Veneers offer a quick route to a beautiful smile. This cosmetic treatment is ideal for people with chipped, discoloured, slightly crooked and gapped teeth. However, dental veneers are essentially a permanent procedure so having them placed is a significant decision. But what are veneers for teeth, and how do they work? Let’s take a closer look.
What are veneers?
Veneers are thin shells of tooth-coloured materials applied to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance and provide resilience and strength comparable to tooth enamel. Each veneer is customised to the contours of an individual tooth and bonded to its original enamel during an in-office procedure. Veneers can be crafted from porcelain or composite resin materials. We’ll take a closer look at the difference between the two a little later.
Why are veneers used in dentistry?
Veneers are a less invasive procedure than crowns and less disruptive to a patient’s lifestyle than braces. According to the Oral Health Foundation, dentists use them to close small gaps between the teeth and correct minor misalignments. Patients also choose dental veneers for cosmetic purposes to enhance the brightness of their smile and conceal issues like cracks, chips or fractures.
So, now we’ve answered the question, what are veneers for teeth, let’s look at the procedure for porcelain veneers.
How are veneers placed?
Getting porcelain veneers typically requires three dental appointments: An initial consultation and two appointments to make and fit the veneer. Veneers can be placed on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all of the teeth in the smile line, depending on a person’s smile goals. Here’s what you can expect during the procedure:
- Initial consultation – Our dentist will ask about your smile goals and what you hope to achieve from the treatment. They will also examine your teeth to see if dental veneers are suitable for you and discuss the procedure and its limitations. They may also take x-rays and possibly an impression of your mouth and teeth from which to create a treatment plan.
- 1st dental visit –Our dentist will prepare your teeth during this visit. Preparation for porcelain veneers involves removing a thin sliver of tooth enamel to accommodate the veneers so that they don’t jut out and impede a patient’s bite. The amount of enamel trimmed off is equivalent to the thickness of the dental veneers – approximately half a millimetre. The dentist can numb the mouth with a local anaesthetic to ease discomfort. Next, a digital impression of the prepared tooth is taken and sent to the dental lab that will construct the custom veneers. Temporary veneers may be fitted while you wait for your permanent veneers to come back from the lab. This only applies to porcelain veneers as composites and CEREC veneers can be done in a single visit.
- 2nd dental visit – Before bonding the porcelain veneers to your teeth, the dentist will place them temporarily to check their fit and colour. The veneers may be removed and trimmed several times until the dentist is satisfied with their fit. In preparation for the veneers, the teeth will be cleaned and etched with acidic gel to roughen the surface and strengthen bonding. A special cement is applied to the veneer before placing it on the tooth. Once in position, the dentist shines a special light on the veneers, causing the cement to harden quickly. The final step involves removing excess cement, evaluating the bite, and making necessary adjustments. A follow-up appointment may be required in a couple of weeks for the dentist to check how your gums are responding to the veneers and to examine the veneer’s placement once more.
The difference between porcelain and composite dental veneers
Veneers for teeth are what create a picture-perfect smile, but the materials used affect their look and longevity. Porcelain veneers are the most natural-looking restorations because the material reflects the light like tooth enamel and are comparable in terms of strength and durability. The main difference between porcelain and its composite counterpart is that the former is manufactured in a dental lab and bonded to the tooth, whereas a dentist layers resin directly onto the tooth enamel and moulds and shapes it to create a smooth new surface.
Porcelain veneers will set you back up to $2,036 per tooth, whereas composites cost around $836 per tooth. In terms of longevity, porcelain veneers last on average for ten years or longer, whereas you should get five years or more out of composites.
Caring for veneers
The good news is that veneers don’t require any special maintenance. Brush and floss twice daily as you do your natural teeth and visit the dentist regularly for dental check-ups. Remember that no matter how well you care for them, your veneers will eventually need replacing but keeping your oral health in tip-top condition will help them last longer.
Do you want veneers?
Now you know what veneers are for teeth, why not book a free consultation with the experienced dentists at Sydney Laser Dental Care to see if they’re right for you. We offer conventional porcelain veneers and same-day CEREC veneers, so what are you waiting for.
Pyrmont: (02) 9158 6213
Illawong: (02) 9158 6756
Sylvania Waters: (02) 9159 6083
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Oral Health Foundation: Veneers
https://www.dentalhealth.org/veneers
Byte: What is CEREC? Pros, Cons, Procedure and Costs
https://www.byte.com/community/resources/article/what-is-cerec-technology/
Smile.com: How Much do Veneers Cost?
https://www.smile.com.au/dental-treatments/veneers#:~:text=The%20national%20dental%20fee%20survey,capped%20fees%20on%20dental%20veneers.
Healthline: How Long can you Expect Veneers To Last?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-do-veneers-last#longevity
