Dental veneers are custom-made teeth colored porcelain pieces that are permanently bonded to the surface enamel of your tooth. They are able to replicate the natural coloring, alignment and shape of your natural teeth, making your teeth look pristine and attractive.
Veneers can be used in multiple ways. You can get a veneer for a single tooth or multiple teeth. There are two main categories of veneers - partial veneers and full veneers. Partial veneers cover only part of the tooth while full veneers cover the entire front of the tooth. This is completely dependent on the individual’s oral health situation and is up to the patient and the dentist to decide on what is best.
Veneers have multiple uses, both cosmetic and functional reasons. Some of the benefits of veneers include:
Dental veneers are often used as a more accessible option when compared to crowns or implants. They can be used to achieve minor cosmetic tweaks such as closing small gaps in your teeth, correct small misalignments or cover chipped or cracked teeth. They are used mainly to enhance the brightness and straightness of one’s smile,
Veneers also have the added benefit of not being stained from substances that might usually stain teeth such as coffee, cigarettes and dark wines.
Veneers can be a great cosmetic dental candidate for many patients. However, ideal candidates will generally have to have good oral health as well as having healthy gums without any ongoing periodontal disease or lack of enamel. Having relatively aligned teeth is also important as your teeth being grossly misaligned might put unnecessary pressure on the veneers and cause potential cracking.
It is also best that you do not currently suffer from bruxism, teeth clenching or teeth grinding at night. These actions may eventually cause damage to the veneer which will accumulate over time.
Consult with your dentist and be honest about your oral health history to determine whether or not you will be a good candidate for dental veneers.
The most common material used for veneers is porcelain. These are thin dental laminates of porcelain shells that are placed on top of your existing teeth so as to create a desirable appearance.
Porcelain veneers are usually custom made and are tailored to each and every patient’s unique oral makeup. When done properly, they are almost indistinguishable from a normal tooth.
These veneers are:
These sorts of veneers uses a thin layer of resin that’s made in a tooth like, enamel like colour to the teeth in order to reshape and to correct certain elements of your smile. They can be sculpted and hardened and polished by the dentist to close up gaps in your teeth.
These veneers are:
Ultimately, the type of veneers you go for should depend on your personal preferences and your lifestyle habits and oral makeup.
It takes around one to three visits to get veneers fully attached to your teeth. This can vary greatly from individual to individual and depends on the complexity of your particular case and the choice of material for the veneers.
Your dentist will investigate and explain to you the pros and cons of getting veneers and clearly present to you the various options involved. You will have impressions & photographs of your teeth taken. The design of the veneers are presented to you for your approval before they are installed.
Usually, the veneers will take around 7-10 days to manufacture. If you require any alternations to the designs, you should notify your dentist within 2-3 days.
Veneers are built to be durable and relatively stain-proof, however, there is still some maintenance involved after they have been successfully attached to your teeth. Remember to brush and floss regularly to keep your veneers in pristine condition.