Dental veneers are thin plates that are placed on the front of the teeth and are intended to improve the appearance and shape of these. They correct separations between the pieces, their color, some damages present in their structure such as wear or small fractures, therefore, it is considered an esthetic treatment. They can be placed on a single tooth or on several teeth, depending on the case. A well performed treatment with veneers should not be perceptible, it has to look like part of the natural dentition.
There is a great variety of materials to make veneers, but the most used for their manufacture are: resin (composite) and porcelain. Each one has different manufacturing processes. The specialist dentist is in charge of determining if a person is a candidate for this treatment and which veneers are indicated for each case, always depending on the objective to be achieved.
They are made in a single appointment, making them by hand directly on the tooth, which is minimally worn to give the necessary space to the resin veneer and that it looks natural. Subsequently, an acid and a varnish are applied for the adhesion of the resin, this is placed in layers, hardening each one with a special light curing lamp to finally proceed to polishing and brightening.
It should be taken into account that composite veneers require more maintenance to prevent them from losing their color, tartar particles adhering to them or fracturing. These have to be replaced every so often, which is very variable depending on the hygiene and bite of each person.
Porcelain veneers:
These are custom fabricated in a laboratory and then placed on the patient. It is usually done in 2 or 3 appointments so the price of porcelain veneers is more expensive. Their quality is much better and they are more durable, require less maintenance and the result compared to a composite veneer is superior, since the brightness, translucency and texture can be recreated much better with porcelain offering exceptional aesthetics.
The procedure generally in ideal patients is as follows; in the first appointment the dentist abrades a small amount of the tooth surface with precise and specific cuts that will allow the correct placement and adhesion of the veneers.
The space generated by the cut will be replaced by the thickness of the porcelain veneer making it look natural without looking bulky or bumpy. At this same appointment, temporary acrylic veneers are fabricated and used for the duration of the treatment.
In the second appointment, the molds of the worked teeth are taken and sent to a dental laboratory. It is of utmost importance the choice of materials for such impression, since an impression made with high quality materials provides a clear and real working model on which the laboratory will carry out its work. Likewise, the quality of the laboratory work is of utmost importance, both in the choice of porcelain brands and the technology with which they design and work, since nowadays, thanks to computer-assisted technology, more precise, durable and natural prostheses are obtained as a result.
All these details of the first two appointments are very important for the veneer to sit perfectly without showing the lines of attachment to your tooth and to look natural and aesthetics desired.
In the third appointment the porcelain veneers are tried in the mouth, for which the dentist will check that all the aspects mentioned above are fulfilled. Once the veneer is approved by the dentist and the patient, it is bonded with a definitive resin-based cement.
It is worth mentioning that not all patients are suitable for this treatment. In many occasions this treatment is poorly performed and/or diagnosed having a poor esthetic result or failure of the same, so it is suggested to attend an evaluation with an expert doctor in the subject.
Veneers should be brushed like your own teeth. The use of dental floss is always recommended at least once a day and preferably before going to sleep, this should be used carefully and with proper technique that should be taught by your dentist. Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is recommended because it helps remove food residues and bacterial plaque. It is very important to keep in mind that teeth with veneers can suffer from any common ailment such as: cavities, periodontal disease, internal fractures, infections, etc. so a check-up appointment is recommended to make sure that the treated teeth are in good condition at least once a year.
Dental veneers are mainly used for the following reasons:
Modifying the shape, size or color of teeth.
Reconstruction of fractured and/or chipped teeth.
Apparent alignment of slightly misaligned teeth without the need for orthodontic treatment (braces).
To achieve an exceptionally esthetic and natural looking smile.
We invite you to schedule an appointment for an assessment with us at makeoverdentalstudio@hotmail.com or call us at MX (664)634-2023 / EU (619) 202-0423.
Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkein, Yelp and Doctoralia for more information.