Over time, your teeth can get damaged, stained, or even look unsightly as a result of improper care, lifestyle damage or even some other dental work you may have had in the past. Dental veneers and laminates are thin shells that are bonded to the front of your teeth, to cover up any imperfections in your natural teeth.
Veneers can fix the way your teeth look, to give you a gleaming smile that grabs the right kind of attention!
Problems that can be fixed with Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are used to target most problems that make the front part of the teeth look unattractive.
These can include:
- Discoloration and stains from medication, excessive fluoride use, fillings that have discolored, tobacco, and the like.
- Signs of wear, like chipped, cracked, worn-out and broken teeth.
- Uneven, irregularly-shaped and misaligned teeth or teeth with gaps between them.
Dental laminates or veneers are one of the most popular ways to improve the appearance of the front part of the teeth. Veneers are basically very thin shells that are custom-made to match the shape, length and shade of the surrounding teeth. Depending on the material used, they can resist stains to quite an extent, as well as mimic the look of your natural teeth.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
Getting veneers isn’t very time-consuming, with the entire procedure usually being completed in just three visits to your dentist:
- Diagnosis and Planning
Your first visit will typically be a consultation with the dentist, so he or she can inspect your teeth closely, diagnose their condition and chart out a plan of action. At this stage, you can discuss your expectations from the laminates. The doctor may need to take an impression of your teeth or an X-ray, to properly determine the extent of damage.
- Preparation and Temporary Veneer
Usually, on the second visit, the dentist will prepare your teeth for the eventual veneers. This involves removing a small layer of the enamel, typically the same thickness as the veneer, about a ½ millimeter. The removal can be carried out under local anesthetic if you prefer, or if the dentist feels it would be necessary.
Another model is made after the removal, so technicians can shape the final veneer to be unnoticeable. In case the tooth is extensively damaged or unsightly, a temporary veneer can be used until the final veneer is ready.
- Bonding and Placing
This is the final visit is when the customized veneer is inspected and installed. The dentist will first place the veneers without any cementing material, to ensure they fit well and look natural. Once they are trimmed as needed, the surface of your teeth will be cleaned thoroughly, polished to remove any surface imperfections and then ‘etched’.
Etching roughens up the surface that will be in contact, so the veneer adheres better. After the tooth has been positioned correctly with the bonding cement, a special light is applied to help the cement cure quickly and thoroughly. Any excess cement or protruding surfaces are then ground down to size.
Pros and Cons of Dental Veneers
While veneers have better aesthetic qualities, they do not prevent or halt cavities, infections and other tooth problems.
Advantages
- Laminates can be very closely matched to your natural teeth and are not very noticeable.
- Porcelain veneers resist stains well and they don’t disturb the gums.
- Unlike dental crowns, veneers don’t require extensive reshaping of the whole tooth, just the front surface.
- Laminates are relatively non-invasive and don’t carry the risks related with major dental work.
Disadvantages
- Veneers are more expensive compared to composite resin bonding.
- They are permanent and usually can’t be repaired in case they chip or crack. Additionally, they cannot be recolored.
- Though it’s very rare, veneers have been known to fall off if they’re strained too hard.
Aftercare and Expected Life
Veneers do not require any special attention other than normal oral hygiene, though it is generally a good idea to avoid stressing them too much. This includes avoiding biting fingernails or chewing very hard objects. Your tooth can still decay under the veneer and if it gets out of hand, you might need a root canal or crown.
Generally, veneers can last anywhere between five years to a decade and they can be replaced after that. Even though they resist staining quite well, it’s a good idea to avoid foods that can cause stains, like red wine and coffee – better safe than sorry! Call us at +917016730440 to schedule your consultation for a smile makeover or to fix your problem teeth.