Porcelain Veneers

What are veneers?

Dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that are attached to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. They’re often made from porcelain or resin-composite materials and are permanently bonded to your teeth. Veneers can be used to treat a number of different cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, discolored, or smaller-than-average teeth. Some people may only get one veneer in the case of a broken or chipped tooth, but many get between six to eight veneers in order to create an even, symmetrical smile. The top front eight teeth are the most commonly applied veneers.

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What are the different types of veneers?
 

Dental veneers are most commonly made out of porcelain or composite resin and require intensive prep work. But there are also “no-prep” veneers, which are applied through a different process. Applying traditional dental veneers typically involves grinding down the tooth structure, sometimes removing some of the tooth — even past the enamel. This allows for proper placement, but it’s also an irreversible procedure that can be painful to go through and often requires a local anesthetic.

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Tooth reduction depends on your dental concerns and the number of teeth involved. When several teeth are involved, a dentist may order a wax model to show you how the veneers would look. On the other hand, no-prep veneers may require some tooth preparation or alteration, but these alterations are minimal.

 

Porcelain veneers
By grinding down the teeth and then making an impression of your teeth for the creation of a mold. Then send the mold out to a lab for the porcelain veneer to be made. Once the veneer is ready, We can place it on your prepared tooth and cement it in place. Temporary veneers may be used until the permanent veneers come back from the lab. Meanwhile, other dentists may use CAD/CAM technology so a computer can design the veneer. Your dentist can make the actual veneer right there in the office.

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Composite resin veneers
If you choose composite resin veneers, your dentist will etch the surface of your tooth before applying a thin layer of the composite material to your prepared tooth. Additional layers of composite may be necessary to achieve your intended look. Your dentist will finish by curing, or hardening, the composite veneer with a special light. No-prep veneers
 

Which type of veneer is best?
How do you know which type of veneer is best for you? You’ll want to consider several factors:

Porcelain veneers:

• more expensive

• may require more than one visit to the dentist

• stronger and longer-lasting than composite veneers

• more expensive

• less likely to stain 

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Resin-based veneers:

• less tooth needs to be removed to prepare the tooth

• veneers often can be applied in just one visit to the dentist

• less expensive than porcelain veneers

• lasts 5-7 years

• easier to fix

• may get damaged more easily

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What are the benefits of dental veneers?
 

The biggest benefit to veneers is improving the appearance of your teeth, giving you a brighter and more even smile. Dental veneers are often used to treat the following cosmetic occurrences:

• broken or chipped teeth

• severe discoloration or uneven coloring that can’t be fixed with whitening

• gaps in the teeth

• smaller-than-average teeth

• pointed or unusually shaped teeth

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What is the difference between veneers, crowns, and implants?
 

Veneers aren’t the same as dental implants or crowns. Veneers cover only the front surface of the tooth, while crowns encase the entire tooth. Veneers are also thinner than crowns: about 1 mm, compared to 2 mm. Veneers are less invasive, too. If you need a crown, your dentist will have to file or ground down more of your tooth to prepare it for the crown than would be necessary for the application of a veneer.

 

Meanwhile, an implant is installed in the bone to replace a missing tooth, and a crown is placed on top of that. It can take several months after the implant is placed for the area around it to heal enough for the replacement tooth to be placed on top.

 

How to take care of your veneers after they’re placed
 

The recovery process doesn’t take an extended amount of time. Instead, once the veneers are cemented on, and any anesthetics wear off, you can eat and chew as you normally would. While the anesthetic is wearing off, be conscious of not chewing on your cheeks or tongue.

 

In some cases, immediately after the veneers are applied, you may notice that they feel a little rough. These rough spots (usually from extra cement that can adhere to the veneer) wear down after several days of normal eating and teeth brushing. If they don’t, your dentist can smooth them out.

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These precautions include:

• Don’t chew on hard objects like pens, ice, or your fingernails.

• Never use your teeth to open packaging.

• Try not to chew with your front teeth. Eat harder foods with your back teeth only; cut up hard foods so that this is possible.

• If you grind or clench your teeth at night, get a splint or retainer to protect your veneers.

• If you play sports, you should wear a mouth guard.

• If you grind or clinch your teeth, you should get a mouth guard or retainer.