Dental Veneers

Before and after dental veneers placement. This case worked by a Dutch cosmetic dentist, Dr. Charlotte kiewiet.

Definition:

They are thin shells which are custom made fit over the surface of teeth to treat dental defects like enamel cracks, chipping and dental stains.

Classification:

Dental veneers are cosmetic in its nature and they are classified according to material used into:

Ceramic veneers.

Composite Resin veneers.

And also classified according to the technique which dentist uses into:

Direct veneers (Composite only): In this technique, dentist uses composite resin material to treat and cover a dental defect after etching and preparing the surfaces of teeth if needed and this is mainly for cosmetic purposes.

Indirect veneers (Ceramic mainly and may be composite). In this technique dentist prepare the surfaces of teeth then takes an impression for teeth preparation then send that impression to dental lab to make custom made shells which called dental veneers after that send them to dental clinic again to be cemented on your teeth by your cosmetic dentist. And in between the period of teeth preparation and insertion of dental veneers, Dentist should apply temporary veneers for his patient. Also dentists can use CAD-CAM technology to make a computer designs your veneers at dental office.

Prepless veneers (Lumineers or Vivaneers): They are special brands of porcelain veneers. It is time saving and less invasive to apply.

They are differs from the other types of veneers as in most cases require very little removal of tooth structure and we can apply them without anesthesia or temporary veneers.

The best type of veneers:

We should tell which type of veneers is suitable for your case. As this decision depends on several factors:

• Cosmetic appearance of veneers.
• Longevity of each type of veneers.
• Cost of each type.
• Recommendations of your dentist.
• Length of time of the installation procedure.

And to be more accurate in choosing the type of veneers which is suitable for us as patients, we should know the precise differences between each type.

Porcelain veneers are more expensive, need multiple visits, less liable to be stained, stronger and longer lasting than composite veneers.

On the other hand, Composite veneers need less teeth removal to be prepared for the veneers, can be applied at one visit, less expensive than porcelain veneers, lasts nearly 5 years, easier to fix and also easier to be damaged.

Advantages of veneers:

The major advantage of dental veneers is enhancing the appearance of your teeth and smile. And these are the most common indications in which we use veneers:

• Abnormal shaped teeth (peg shaped teeth are most common).
• Severe discoloration.
• Spaces between the teeth.
• Chipped or broken teeth.
• Slightly mispositioned teeth.

Veneers can last for a decade or more, And this depend on your daily care of them and type of veneers you choose. So you should take care of them to conserve on your confidence when you smile.

Clinical appointment for the veneers:

Before getting the veneers, your dentist will make a first visit as a discussion about right options for you and number of veneers which will be placed.

And also it is necessary to evaluate the overall health of teeth before start of veneers preparation, Dentist will look for signs of teeth decay, gum disease, and need for root canal treatment. If any of these conditions is found, your dentist should treat it first.

At next appointment, Dentist will remove .5mm from surfaces of your teeth as veneers preparations. After that your dentist will take an impression for prepared teeth then send it to dental lab to create your veneers with an accurate size.

Mechanism of veneers placement:

It takes nearly 7 to 14 days after impression of your prepared teeth to get your veneers back from the lab.

Once your veneers are ready, you prepare a visit to have them placed. At this visit, Dentist evaluates fitness, color, and shape of these veneers to make sure that they are suitable for you.

After that, Dentist cleans your teeth from any bacteria which can be trapped below the veneers if not cleaned.

Then dentist makes a slight roughness on teeth surfaces to make the veneers bond well during their cementation.

After cementation of veneers with dental cement, Dentist uses light curing device to harden this cement rapidly.

This second visit (Veneers Placement) takes nearly from 1.5 to 2 hours. And this period varying according to number of veneers being placed and if a local anesthesia is used.

The difference between veneers, crowns, and implants:

Veneers only cover the frontal surface of teeth unlike crowns which cover the whole surfaces of teeth. Crowns are also thicker than veneers: about 1.5:2 mm for crowns and .5:1 mm for veneers.

Crowns are also more invasive than veneers. As with preparation of your tooth for a crown, Dentist removes a dental structure more than would be necessary for the application of a veneer.

On the other hand, Implants are installed at the bone to compensate missed teeth. Then crowns are placed on top of them. And this procedure takes several months from 3:6 months until a healing occurs around the inserted implant to provide a suitable environment for crown placement.

Dental health care after veneers placement:

Using of tooth brush, floss and visiting of your dentist regularly are very important to keep your veneers with a good condition. Also it is important to use tooth brush which have soft bristles and avoid any abrasive products like whitening toothpaste which can cause scratches of your veneers.

Also it is important to avoid eating of hard foods when you have veneers as this makes your veneers get fractured easily. So to be in a safe zone, cut any food first then chew it on your posterior teeth.

Although ceramic veneers are stains resistant, but it is better to avoid excessive amount of any foods and beverages which can cause teeth stains like coffee, tea and berries. As these can cause stains over time for your veneers.

Summary:

Dental veneers are esthetic solution that enhance the appearance of your teeth. And this done by improving color, shape, reduce gaps, hide chips and small damages of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers are stains resistant, more expensive than composite veneers. Also porcelain veneers last longer than composite veneers. Despite composite veneers are more affordable, but they may be broken easily. In general, no one can definite the price of dental veneers either porcelain or composite resin as the price varies according to the country you live in.

Dental veneers are a long term option for cosmetic dental problems. So before you take this step, consult your dentist about the best option for you.