Veneers are wafer-thin
laminates of tooth-colored material made of either porcelain, ceramic or
composite bonding material. They are bonded with cement to the front
surface of teeth to improve their aesthetic 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 are
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 teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening
treatments can be significantly improved by dental veneers by covering any
existing stains on your teeth.
Damaged teeth -
teeth that have become badly worn as well as those that have been chipped, can be
repaired by veneers. A small chip on a
tooth can quickly be repaired with composite bonding. A single damaged tooth can easily be repaired
with a porcelain veneer that has the same shade of color to match your natural
teeth.
Gaps -
spaces between your teeth can easily be closed using dental veneers, providing
you a more uniform looking smile.
Crooked teeth - For teeth that are not severely crooked,
veneers placed over their surface can provide the illusion of a perfectly
aligned smile.
The most popular type of veneer
is porcelain, which offers a stronger and more durable alternative to its composite alternative. Porcelain veneers also offer a more natural
looking, translucent appearance. Composite veneers are more prone to staining
and do not last as long as porcelain veneers. 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.
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. 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 twenty minutes. This
technology enables the dental practice to offer single-visit, same-day ceramic
veneers which are fitted within a couple of hours. But either way the process is very technique sensitive.
If you have any questions or
would like to schedule a complimentary appointment to see if you’re a candidate
for veneers, please contact us.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
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