Teeth Prepared For Veneers — What Happens During Procedure?

A beautiful, white, uniform smile can be an important part of self-confidence and overall happiness.

If you’re considering getting high-quality cosmetic dentistry treatment, specifically dental veneers, to improve the look of your teeth, understanding how they are prepared is key.

This blog will explore how teeth are prepared for veneers and what happens during the procedure. From assessing dental health to ensuring a perfect fit is achieved, a few steps in the process must be taken before veneers can be applied. 

 

Dental Veneers: Why You May Need Them

A dental veneer procedure is a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment that you could opt for if you have any of the following conditions that are affecting your confidence and lifestyle:

 

Stained And Discoloured Teeth

You may correct the appearance of stained or discoloured teeth due to excessive consumption of coffee, tea, smoking, and other lifestyle choices by opting for porcelain veneers or even composite veneers, as advised by our experienced dentists. 

 

Broken or Chipped Teeth

A dental veneer procedure is ideal for hiding broken, chipped, or cracked teeth caused by physical trauma or accident. 

 

Damaged teeth

Repair worn-down teeth that have been eroded over time due to grinding or acid reflux caused by poor diet and bad habits with porcelain veneers or composite ones.

 

Gappy Smile

While veneers cannot replace an entire tooth, they can cover small gaps between adjacent natural teeth by placing oversized shells on the teeth. 

 

Misshapen Teeth

Veneers are a good way to correct the appearance of irregular or misshapen teeth that are marring the appearance of your smile, leading to an aesthetic balance in your smile line-up.

To correct dental misalignment issues from crooked teeth or overlapping front teeth that create an awkward appearance when smiling broadly in social situations. 

 

Worn Out Enamel

Dental veneers can help protect from sensitivity and toothache caused by weakened enamel. 

 

Types Of Dental Veneers

Our skilled dentists can use two main types of dental veneers to improve your smile. They are chosen after taking various factors into consideration, such as your dental health, the problem that needs to be corrected, time and cost, among others. 

 

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin shells designed to cover the surface of teeth.

These shells are custom-made for each patient to fit over their existing tooth structure and colour matched to their natural teeth, providing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and improved function.

In a porcelain veneer procedure, the shells are usually bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth with dental cement. They closely resemble natural dental enamel due to their natural sheen, making them a popular choice for patients who want to improve the look of their smile.

A porcelain veneer can correct uneven, discoloured or misaligned teeth and gaps between teeth. 

 

Composite veneers

Composite veneers, also known as direct dental veneers, are another type of cosmetic dental restoration.

Composite veneers are used to improve the appearance of teeth that have been damaged or discoloured.

They are made from a composite resin material that is matched to the colour of your natural tooth exactly and then applied directly onto its surface.

The composite resin is shaped and moulded to match the tooth’s natural shape and form, covering any imperfections on its surface.

Once applied, it is hardened with a special light, creating a strong bond between the composite and tooth.

This process can be completed in just one dental visit and provides an immediate result. 

 

 

How Are Veneers Applied?

Now that we know the two main types of veneers used to correct the aesthetics of a smile, we can talk about how these veneers are applied as tooth preparation for both types differs.

However, before we start with the process of restoring your smile with either kind of dental veneer, we will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth to assess your dental health and know if there is any pretreatment required, such as scaling or simple dental cleaning.

Once your teeth are prepared for dental veneers, we can proceed with the actual treatment. 

 

Composite Veneers

Composite resin can be made of a combination of various materials that are considered safe for humans, which may include organic polymers, inorganic fillers and pigments, among others. This material is highly durable and can be easily coloured and moulded to the desired shape and size so it matches your natural teeth exactly.

To make the dental veneer, a mould of your tooth is taken by one of our experienced and top-rated dentists. This mould will be used to create the shape and size of the composite veneer that best fits your tooth.

Next, the composite resin is applied directly to the tooth in very thin layers. After each layer is applied, it is shaped and hardened with a special curing light. Once all layers have been applied, any excess material is trimmed off so the veneer has the same shape as the original tooth.

Once fully bonded, the composite veneer will remain on your tooth without coming loose or falling off over time.

At times, certain types of composite veneers can also include fluoride treatment or other added materials to help protect against cavities or other oral problems over time.

The process for making and applying these veneers is fairly simple but requires precision and skill to achieve optimal results, which our dentists are well able to provide. 

 

Porcelain Veneers

The process of making porcelain veneers begins with a dental examination.

We use digital X-rays and intra-oral cameras to get a complete picture of your oral health, which helps our knowledgeable dentists assess your dental condition and determine if you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers.

If you are approved for traditional porcelain veneers, our dentist will carefully shave your tooth in a minimally invasive procedure that will take off up to 0.5mm of your dental enamel.

This is so that your tooth can accommodate the thickness of the porcelain veneer itself. It ensures there is enough room for the veneer on the tooth’s surface without impacting its function or causing you long-term discomfort.

Impressions of your teeth will then be taken to create a mould that the veneers will be based on.

The next step is to design the veneers’ shape, size and colour, depending on what look you desire.

Depending on your personal preferences and overall dental requirements, we will either use our in-house CEREC technology to give you a brand-new smile the same day or opt for hand-made veneers.

If the decision is made to go with hand-made veneers, our highly competent dentist will work with a dental technician to customise each veneer.

If you require hand-made veneers crafted in a dental laboratory, we will place temporary dental veneers on your teeth to protect them and prevent discomfort for you. 

Once your porcelain veneers are ready (which can be in up to three weeks from your first appointment with us), the temporary veneers will be removed, and special dental cement will be applied onto each individual tooth before placing each porcelain veneer onto its corresponding tooth individually.

If required, our first-rate dentist will buff the veneer to make it fit your dental arch precisely.

Afterwards, ultraviolet light is used to harden and bond the veneers to your tooth, followed by a thorough polish to give them a natural-looking shine. 

 

How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?

Dental veneers are a popular cosmetic treatment due to their high success rates and long lifespans.

Composite resin veneers can last anywhere from 5-10 years, while porcelain veneers can last between 10-15 years.

The success of dental veneers is dependent on their care.

Proper oral hygiene practices such as brushing twice daily, flossing once a day and using dentist-recommended mouthwash can go a long way in extending the life of your new smile. And remember not to use your teeth as a tool, this is a prime cause of veneers detaching from the tooth! 

 

Transform Your Smile with Top-Class Cosmetic Dentistry at Sydney Laser Dental Care

At Sydney Laser Dental Care, our experienced dentists take pride in providing our patients with the best possible service and results.

As we have discussed in this blog, preparing teeth for veneers requires a high level of precision and skill.

By choosing our clinic for your cosmetic dentistry needs, you can be confident that you are in the hands of highly trained and skilled dentists who pursue excellence in personalised dental care.

We understand that dental visits can be uneasy for some, but our friendly and caring team is dedicated to making your experience in our clinic as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

Are you looking to transform your smile with dental veneers? We provide a highly-rated and personalised dental care experience for cosmetic dentistry treatments and beyond. Contact us today!

Pyrmont: (02) 9158 6213
Illawong: (02) 9158 6756
Sylvania Waters: (02) 9159 6083

 

 

 

Sources

Dental Veneers
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/veneers#1

What To Know Before You Get Dental Veneers
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-veneers