Composite or ceramic: which is better for teeth?

We often face a choice between a composite filling and a ceramic restoration (veneer, crown, inlays). This decision solely depends on the size of the defect.

When we talk about composite fillings on the front or side teeth, we can install them only when the defect of hard tissues is slightly more than 30 percent of the tooth volume.

But if the defects of the affected tissues are large (secondary caries, a filling, or a depulpated tooth that has no nerve), we choose a ceramic structure since it allows us to make the tooth strong and this is the most important thing.

When the filling in the tooth takes up more than 40 percent, it becomes much weaker, and our main task is to strengthen it. In such cases, I choose ceramic structures.

But there are also moments when concern is in an aesthetic sense.

If we are talking about aesthetics, then the composite can also be an option, but only a temporary one, because the material is more whimsical and unstable.

It needs to be polished every 8 months and more carefully cared for.

When talking about ceramics, there is a significant advantage here.

You have installed the structure once and only do professional teeth brushing every year with a periodontist or a hygienist.

And that’s all, nothing happens with ceramics, and the result remains stable for many years.

Summing up all of the above

When we treat 1, 2, or 3 teeth with minor defects, we can choose to make a composite restoration.

If we consider large-scale rehabilitation work when we treat 8, 10, or 20 teeth, I recommend making ceramic structures. They are more reliable, their durability is much stronger than the composite, and your smile will please you every day for many years.