Veneers: types and uses
Porcelain and resin are both composite materials that are used in making veneers. In comparison with resin veneers, porcelain veneers are more stain resistant and mimic how teeth reflect light. It is best to contact your dentist and have them make you veneers specifically for your needs.
Which types of dental problems are fixed by dental veneers?
Using a veneer, you can repair:
- Endodontic treatment
- Stains caused by drugs
- An excessive amount of fluoride
- Fillings containing large amounts of resin
- Worn-out teeth
- Broken or chipped teeth
- An uneven, crooked, or non-normal-looking set of teeth.
- Gaps between the teeth
Procedure for applying dental veneers First, the dentist consults you, followed by creating the veneers and applying them. This procedure takes three visits. The veneering of a single tooth or a whole row of teeth can be extensive.
Treatment planning and diagnosis Your dentist should start by asking you what your goals are. In addition to checking your teeth for eligibility, the dentist examines them at the appointment in order to make sure you are able to get veneers. Your dentist will then explain veneers to you along with the process of the procedure, if you are a candidate. If necessary, the dentist will take X-rays and make impressions of the teeth and jaw.
Making preparations As part of the tooth preparation procedure for veneers, the dentist will reshape the tooth surface almost to the same degree as the thickness of the veneer that must be added to the tooth surface. Before trimming any of the enamel, your dentist will determine if numbing the area is necessary. A model will be created after numbing the area. After the models are created, the dental lab fabricates the veneers. Veneers are usually ready from the lab in about two to four weeks. Temporary dental veneers will be recommended by the dentist while you wait for your permanent veneers.
How bonding works The veneer will be applied by your dentist so they can examine its fit and color. Before permanently cementing it to the tooth, the crown or bridge must be repeatedly trimmed and removed to achieve proper fit. By using a different type of cement, the veneer's color could be altered. Cleaning, polishing, and etching are all necessary steps before a veneer can be applied to the tooth. It helps to strengthen the tooth's bond by roughening it. Once the veneer is placed on the tooth, it is then bonded with a special cement. A special light is used after the dentist has positioned the veneer correctly in order to activate the chemicals that are in the cement, causing the cement to harden quickly. There are a couple more steps, such as removing any excess cement and checking your bite, before finalizing the process. After the procedure, your dentist will schedule a follow up appointment to examine your gums and to determine whether your veneers are properly placed.
Benefits of dental veneers
Veneers offer these advantages:
- The teeth look like natural ones.
- Porcelain can be handled well by gums.
- Stain resistance is achieved with porcelain veneers.
- The color of your teeth can be changed to make them appear whiter if they are dark.
- A porcelain veneer doesn't need to be shaped as much as a crown, but it is significantly stronger and looks better.
Dental veneer risks
Veneers have the following disadvantages:
- The operation cannot be reversed.
- They are extremely expensive.
- Whenever a chip or crack occurs, they cannot easily be fixed.
- In the absence of enamel, the tooth may be much more sensitive to food and drink temperatures that are hot or cold.
- Occasionally, veneers don't match the color of your other teeth.
- Once the veneer was installed, it could no longer be changed.
- If you wanted to whiten your teeth beforehand, you had to do so before acquiring veneers.
- It is possible for veneers to dislodge and fall out, but this occurs very rarely. Do not chew on hard objects that will cause great amounts of pressure on your teeth. This will minimize the chances of your veneers falling out.
