Porcelain Veneers can be an effective method used to make cosmetic changes to teeth that are chipped, worn, stained, misaligned, discoloured or restored. These wafer-thin shells of porcelain which are bonded on to the front side of teeth can make a large difference in the quality of your smile. Please note that case selection is an extremely important factor in the success of this technique. Porcelain veneers cannot be utilized in every situation.
The porcelain veneer technique utilizes the bonding capabilities available to the dentist to securely attach a thin sheet of porcelain (the porcelain veneer) to a tooth. Although porcelain is inherently brittle, when it is firmly bonded to a sturdy substructure (a tooth) it becomes strong and durable.
Advantages of Porcelain Veneers
•Porcelain Veneers create a very life-like tooth appearance. Porcelain veneers are glasslike and are translucent. When they are bonded to a tooth ‘s surface, they mimic the light handling characteristics of enamel. This translucency effect provides a sense of depth, and thus a very life-like appearance.
•Porcelain veneers resist staining. Since porcelain is ceramic and therefore glass-like, its surface is extremely smooth and impervious. The surface of a porcelain veneer will not pick up permanent stain.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to repair minor tooth imperfections and defects. Teeth which have small chips or worn, misshapen surfaces can often be candidates for porcelain veneer.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to cover and conceal existing fillings which have become stained or discoloured. Discoloured old fillings or previous attempts at cosmetic bonding can often be masked with porcelain veneers.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to make colour changes in teeth which are permanently discoloured or stained. Teeth which are naturally discoloured, such as teeth with tetracycline or fluorosis staining, or those teeth which have become darkened as a result of trauma or root canal treatment can often be good candidates for porcelain veneers.
•Porcelain veneers can sometimes be used as an alternative to orthodontic treatment. If a patient’s tooth misalignment is not excessive, porcelain veneers can often be used to give a person’s smile a more even appearance without the use of braces.
There are no rules about how long a veneer will last. While you can certainly expect your veneers to last many years, it is unrealistic to expect them to last forever. Habits such as grinding, clenching, chewing on hard objects will compromise the life span of your veneer.
Preparation steps for veneers
The dentist will initially take some impressions of your teeth to fabricate “study models” in order to determine, with you, what the ideal veneers would be for your mouth. Once this is done, at least two appointments are required since the veneers are made in a dental laboratory.
• First visit - Before this appointment the dentist has already examined the teeth and the x-rays to make sure that veneers are the appropriate treatment. To prepare a tooth in view of placing a veneer, the dentist will shape the tooth or teeth, as required. Following this an impression of the teeth is taken and sent to the dental laboratory where the veneers are made. Temporary veneers are then placed on the teeth and they remain there until the following appointment.
• Second visit - The cementation of permanent veneers is done two to three weeks later. The dentist removes the temporary veneers and verifies the adaptation and the colour of the porcelain veneers before installing them with dental cement.
Maintenance of veneers
It's important to remember that even though a veneer cannot be decayed, the tooth below may be exposed to cavities and gum disease. Good oral hygiene must be maintained by brushing teeth and flossing between veneers and all other teeth as well. Even though porcelain veneers are resistant to food stains, your dentist may recommend reducing the use of certain staining foods, such as coffee, tea or red wine.
Please be aware that veneers are irreversible. Less invasive techniques, such as orthodontics, should be considered before making the decision to get porcelain veneers.
The porcelain veneer technique utilizes the bonding capabilities available to the dentist to securely attach a thin sheet of porcelain (the porcelain veneer) to a tooth. Although porcelain is inherently brittle, when it is firmly bonded to a sturdy substructure (a tooth) it becomes strong and durable.
Advantages of Porcelain Veneers
•Porcelain Veneers create a very life-like tooth appearance. Porcelain veneers are glasslike and are translucent. When they are bonded to a tooth ‘s surface, they mimic the light handling characteristics of enamel. This translucency effect provides a sense of depth, and thus a very life-like appearance.
•Porcelain veneers resist staining. Since porcelain is ceramic and therefore glass-like, its surface is extremely smooth and impervious. The surface of a porcelain veneer will not pick up permanent stain.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to repair minor tooth imperfections and defects. Teeth which have small chips or worn, misshapen surfaces can often be candidates for porcelain veneer.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to cover and conceal existing fillings which have become stained or discoloured. Discoloured old fillings or previous attempts at cosmetic bonding can often be masked with porcelain veneers.
•Porcelain veneers can be used to make colour changes in teeth which are permanently discoloured or stained. Teeth which are naturally discoloured, such as teeth with tetracycline or fluorosis staining, or those teeth which have become darkened as a result of trauma or root canal treatment can often be good candidates for porcelain veneers.
•Porcelain veneers can sometimes be used as an alternative to orthodontic treatment. If a patient’s tooth misalignment is not excessive, porcelain veneers can often be used to give a person’s smile a more even appearance without the use of braces.
There are no rules about how long a veneer will last. While you can certainly expect your veneers to last many years, it is unrealistic to expect them to last forever. Habits such as grinding, clenching, chewing on hard objects will compromise the life span of your veneer.
Preparation steps for veneers
The dentist will initially take some impressions of your teeth to fabricate “study models” in order to determine, with you, what the ideal veneers would be for your mouth. Once this is done, at least two appointments are required since the veneers are made in a dental laboratory.
• First visit - Before this appointment the dentist has already examined the teeth and the x-rays to make sure that veneers are the appropriate treatment. To prepare a tooth in view of placing a veneer, the dentist will shape the tooth or teeth, as required. Following this an impression of the teeth is taken and sent to the dental laboratory where the veneers are made. Temporary veneers are then placed on the teeth and they remain there until the following appointment.
• Second visit - The cementation of permanent veneers is done two to three weeks later. The dentist removes the temporary veneers and verifies the adaptation and the colour of the porcelain veneers before installing them with dental cement.
Maintenance of veneers
It's important to remember that even though a veneer cannot be decayed, the tooth below may be exposed to cavities and gum disease. Good oral hygiene must be maintained by brushing teeth and flossing between veneers and all other teeth as well. Even though porcelain veneers are resistant to food stains, your dentist may recommend reducing the use of certain staining foods, such as coffee, tea or red wine.
Please be aware that veneers are irreversible. Less invasive techniques, such as orthodontics, should be considered before making the decision to get porcelain veneers.
