It all comes down to how valuable you think your perfect smile is to you, but we are in a new age of aesthetic dental treatments, and with that, we have new means of achieving that “perfect” smile, and the unbelievably cool area of cosmetic dentistry makes it possible!

 For example, porcelain teeth fit right to the top of the wish list for many looking to achieve that important smile without losing their natural look and feel. Porcelain teeth can help greatly with your smile if you have several chips, stains, or uneven teeth, and they can help restore your confidence and function! 

With this blog post, we want to take some time to give you the lowdown on what porcelain teeth are, the four different types of porcelain teeth, the clinical benefits of receiving porcelain teeth, and to illustrate how porcelain teeth continue to grow in size.

What Are Porcelain Teeth?

Porcelain teeth are a dental restoration usually made of medical-grade porcelain that look and feel very similar to your living natural teeth; they are used by dentists to create crowns, veneers, a bridge, a denture, or as restorations.

Both porcelain restorations, crowns, veneers, a bridge (occasionally dentures), are possible as porcelain can be fabricated to size in your mouth to achieve the most natural shape and color possible. Porcelain restorations are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they are durable (though brittle) and resistant to staining, making porcelain number one in aesthetics and certainly function when adhered.

Many of those looking for “porcelain teeth” are actually looking for porcelain veneers or crowns as a way to improve the poor shape or imperfections in their smile. We should all reasonably agree that “porcelain” is a misspelled version of porcelain, and dentists are aware of it.

Importance of porcelain teeth:

Natural Look

Porcelain tooth colored restorations have the same natural-looking color, translucency, and texture in the same light reflection of natural teeth, making them undetectable! The natural-looking properties of porcelain can be an advantage, especially in increasingly aesthetic areas of the mouth like anterior dentition, to give you a very natural smile.

Durable and Long-Lasting

Porcelain restorations resist the forces we use daily to function, just like teeth, i.e., along with other restorativematerialsl porcelain restorations resist wear. With decent home-care and regular dental visits, they can last around 10 – 15 years+. They tend to have a lower incidence of breakage or chipping with use compared to other restorative materials, and this means that the investment as a whole in porcelain restorations is a better long-term investment for your dental health.

Stain-Resistant

Porcelain is less stainable than natural teeth and is less susceptible to staining from food products such as coffee, tea, wine, and smoke. Porcelain restorations allow themselves more room to enjoy whiter and brighter smiles and therefore satisfy our cravings and aesthetic smile with little use and care. Now we can enjoy our favorite foods and drinks with little impact on our smiles!

Custom Fit

 Each tooth is molded perfectly for your mouth. A custom fit will not only look better, but it should also allow your bite to be as it should, which will take away the potential for jaw trauma or having an uneven bite from other teeth in your mouth. Once again, you will feel a bit more natural with the restorations.

 Increased Self-Esteem

 Bright, symmetrical smiles can increase self-worth, both socially and professionally. If you have porcelain teeth, then you will be able to smile, talk and laugh without having to feel self-conscious. In other words, the self-esteem that you will gain from a premium option of dental restoration will not only help you to improve your relationships and your health, but it will also keep you feeling happier. If you feel you look good, then you will feel better.

 No Maintenance

 Porcelain teeth do not take any complicated cleaning products or processes. Just like your teeth, your porcelain teeth will need regular brushing and flossing, and regular check-ups, in order to help keep the porcelain bothering. They are easy to maintain, similar to your natural teeth because they give you both useful and convenient options.

Improved Oral Function

 Porcelain restorations improve your function for chewing and speaking; living daily life with broken or missing teeth can be uncomfortable at best and cumbersome at worst. If you have porcelain crowns or bridges then your mouth is functioning properly, making your comfort and quality of life better.

An Alternative To Orthodontics

 Porcelain veneers will allow you to fix small gaps, chips or crooked teeth without orthodontic braces. This is what is being called “instant orthodontics.” The end result is immediate. The demographic for this option is for people who want nice straight teeth without the long time commitment involved with braces, plus this is generally a very efficient procedure for straightening teeth with minimum invasion involved.

Preserve Oral Health

 By putting porcelain coverage over broken or missing teeth you are preserving that space in your mouth, and preventing tooth drift and jaw bone loss! This is going to help preserve your teeth structure and lower your chances of dental problems down the road; tooth replacement is like good long term oral health ownership; replace your tooth sooner rather than later the better chance you have to maintain good long term oral health.

Types of Porcelain Teeth Restorations

There are several types of porcelain-based restorations, depending on your dental needs:

1. Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are custom-made ultra-thin shells that are bonded to the front of your front teeth. Porcelain veneers are usually used to cosmetically improve some discoloration, some slight misalignment, chips or fractures of teeth, or uneven spacing. Porcelain is similar to natural tooth enamel because it reflects light, so porcelain veneers have a very natural looking effect. It is not uncommon for people to choose porcelain veneers when they want a permanent, stain resistant way to have a perfect smile and to avoid orthodontics.

To receive porcelain veneers, usually entails a few trips to your dental office. First your dentist will talk to you about your goals and evaluate your teeth. Second, some enamel will be removed off of your teeth to make space for the veneer. Then your dentist will make impressions and you may get temporary veneers while the dental lab is making the permanent veneers.

2. Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain crowns (or caps) are used to cover a tooth that is damaged or weakened. They are great for restoring the strength, shape, and appearance of, especially cracked or severely decayed teeth, or teeth that have had root canal therapy. Porcelain crowns are appreciated for their natural appearance – the look of a natural enamel is important and with porcelain it is possible to have a very close resemblance to natural enamel. This is why porcelain crowns are used for the front teeth.

The crown process usually requires two appointments. The first appointment will be when your doctor will prepare your tooth. This means the doctor will remove a portion of the outer tooth structure to make room for the crown. The second appointment will take place once the crown has been fabricated and returned from the lab. During the second appointment, the doctor will first try the crown on for fit before it will be secured in place with cement. If cared for properly and combined with a good oral hygiene upkeep and regular visits to the dentist, porcelain crowns can last over 10 years.

3. Porcelain Bridges

Porcelain bridges serve the purpose of replacing one or more teeth that are missing. They are most often used to replace one or more missing teeth with either one or more artificial teeth (the pontic) that get two crowns placed on the natural teeth or implants on each side of the pontic that hold the artificial tooth or teeth. The color of the porcelain will blend in with the natural teeth and restore the form and function of your smile. The advantages of the porcelain bridges include function and aesthetics, as well as taking up the space that would otherwise allow your natural teeth to drift into the space made by the tooth/teeth that are gone. 

When your dentist creates a porcelain bridge for you, you will need to be seen a number of times to prepare your natural teeth to accept the bridge. Your dentist will have to prepare the teeth on the either side of the gap for crowns, a process that includes, recontouring the teeth and taking an impression that will be used to custom make your bridge.

4. Porcelain Dentures

Porcelain dentures can either be fixed or removable and are designed to replace one or multiple missing teeth. Dentures with porcelain teeth can provide a more durable and natural smile compared to the other options for an acrylic or plastic denture. Porcelain teeth have a slight translucency to them which helps create a very enamel-looking smile that is more resistant to wear and staining. 

Fixed porcelain dentures can be secured on dental implants providing for a tighter fitting, and removable porcelain dentures are designed to be removed for cleaning purposes, although the denture base is usually made from acrylic or metal, so the teeth are only what is inserted. There are usually enhanced phonetics, chewing function and improvements in confidence and appearance of the face. Porcelain teeth are harder than enamel, so the bite needs to fit exactly right to not cause damage against the gums or opposing teeth. If cleaned and maintained properly, porcelain dentures can provide long-term comfort, and ultimately an effective long-lasting smile.

Why Are Porcelain Teeth So Popular?

1. Natural Appearance

Porcelain teeth are designed to resemble our natural teeth. Porcelain is a crystalline structure with distinct optical qualities that allow it to reflect light similar to natural enamel. The result is a natural luminosity similar to natural teeth. Porcelain can also be matched to the surrounding teeth in color, hue, and luminescence making it nearly impossible to distinguish the porcelain teeth from the natural teeth, especially if one puts an adequate amount of time into detail.

2. Stain Resistance

The best feature of porcelain is its stain resistance. Unlike our natural enamel, the porcelain will not absorb food item or drink pigments such as coffee, tea, or red wine. As a result, porcelain will keep our smile whiter for longer with extremely low incidents of staining.

3. Durability

Porcelain teeth are typically an extremely durable and long lasting restoration. With appropriate maintenance, porcelain can last 10+ years (15+ years). Porcelain is capable of withstanding the normal wear and tear of daily activity very similar to a natural tooth, however unlike composite restoration, porcelain will chip or fracture much less frequently; therefore porcelain is a very predictable and reliable permanent restoration.

4. Custom Fit

Yes, there is a certain level of luck involved, but each porcelain restoration is fabricated to fit your teeth. They look very natural, and your bite will be comfortable with a proper fit, your likelihood of future dental issues such as an uncomfortable jaw position, or excessive wear to the surface or edge of the tooth will all be minimized.

5. Low Maintenance

You won’t have to think about porcelain teeth any more than you think about your natural teeth and very little effort. You will still be asked to brush and floss every day after getting your porcelain tooth and see your dentist regularly. You also won’t have to search for special cleaning products or maintenance products as you do with some other materials.

Are Porcelain Teeth Right for You?

Porcelain restorations may be a great option if you are not satisfied with the size, shape or colour of your teeth. The most common types of candidates for porcelain restorations include the following:

1. Individuals with Discolored, Worn, or Chipped Teeth

Porcelain restorations can be an excellent option for individuals with stained, worn, or chipped teeth. Discoloration is common over time; stains aren’t usually hard to avoid. These stains are often exacerbated by several factors including diet and habits which could include use of tobacco products. If whitening treatments are unsuccessful because the discoloration is composed of deeper internal stains, porcelain veneers and crowns which are fabricated either on the front surface or total surface of stained teeth can help to improve and provide consistent improvement toward a dramatic change in the appearance of teeth immediately.

Porcelain can also be a useful restorative modality for worn teeth or chipped teeth, which were likely due to either a lifetime of habitual grinding of teeth (bruxism) or bacterial wear along with a very minimal amount of trauma. Porcelain restorations can restore teeth with a new and consistent functional, but also youthful, appearance!

2. Those with Gaps or Misaligned Teeth

Porcelain veneers can be utilized as a cosmetic option to braces if you have small gaps between your teeth, or if your teeth are a little crooked. In other words, veneers can be made to close the gap, straighten slightly crooked teeth, up to a point, and all to give your teeth more uniformity for a more balanced smile. This is sometimes referred to as “instant orthodontics” for people that will take any type of quick, straightforward, non-invasive treatment to improve the appearance of their front teeth over braces or other orthodontic therapy. A more balanced, uniform appearance really goes a long way in helping with self-confidence.

3. Patients Who Want a Long-Lasting Cosmetic Improvement

Porcelain teeth are a great option for people that want a longer-term aesthetic improvement. Porcelain restorations can last for many years if they are cleaned and cared for properly, and they hold up so much better than any temporary solution or inexpensive option like composites. Porcelain restorations are very durable and stable.

They are more stain resistant, hold their color better, and hold their shape better making porcelain restorations an efficient option for someone looking for a beautiful bright smile for many years to come. Porcelain can be in the form of veneers, crowns, or bridges, and has the potential to look like a permanent aesthetic restoration that looks just like it did 20 years later. Porcelain does not fade or grey out over time!

4. People Seeking to Restore Damaged or Decayed Teeth

Porcelain crowns or bridges provide beauty and function for critical fractures or decayed teeth. Once decayed or compromised tooth structure has been eliminated, that tooth can be crowned and cemented to restore the tooth to a chewable condition and also help prevent that tooth from deteriorating. A porcelain bridge can fill the space of a missing tooth and help prevent adjacent teeth from migrating into the space left by the missing tooth. A crown or bridge restoration may improve a smile and provide a layer of protection from maintaining that tooth’s improvement thus reducing dental issues in the future.

A consultation with a cosmetic dentist can help you determine which porcelain option suits your needs best.

Porcelin Teeth vs. Other Materials

Porcelain ranks above resin or composite materials aesthetically and in durability. Composite veneers are indeed cheaper than porcelain, but as the years go by, the composite restorations are going to stain and wear down after 5-7 years. Porcelain will be less likely to change color and will maintain its appearance for potentially longer than a composite restoration. If you are looking for the most natural-looking and longest-lasting option, porcelain teeth will always be the gold standard in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Caring for Your Porcelain Teeth

Taking care of your new smile is easy. Just follow the following steps to protect the look of your restorations.

• Brush twice daily with non-abrasive toothpaste
• Floss gently around the restorations
• Avoid biting anything hard (ice, pens, etc.)
• Be sure to see your dentist every 6 months for check-ups and cleaning

If you follow the above steps, your porcelain restorations will be intact and fabulous for years!

Final Thoughts: The Power of a Porcelain Smile

Porcelain teeth provide aesthetics, strength, and function. Porcelain teeth in the form of veneers, crowns and dentures can be personalized to alter your smile and can also be altered to change your self-confidence; there is no doubt that is one of the main reasons people are looking for “porcelain teeth” as a solution for their smile since the awareness and improvement in cosmetic dentistry options has improved.