All You Need To Know About Dental Veneers

In the past century, many of the biggest issues affecting teeth’s shape, colour, and alignment were treated with: 1) crowns – artificial caps that covered teeth, letting them rot inside while the outside looked healthy; and 2) braces, which put teeth in a metal net that some would call unsightly. Both of these technologies are still used in specific cases today, but another viable and convenient option has emerged for addressing various aesthetic and alignment dental issues – veneers.

Veneers are special coverings for teeth made of sturdy materials – dental porcelain (in most cases) and sometimes composite resins. This may sound a lot like crowns, but veneers only cover the front of the teeth and merge more than they cover.

Types of veneers

As we mentioned, dental porcelain and composite resins are the most common materials used for veneers, but even these two options have variations. Composite resins can contain several kinds of restorative materials, are the most affordable and quickest to apply, but only serve up to 5 years on average. In contrast, porcelain veneers are more expensive, typically last over 10 years, and take longer to apply.

The most popular variations of porcelain veneers include:

·   Lumineers – Very thin veneers that are relatively easy to apply, and require the least invasive changes to the teeth that they cover.

·  Cerec veneers – sturdy porcelain veneers with an incredibly accurate form. They are modeled using a 3D scan of the tooth/teeth.

·   Zirconia – often considered the most durable variant, these veneers are also praised for their natural look and bending strength.

When are veneers needed?

Getting veneers is a big choice that should be made after careful consideration. Most people choose veneers to make their teeth look healthy and make their smile beautiful, but the underlying reasons are important. For example, crooked and cracked teeth may be impossible to return to their natural state, but they can be modified to look healthy and perform key functions with veneers.

Furthermore, teeth can get severely worn down over time, so strengthening them with a veneer procedure is a good way to return their full strength and function. Finally, discoloration is another factor that encourages people to choose this product. It is much more practical to get a tooth covering that will never stain than to constantly apply various whitening products.

Procedure

The traditional procedure for applying veneers is done in several stages. Initially, a patient will discuss available products and options with a dentist. When the choice of veneers is made, a mold of the teeth in question will be made, and a dentist will remove a layer of tooth enamel to ensure that the veneers fit into the mouth comfortably once applied.

It should be noted that this “filing down” is irreversible, with the exception of Lumineers, which do not require much (if any) shaving of the tooth. Once the preparations are made, the dentist will attach the veneers and firmly bond them to teeth. Even after the procedure, the person who underwent it will still need to care for their teeth with regular brushing, rinsing, flossing, and occasional checkups with their dentist.