Q. What are dental veneers used for?
A. Dental veneers, particularly porcelain veneer, has become an increasingly popular aesthetic restoration method used to modify the appearance of anterior teeth.
Veneers can be a solution for:
- Severely discoloured or chipped teeth;
- Misshapen or crooked teeth;
- Teeth with small holes or pits;
- Teeth with unwanted or uneven spaces.
Q. How do they work?
A. Tooth preparation is required to provide the best cosmetic and functional result with porcelain veneers. To create the veneer itself, a thin shell of porcelain is applied directly to the tooth structure.
The colour of porcelain veneers can be matched to the colour of a patient's teeth. And because dental veneers are made of porcelain, a glassy composition, they are resistant to staining. Porcelain veneers reflect light in a similar way as tooth enamel, and can be buffed and shaped to look just like natural teeth.
Q. How long does it take?
A. The entire process consists of 2-3 visits and can be broken down as follows:
The first appointment consists of a consultation, where the dentist will discuss the process with you, and pre-operative photographs and models will be taken. During this initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss how you want your final smile to look.
During the second appointment, the tooth will be prepared for the veneer. Here some of the tooth tissue will be reduced to accommodate for the small added thickness of the veneer. You will then be given temporary veneers which must be worn until the permanent veneers are ready for you.
The permanent veneers are first placed onto the teeth without cementation to verify the perfect fit and the colour, upon your third appointment. Once it is to your satisfaction the veneer is bonded with adhesive cements.
Q. What are the benefits of getting dental veneers?
A. Porcelain veneers have become very popular because they are natural looking, durable, and long-lasting, and there is a very short recovery time.
Q. What types of Veneers are there?
A. Composite Resin Veneers, also known as direct veneers, can usually be applied to your teeth within one dental visit.
The procedure involves an application of a composite resin material directly to the tooth surface. The dentist sculpts the resin material to fit the desired shape of your tooth and it typically lasts between 5-7 years.
Porcelain Veneers, also known as indirect veneers, are made of a very thin porcelain material. This procedure requires three visits to the dentist at 1-2 weeks apart and typically last 10-15+ years.
