more over time.
Visits
Composite can be done in a single appointment. Porcelain, at our clinic, is usually completed in 2 to 3 visits: evaluation and design, preparation and placement. We explain it in the step-by-step process.
Repairs
A chipped composite can be repaired on the spot. A damaged porcelain veneer is usually replaced. That's why, if you grind at night, a night guard is part of the plan.
What about price?
Composite costs less today. But add up 10 to 15 years of touch-ups and replacements and porcelain usually comes out ahead. For real Miami numbers, read how much veneers cost; if budget is the question, see how financing works.
When we recommend each one
- Porcelain: when you want to change several teeth or your whole smile, want a long-lasting result, or have stains whitening can't remove.
- Composite: for a small detail (a chipped edge, a small gap) or as a temporary solution while you decide.
- Neither: if color is the only thing that bothers you, whitening may be enough. We explain it in veneers or whitening.
The final decision depends on your bite, your gum health and what you want to achieve. That can only be seen in an evaluation.
FAQ
What patients ask us most
Keep learning
Porcelain or composite? We'll tell you at your evaluation.
8950 SW 74th Court, Unit 1201, Miami, FL 33156 · the glass tower next to Dadeland Mall
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