Dental Veneers
The porcelain veneer has become an increasingly popular aesthetic restoration used to modify the appearance of anterior teeth. Veneers can be a solution for:
- Severely discoloured or chipped teeth;
- Misshapen or crooked teeth;
- Teeth with small holes or pits;
- Teeth with unwanted or uneven spaces.
This restoration is a thin shell of porcelain that is applied directly to the tooth structure
Tooth preparation is required to provide the best cosmetic and functional result with porcelain veneers. The preparation is aimed at being kept minimal.
The colour of porcelain veneers can be matched to the colour of a patient’s teeth. And because dental veneers are made of porcelain, a glassy composition, they are resistant to staining. Porcelain veneers reflect light in a similar way as tooth enamel, and can be buffed and shaped to look just like natural teeth.
The entire process consists of 2-3 visits
First Appointment
This consists of a consultation, where the process will be discussed, Pre-operative photographs and models will be taken. During this initial consultation the dental patient will have the opportunity to discuss how the final smile should look.
Second Appointment
This will consist of preparing the tooth for the veneer, by reduction of some tooth tissue. The tooth reduction is necessary to accommodate the small added thickness of the veneer.
Temporary veneers are worn until the permanent veneers are ready.
Third Appointment
The permanent veneers are first placed onto the teeth without cementation to verify the perfect fit and the colour. Once it is to the patients and dentists satisfaction the veneer is bonded with adhesive cements.
Porcelain veneers have become popular in the time that they have been available because they are natural looking, durable, and long-lasting.
Types of veneers
Composite Resin Veneers: Composite resin veneers, also known as direct veneers, can usually be applied to your teeth within one dental visit. The procedure involves an application of a composite resin material directly to the tooth surface. The resin material is sculpted by the dentist to the fit the desired shape of the tooth. Composite veneers typically last between 5-7 years.
Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers, also known as indirect veneers, are made of a very thin porcelain material. This procedure requires two visits to the dentist. A porcelain veneer procedure requires two or more dental visits at 1-2 weeks apart and typically last 10-15+ years.