Composite or porcelain veneers?

Composite is a resin material added directly to the tooth and sculpted by hand in the chair. It usually needs little or no preparation, is often finished in one visit, and is easy to repair if a piece chips. The downsides: it picks up stains from tea, coffee and smoking, loses its shine and needs regular polishing and maintenance. Read more about composite bonding.

Porcelain veneers and E.max are ceramic shells made in a dental lab. Their colour is very stable, they keep their gloss, resist wear and look closer to natural enamel. They usually need two or more visits, often light preparation that cannot be undone, and cost more. Dr. Khalid Saeed designs them with Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai before they are fitted at Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok.

When is composite a smart choice? For a small chip, a minor gap, younger patients whose teeth and gums are still settling, or as an interim solution. When is ceramic better? For changing the shape and colour of several teeth, deep staining that whitening cannot lift, or a full smile meant to last years. To compare with a full smile, read veneers vs Hollywood smile.

Note that cheap veneers are sometimes composite sold under the veneer label. Ask for the material to be named in your written plan, and look at real results in the before and after gallery before you decide.

• Composite: often one visit, little prep, usually 4–8 years
• Porcelain / E.max: colour-stable, often 10+ years
• Composite stains more with tea, coffee and smoking
• Make sure the material is written in your plan