What is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin layer made from porcelain and cemented on the tooth to improve the tooth’s aesthetics or to protect its surface. Veneers are always made in dental laboratories. They preserve the natural tooth as much as possible, since very little preparation is needed. Veneers can change colour, shape, size and lengths of the original teeth. In case of chipped, cracked, partly broken or heavily discoloured teeth, especially in case of front teeth – porcelain veneers are an excellent cosmetic solution. If properly designed and placed, veneers are a durable ad very aesthetic option.
What is the process of the treatment?
Trimming: the enamel on the front side of the tooth is trimmed back. Usually the dentist’s goal is to trim the tooth about the same amount as the thickness of the veneer that will ultimately be bonded in position. This way the overall size of the tooth will not be dramatically changed.
Impression: Once the proper amount of enamel has been trimmed, your dentist will need to make a copy of your tooth. It will be from this copy that your porcelain veneer will be fabricated.
Temporary Veneers: your dentist can create a temporary veneer for you to wear during the period while the dental laboratory is creating your porcelain veneer.
Bonding: Once you and your dentist have determined that the shape and shade of your veneer is appropriate it can be bonded in position.
Benefits of veneers?
- Completely metal-free and fully safe
- Minimum invasive treatment
- Do not get discoloured over time
- Durable and scratch resistant
- Completely lifelike
Is the treatment harmful to the tooth?
No. Once the damaged or discoloured tooth is numbed under local anaesthesia the dentist removes only the upper tooth surface (enamel). It is important that this procedure does not require drilling of the tooth and does not harm any other part (e.g. root canal or crown) of the tooth.
Disadvantages of veneers?
In cases of very crooked, misaligned or worn teeth, or people with grinding or clenching habits unfortunately veneers cannot be applied. In these cases dental crowns are necessary (either zirconia crowns or porcelain fused to metal crowns).