Veneers are wafer-thin
laminates or shells of tooth-colored material (which can be either porcelain,
ceramic or composite bonding material). They
are bonded (cemented) to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic
appearance. It’s really not that much
different from brick on the front of one’s home. Many dentists use the alternative analogy
that dental veneers are for your teeth what false fingernails are for your
hands.
There are a wide variety of
reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers:
Stained teeth –
badly stained or discolored that cannot be improved by teeth whitening or
prophyflex treatments can be greatly improved by dental veneers, which function
to cover any existing stains on your teeth.
Damaged teeth -
teeth that have become badly worn through excessive grinding or by carbonated
drinks, as well as those that have been chipped or broken, can benefit from
veneers. A small chip on a tooth can quickly be repaired with composite
bonding, also known as "composite veneers". A single damaged tooth can easily be repaired
with a porcelain veneer that has the same characteristics and color as you
natural teeth.
Gaps -
spaces or gaps (technically termed as a diastimas) between your teeth can
easily be closed using dental veneers, giving you a more uniform-looking smile.
Crooked teeth -
Veneers are not the ideal treatment for crooked teeth, and from the point of
view of preserving your natural teeth structure, orthodontics or Invisalign
braces would probably a better solution. However, this type of treatment can take up
to a year or longer and be significantly more in cost to accomplish. For teeth that are not severely crooked,
veneers placed over their front surface will give a straight and perfectly
aligned-looking smile. For this type of
treatment, many people refer to veneers as "instant orthodontics", as
you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time.
The most popular type of veneer
is porcelain, which offers 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. Porcelain veneers also offer a more natural
looking, translucent 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 both time and
money in the long run. Composite work is
ideal for small chips, as this treatment preserves more of your natural tooth structure.
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 and give you 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 accommodate the veneers. The
first stage is to numb the teeth and gums with a local anesthetic 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 part 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 mold (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 mold of your teeth is then sent to a dental
laboratory. The laboratory uses the impression to cast an accurate model of
your teeth, which is used as a guide to fabricate your new veneers. This
process can take between one and three weeks.
6.
While you're waiting for your veneers to be fabricated, your dentist may fit
you 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 dentist may just sit the veneers over your teeth to see how they
look with your smile, as he/she may need to trim or adjust the veneer.
8.
Next, your teeth will be thoroughly 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 permanently 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.
Porcelain veneers will
typically last between five and ten years, while composite veneers last a year
or two at most. The bottom line is that your veneers will eventually need to be
replaced. Although veneers are strongly cemented into place, there 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, follow a good oral hygiene program and visit your
dentist for check-ups on a regular basis.
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 such as E4D or CEREC, which
can custom-produce high-quality ceramic veneers on-site in as little as six
minutes. This technology enables the dental practice to offer single-visit,
same-day ceramic veneers which are fitted within an hour.
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 (about the 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.
A similar ultra-thin veneer
system to hit the market are Durathin veneers.
One of the problems with Lumineers is that usually require the dentist
purchase/produce a certain number of patient cases to be on their system/plan. www.lumineers.com or
www.durathinveneers.com.
What are da Vinci Veneers?
Da Vinci Veneers are similar to
Lumineers in that they are extremely thin veneers that are often used for smile
makeovers. They are only manufactured in
the da Vinci laboratory in California.
What are MAC Veneers ?
Mac Veneers are made from
pressed ceramic, giving more strength than standard feldspathic veneers. They
are an ideal veneer choice for smile makeovers.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
www.rightsmilecenter.com
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