Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain which are bonded onto the front of existing teeth in order to make a cosmetic improvement in their appearance.
Porcelain veneers are routinely used to improve the appearance of teeth that are:
- Discoloured Teeth
- Worn Teeth
- Chipped
- Gaps in Teeth
- Misaligned Teeth
Porcelain veneers are essentially ceramic materials which, unlike teeth which are enamel, have the ability to resist the staining effects of coffee, red wine and cigarette smoking. Porcelain veneers are very durable and can be expected to retain their aesthetic appearance for many years.
What is the difference between Veneers and Lumineers?
Traditional veneers are typically about 0.5 millimeters thick, whereas Lumineers are typically 0.3 millimeters thick. Many patients and dentists prefer the Lumineers brand over traditional veneers because they're thinner and easier to place on the teeth.
However, because they are thinner than other veneers, it may be harder for Lumineers to mask discolored teeth. If your teeth are heavily stained, there may not be enough material to hide the stains, and traditional veneers may be a better option.
Because Lumineers cover the existing tooth surface, you'll notice that your tooth is thicker. You may find it more difficult to clean your gum line, which may place you at a higher risk for gum disease. If you choose traditional veneers, we will smooth the tooth for a better fit.
Porcelain Veneer Dental Procedure
At initial visit to our dental clinic we will first start with a consultation to asses your dental health and identify if the patient is a right candidate for veneers, this process will be determined via use of X-ray, impression and visual checkup.
If the patient proves that veneers can be placed then the next stage is to take a series of images of the teeth and by use of a Digital Smile Design software available to our clinic, the doctor will show the outcome of how the veneer will look when placed. The doctor will spend as much time needed with the patient to ensure the outcome once veneers are made and fitted is the desired result.
How a veneer is placed on a tooth?
To place a veneer at the first stage of the treatment the dental doctor will required to remove a small bit of enemal from the tooth which is roughly around 0.5 mm to create space for the veneer and not impede the patient's bite. After the procedure a mould will be created and once hardened will be sent to the lab to create the final veneers, which aproximately takes 3-4 days.
The patient will receive a temporary veneer while the lab finalises the permanent ones. On the day of the permanent veneer fitting the dental doctor will remove the temporary veneers and leaves a rough surface to allow the veneer to bond to solidly. After the re preparing the surface the permanent veneers will be cemented in place and with a use of spcial light the final bonding process will be sped up.
What to expect after treatment?
Once the veneers are fitted there is not much to get used to, there were times when patient have felt a slight sensitivity to hot / cold due to the enemal was removed beneath the veneer but it will pass in a short period if happens. Veneers are like a natural addition to the tooth, once taken care of it tend to last for at least 10 years but we have heard that it can be much longer.