Dental veneers have long been used to create the ultimate smile makeover, with this treatment it is possible to transform crooked, stained, damaged and badly worn teeth into a brand new straight white smile as seen on many of the Hollywood greats.
So What exactly are dental Veneers?
Veneers are wafer thin lamintates or shells of tooth coloured material (which can be either porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material) that are “cemented” to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance. Many dentists use the analogy that dental veneers are for your teeth what false finger nails are for your hands. In a similar manner to how false finger nails are placed or glued to your existing fingernails, veneers are bonded to the front of your existing teeth.
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Before Veneers | After Dental Veneers |
Thank you to Dr Riten Patel from The Mulberry Dental Practice for donating the case photos above of a smile makeover that he carried out on one of his patients.
What Treatments or problems are veneers used for?
There are a wide variety of reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers.
Stained Teeth - badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening or prophyflex treatments can greatly be improved by dental veneers, which function to cover and "hide" any existing stains on your natural teeth.
Damaged Teeth - teeth that have either become badly worn with excessive grinding, by carbonated drinks, or have been chipped or broken in an accident can benefit from veneers. A small chip on a tooth can quickly be repaired with composite bonding or "composite veneers" which are one and the same thing. A single damaged tooth can easily be repaired with a single porcelain veneer that has the same characteristics and colour to match your surrounding teeth so that it looks natural.
Gaps - spaces or gaps (diastimas) between your teeth can be easily closed using dental veneers giving you a more uniform looking smile.
Crooked teeth - although veneers are not the ideal treatment chioce for crooked teeth and from a point of veiw of preserving your natural teeth structure orthodontics or invisalign braces would probably a better solution. However, treatments can take up to a year or longer with braces. For teeth that are not severely crooked veneers placed over thier front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned looking smile. For this type of treatment many people refer to veneers as "instant orthodontics" since you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time.
So which are better composite veneers or porcelain veneers?
The most popular type of veneers are porcelain, which offer a stronger and more durable alternative to its composite counterpart. Composite veneers are also more prone to staining and do not last as long as porcelain veneers which also offer more a natural looking, translucent tooth-like appearance. Composite veneers are much cheaper than porcelain veneers in general, but considering that they do not last as long and need replacing more often they could end up costing more in the long run. Composite work is ideal for small chips as this treatment preserves more of your natual tooth structure.
What is the proceedure of having dental veneers fitted?
1. The first part of any dental procedure is the initial consultation and examination so that the dentist can get a feel for what you want and understand your needs and concerns. The dentist should explain the treatment procedure to you including an accurate guide to the likely costs of your treatment.
2. Before your veneers are designed your dentist will need to reshape and prepare the front surfaces of your teeth so that they can accomadate the veneers. The first stage is to numb the teeth and gums with a local anaesthic so that you do not feel anything during the procedure.
3. Using a special tool called a burr (a dental drill or file) a tiny amount of the front surface of your teeth will be shaved off. The amount removed should be equivalent to the thickness of the veneer that will sit over the top of the tooth.
4. Next an impression or mould (copy) of your teeth is taken. A special dental "putty" is placed into your mouth on a tray and pushed into your teeth so that it takes an imprint of your teeth, similar to how you would leave a footprint in sand.
5. This "impression" or mould of your teeth is then sent to a dental laboratory. The laboratory use the impression to cast an accurate model of your teeth which is used as a guide to fabricate your new veneers, this process can tae between one to three weeks.
6. whilst you are waiting for your veneers to be fabricated your dentist you may be fitted with some temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth. Not all dentists will offer temporary veneers.
7. On your second appointment your dentist will fit your new veneers to your teeth. First the dentst may just sit the teeth over your teeth to see how they look with your smile and he or she may need to trim or adjust the veneer.
8. Next your teeth will be throughly cleaned and the front surfaces etched (roughened) with a special acid gel so that they provide a good surface for the dental cement to stick to.
9. The veneers are then cemented into place and a special curing light is used to activate the dental cement so that it permanenetly bonds the veneer to the front surface of your prepared tooth. If there is any excess cement it is usually trimmed away and polished to leave a beautiful and natural looking restoration.
How long do dental veneers last?
Porcelain veneers will typically last between 5-10 years and composite veneers maybe a year or two at the most. The botom line is that eventually your veneers will need to be replaced. Although veneers are strongly cemented into place they have been cases where they come loose and fall off, in such situations it is important that you keep hold of your veneer and contact your dentist immediately. To make your veneers last longer it is important to follow a good oral hygiene program and also visit your dentist for check ups on a regular basis.
Is it possible to have veneers fitted on the same day?
Usually porcelain veneers are placed over a minimum of two visits as described above. A few cosmetic dentists have invested in CAM/CAD in-house ceramic studios (CEREC) which can custom produce high quailty ceramic veneers on site in as little as six minutes. This CEREC technology enables the dental practice to offer single visit, same day ceramic veneers which are fitted within an hour. To read more information about CEREC technology click here.
What about Lumineers what are they?
Lumineers, are similar to standard porcelain veneers but are fabricated made from a patented cerinate porcelain that is extremely thin (thickness of a contact lens) and very strong. With Lumineers the tooth surface does not need to be trimmed, so the procedure is quicker and totally painless. To read more about lumineers click here to visit our main Lumineers page.
What are Da Vinci Veneers or Davinci veneers ?
Da vinci Veneers are similar to lumineers in that they are extreemly thin veneers that are ofetn used for smile makeover cases, they are only manufactured in the Da vinci laboratory in california, they are a brand name of veneers that are very popular especially with high profile cosmetic dentists in the states that perform dentistry on many celebrities. Click Here to visit our Da Vinci Veneers page
What about teeth grills or grillz?
The latest removable fashion accessory are teeth grillz or grills these are clip on metal based jewellery for your teeth..to read more about grills click here.
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