Porcelain veneers are permanently bonded to your teeth and can only be removed by a dentist in order to be repaired or replaced. Composite veneers are made of resin which mimics the quality and appearance of enamel and is sculpted directly onto the tooth. This means they can be easily repaired or replaced without any major dental work.

Your veneers will eventually need to be replaced. Porcelain veneers typically last 10-15 years, while composite resin veneers can last 5-7 years.

The process of preparing your teeth to receive porcelain veneers requires a small amount of enamel to be removed, but it’s a painless procedure thanks to local anesthesia. You may experience some tenderness in the gums following the application of your new veneers while you adjust to them, but this sensation is generally mild and passes quickly.

Porcelain veneers typically take 2-3 visits over the course of a few weeks. This includes your initial consultation, tooth preparation, receiving your temporary veneers, and your final veneers coming back from the lab for application. Composite veneers take 1-2 visits, from the initial consult to the application appointment. They can be applied directly to the surfaces of your teeth by the dentist without tooth preparation.