A composite resin is a dental material that can be used for tooth colored dental fillings, sealants, and the fabrication of direct and indirect inlays, onlays, veneers, and crowns. Composite resin comes in different viscosoties which is what allows its use for a variety of restorative procedures. A composite veneer is a thin covering(similar to a fake fingernail) that is bonded to a tooth for improving the appearance and/or function of a tooth. The composite veneer may be indirectly made out of the mouth either by a dental laboratory or a dentist using Cad-Cam technology. It may also be created using the direct technique, where the dentist bonds, shapes, and polishes the composite directly on the tooth creating a "chair side" composite veneer. The amount of tooth enamel reduced for either a direct or indirect veneer can vary from "no prep", meaning no reduction of any enamel whatsoever, to "minimal or full prep" which can be anywhere from just roughening up the enamel surface to reducing up to 1mm of enamel. This will depend on the clinical condition of the tooth(amount of wear and/or discoloration) and the skill, knowledge, and experience of the dentist performing the procedure and the specifications of the dental laboratory or Cad-Cam technology . Composite is a resin material, so it will be more porous and thus more susceptible to discoloration and staining as well as having less strength than a restoration made from porcelain.
