A beautiful smile can be a huge confidence booster, and dental veneers have become a popular way to achieve that perfect set of teeth. But with so many types of dental veneers available, how do you figure out which is the best type for your teeth?
Don’t worry —we’ll discuss the options and help you decide on the best veneers for your unique needs.
Types of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells placed on the front of your teeth to improve their appearance. There are a few main types of dental veneers to choose from, each made of different materials and applied in different ways.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers are made from high-quality ceramic (porcelain) and are permanently bonded to your teeth by a dentist. Porcelain veneers are known for their natural appearance and durability. Plus, they can resist stains very well.
The problem with this is that it usually requires the dentist to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth, and the process can take a few weeks and multiple visits.
Composite Veneers
Composites are made of a tooth-colored resin (similar to filling material) applied directly to the tooth or fabricated indirectly. Composite veneers typically cost less than porcelain and can often be done in one visit.
The downside is they generally don’t last as long (about 5 to 7 years on average) and can be more prone to staining or chipping. They may also not have the same translucent, lifelike quality as porcelain, which is why they’re not as popular.
No-Prep Veneers (like Lumineers)
No-prep veneers are a special category of porcelain veneers that are extremely thin and usually don’t require enamel removal. They’re placed over your teeth with minimal prep work, hence the name.
No-prep veneers can be a good option if you want to preserve your natural tooth structure; however, they may not be suitable if you have very darkly colored teeth or other conditions, since their ultra-thin nature could allow imperfections to show through.
Removable Snap-On Veneers
Snap-on Veneers are a temporary veneer option that doesn’t require any drilling or permanent changes to your teeth. As the name suggests, they snap on over your existing teeth (almost like a custom cosmetic mouthguard) and can be taken out anytime.
Snap-on veneers like BellaVeneers are made from a durable resin material and created from molds of your teeth.
They’re popular if you want a quick, pain-free smile makeover or if you’re not ready to commit to permanent veneers. While they won’t look quite as perfect as porcelain, and you typically shouldn’t wear them 24/7, they can be a fantastic, affordable alternative.
Porcelain vs. Composite Veneers
If you’re going to the dentist, the two types of dental veneers you’ll get recommended to you are usually porcelain and composite. Here’s a quick breakdown between the two.
| Category | Porcelain Veneers | Composite Veneers |
| Appearance | Most natural, enamel-like look with translucent quality. Premium aesthetic. | It looks good, but lacks the same light-reflecting properties. |
| Durability | Lasts 10-20 years and is highly stain-resistant. | Lasts 5-7 years, and is more prone to chipping and discoloration. |
| Procedure | Usually requires two visits and enamel removal. | Often completed in one visit with less enamel removed. |
| Cost | $900-$2,500 per tooth | $250-$1,500 per tooth |
Why Snap-On Veneers Are Gaining Popularity
If the idea of grinding down your teeth or paying thousands of dollars for traditional veneers makes you uneasy, mail-order snap-on veneers could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Snap-on veneers (also called clip-on veneers or removable veneers) are a temporary cosmetic device that you can pop on over your natural teeth to instantly improve your smile’s appearance.
Snap-on veneers require zero dental work. You won’t have to get any shots, shave down your enamel, or use bonding chemicals. You simply take an impression of your teeth at home with a kit and receive a custom-fitted set of thin, snap-on covers for your teeth. This makes them completely painless and reversible. You can wear them when you want and go back to your natural smile anytime.
Traditional veneers can take weeks; snap-on veneers are much faster. For example, with Dental Lab Direct’s BellaVeneers Snap-On Veneers, the entire process from ordering to having your custom veneers can be as quick as 2-3 weeks, all done from home.
Additionally, removable veneers are far more affordable than porcelain. Porcelain veneers might total many thousands of dollars for a full smile, whereas snap-on veneer sets (for an entire upper or lower row of teeth) often cost only a few hundred dollars.
Of course, snap-on veneers aren’t perfect. They may feel a little bulkier and don’t correct serious dental issues.
But if your goal is a fast, painless smile makeover for moderate aesthetic concerns (stains, gaps, minor crookedness), they can be the one of the best types of dental veneers to start with.
Choosing the Best Veneers for You
With an overview of the options, how do you decide what type of veneers are best in your case?
Take a look in the mirror and identify what bothers you about your smile. Is it the color of your teeth? Minor chips or gaps? Or more significant misalignment and shape issues? For heavy discoloration or enamel defects, porcelain veneers often give the most stunning transformation. For small gaps or chips, composite bonding might suffice. And if your teeth are mostly okay but you want perfection for special events, snap-ons could do the trick.
Next, be honest about what you’re willing and able to spend. Veneers are rarely covered by insurance since they’re cosmetic. So if you have a limited budget, you might lean towards composite veneers or removable veneers. You can always start with a temporary solution and later upgrade.
Are you okay with the idea of replacing or repairing veneers every so often? Porcelain lasts the longest with minimal upkeep. Composite will likely need touch-ups or replacement in half the time. Snap-on veneers can last several years but will eventually need a re-order (and they require you to clean them regularly, much like a retainer or denture, to keep them fresh).
Also, what does your timeline look like? Do you need a quick fix for an upcoming event (wedding, graduation, etc.) that’s a few weeks away? Snap-on veneers can be ready in time. Traditional veneers may not.
Ready to Transform Your Smile?
The best types of dental veneers for your teeth will depend on your goals.
At Dental Lab Direct, we’re proud to offer BellaVeneers Snap-On Veneers, a convenient at-home veneer solution for those looking to improve their smile without dentist visits. These custom-made removable veneers can give you a gorgeous smile in weeks, not months, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional veneers.
They’re one of the easiest ways to test out your new smile, so check us out today!
