How Are Veneers Done
Ever wondered how dental veneers are created and why you might want them? This article will fill you in on all the details.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are simply thin shells that are attached to the front of your teeth. These may be made from several materials, but they’re designed to both protect your teeth and provide a better look for your smile.
The dentist will custom make the veneers to attach to your teeth, including tinting the materials to match your other teeth. These veneers can completely change the shape, size, and colour of the teeth.
What Are the Types of Veneers?
You have a couple of choices when it comes to veneers. They may be made from porcelain or from resin. Each option has pros and cons, and you should talk to your dentist about which is the best choice for you.
Porcelain Veneers
These veneers are best designed to resist stains. Because they’re porcelain, they tend to look more natural, as well. They should blend right in with your other teeth. You can usually have these veneers completed and bonded within two visits.
Porcelain veneers last at least a decade.
Composite Resin Veneers
This method of applying a veneer is faster than applying porcelain, as the veneer is prepped and placed immediately. These types of dental veneers are not as strong as porcelain, but they can look quite natural once they have been bonded and polished. Resin tends to be more porous, so it can pick up stains from the food that you eat. This can make them lose their nice white colour more readily than natural enamel or porcelain veneers.
Resin veneers last up to eight years.
How Are Veneers Done?
The dentist will need to examine your teeth and discuss what you’re looking for. They will take X-rays if needed and will talk to you about the options available to you. It may be that veneers are not the right step for you. However, if they are, you will usually have two more appointments to get them.
At the second appointment, the dentist will reshape your teeth down a little to prepare them for the veneer. Then an impression is taken of the tooth or teeth; this will be used to create the veneer. While you wait a few weeks for your veneers to be done, the dentist may add temporary dental veneers to protect your teeth.
The final appointment is where the magic happens. The dentist will fit your new veneers and trim them to the right size. They will also adjust the colour to look just right.
Before the veneer can be bonded to your tooth, the dentist needs to clean and etch the tooth to prep it for the permanent cement that they will apply. Finally, the veneer is placed and adjusted, and a UV light is used to create the permanent bond.
Any necessary adjustments will be made to ensure the bite is correct and you are comfortable.
What Dental Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?
Why would you want a dental veneer? These procedures are usually irreversible and you will need to replace the existing veneers once they wear out or stain. For those who are simply not happy with their current smile, it is worth it, though. These laminates help resolve many issues that can cause poor self-esteem, as well as pain and irritation.
Discoloured Teeth
Teeth may become discoloured for many reasons. Sometimes food is the culprit, with certain types of foods being more dangerous to tooth colour than others. Sometimes a root canal treatment leaves the tooth looking dead, and the use of antibiotics can also cause staining. This may look dirty and unpleasant, though it’s a natural issue for teeth.
Chipped or Worn Teeth
Teeth that have worn down or have a large chip may look unsightly. This is easily fixed by adding a veneer to lengthen the tooth and make it look new again.
Crooked or Misshapen Teeth
Not everyone has straight teeth and braces aren’t an option for everyone. Veneers can give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of by making teeth look straight and perfect. This is easily done by bonding the custom-made veneers to the existing teeth to make them look better.
Uneven Spaces or a Large Gap Between Upper Front Teeth
Many people have a large gap in their front teeth that may embarrass them. Veneers may be designed to close that gap and make the teeth look perfectly natural. It’s a very simple and non-invasive way to give you the smile you want.
Each of these issues can be resolved with a simple change to the look of the front of the teeth, thanks to veneers.
Are Dental Veneers for Everyone?
Not everyone will need or want veneers. It is a permanent process, so you will need to be quite sure it’s what you want.
Talk to your dentist to ensure that this is the correct decision for you.
Summary
If you have a smile that you prefer to hide because you feel they look chipped or stained teeth, dental veneers could be the change you’re looking for. They offer a way to fix the imperfections and match the way your mouth looks with the one you picture in your mind.
Your dentist can help you figure out what the best options are in your situation and ensure that you are able to enjoy smiling again, with brand-new looking teeth.
Are you considering dental veneers? Contact Whitehorse Dental to schedule your consultation.
