Dental Veneers: All You Need to Know

1. Dental Veneers: All You Need to Know The first thing most people notice about the other person is his smile. Some people might feel less confident or have low self-esteem because of their damaged or discoloured teeth and, thus, refrain from smiling in public. They wish to fix their teeth and make their smile look great. Dental Veneers are the ideal cosmetic dental restorations to improve the appearance of your natural teeth. These thin layers of material are bonded over the front of your tooth to correct your stained, chipped, gapped, cracked, or broken teeth. The best part about dental veneers is that they look like real teeth, and porcelain ones resist stains well. If you are considering undergoing a dental veneer procedure, keep reading to learn more about this dental procedure. What are Dental Veneers? A dental veneer is a common cosmetic dental procedure that people undergo to improve the appearance of their damaged or discoloured teeth. Made from porcelain or resin composite materials, dental veneers are thin shells customised to cover the front surface of a patient’s teeth. Bonding these custom-made, thin shells over the tooth’s surface helps create attractive smiles by hiding teeth blemishes, making them appear whiter and straighter.

2. When Do You Need Dental Veneers? In most cases, Dental Veneers are categorised as cosmetic dental procedures and are not medically necessary. However, sometimes, people need to undergo dental veneer procedures to protect their teeth damaged by injury or decay. Your dentist might advise you to get veneers if you want: ● To correct discolouration or stained teeth ● To enhance the brightness of your smile ● To close gaps between your teeth ● To fix chips or fractures ● To fix crooked or crowded teeth ● To replace old fillings ● To correct small misalignments On the other hand, if you have severely damaged teeth that dental veneers can’t fix, you should look for other cosmetic dental restoration options. For instance, dental crown treatment is a more suitable option to restore severely weak, decayed, or broken teeth. What are Common Types of Dental Veneers? When considering a dental veneer procedure, you should know the common types to make the right choice. Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or composite resin material. Porcelain veneers Porcelain veneers are fabricated with thin porcelain pieces bonded to the front surface of your teeth. These dental veneers are touted for offering a more long-lasting solution than composite resin. In addition, they provide the added benefit of being very similar to your natural teeth when it comes to opacity. It means how light permeates porcelain veneers almost matches how light permeates your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers give you limitless freedom to improve tooth colour, shape, and overall aesthetics. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about porcelain veneers staining or changing their colour over time.

3. Composite resin Composite resin veneers are fabricated with dental composite material bonded to the front surface of your teeth. These dental veneers are less expensive than porcelain veneers and need minimal tooth preparation. However, the resin is not as strong as porcelain material. Moreover, veneers made of composite resin are more likely to stain, accumulate plaque, and chip. Step-by-Step Dental Veneers Procedure Getting dental veneers is a relatively simple procedure performed in the dentist’s office. However, you might need to book a few appointments to complete the dental procedure. Initial consultation The first appointment for diagnosis involves an intimate consultation with your dentist. You can explain your insecurity with your smile to your dentist in detail to help him develop a plan to produce the results you want to achieve. During the initial consultation, your dentist will assess your overall hygiene, spot dental issues, and discuss your goals to determine your suitability for dental veneers. You can expect the dentist to take X-rays, photos, and even impressions of your teeth. Preparing your teeth Once your dentist decides you are an ideal candidate for dental veneers, he will prepare your teeth. It can involve treating cavities, reshaping your teeth surface, and removing and roughing the enamel to help the bonding cement adhere better. Next, the dentist makes an impression of your teeth and sends it to a dental laboratory, where veneers are customised to fit your teeth and mouth. Fitting and bonding the veneers Once dental veneers return from the lab, your dentist will test the colour, size, and overall appearance. If they look and feel right, he will bond the custom dental veneers over your teeth surface. It’s done by etching your prepared teeth with an etching solution to allow veneers to bond with your teeth properly. After etching your teeth, the veneers are bonded using a special bonding cement. Finally, a light cure is used to harden the bonding cement and secure the veneers in their place.

4. Aftercare Getting dental veneers is not very painful, and there is not much of a recovery period. However, it’s still advisable to visit your dentist for follow-up checkups. It will help the dentist check whether your veneers are attached well and ensure you are comfortable with them. Moreover, after the procedure, your gums might be sore from the area the dentist administered local anesthesia. You can expect your gums to become fine within a day or two. However, if you experience any discomfort afterwards, consider visiting your dentist. How Long Can Dental Veneers Last? Generally, dental veneers are considered a very durable cosmetic dental restoration. With proper care and maintenance, they can last for years. On average, dental veneers can last for 10 to 15 years. The lifespan of veneers depends on multiple factors, such as the type of veneers bonded, what food you consume, and your oral hygiene. You should know that dental veneers are not indestructible. If veneers are hit hard, they can chip or break. Moreover, the adhesive used to bond veneers to your teeth can break down over time. Final Note Dental veneers are the right choice if you are looking for a quick, painless, and easy way to transform your smile. These dental restorations offer relatively permanent solutions to fix your chipped, broken, fractured, crowded, gapped, misshapen, and discoloured teeth. You can also opt for Dental Crown Treatment if your teeth are severely weak, broken, or decayed. A reputable dental practice usually offers a range of veneer options and cosmetic dental procedures that fit your dental needs.