A guide to dental veneers Having crooked, uneven or misaligned teeth when approaching adulthood can limit a person’s self-confidence, particularly for those who are required to take part in public speaking. For this reason, the emergence of cosmetic dentistry has resulted in a high number of people making the bold move and resolving the issue once and for all. Dental veneers are usually utilised to allow image-conscious individuals to make the most of their smile, forgetting any insecurities they once had about joining in a conversation while attending a social gathering. Stained, crooked, damaged and badly worn teeth can be replaced with a brand new, straight, white smile that has become commonplace among glamorous Hollywood celebrities walking the red carpet. What are dental veneers? Wafer-thin laminates of tooth-coloured materials that can be made from ceramics, porcelain or composite bonding material and are attached to the front surface of the pearly whites to improve their appearance. They can be used to provide a new smile for people who have encountered any problems with their teeth, such as: Damage – Many individuals find their teeth become badly worn as a result of excessive grinding or drinking too many fizzy drinks, while others with chopped or broken areas can benefit from dental veneers. Although small damages can be repaired with composite bonding, more severe cases can be fixed with a porcelain attachment that looks and feels like a natural tooth. Gaps – People who want to fill gaps or spaces between their teeth could also opt for this effective treatment, which is likely to improve the appearance of the smile while aligning the smile. Stains – Many lifestyle choices such as smoking and drinking can have a negative impact on oral health and result in the discolouration of the teeth. Dental veneers can help pearly whites retrieve their natural glow and are often selected by a high number of patients looking to resolve issues with stained teeth. Misalignment – Although this course of action is not the ideal treatment for crooked teeth, it is becoming more common for patients with slight issues to request the installation of porcelain veneers. This is due to the timely manner of the procedure, as well as the alleviation of the requirement to wear traditional metal braces. Which is the most popular type of fixture? Porcelain veneers have emerged as the most popular type of veneer due to the strong and durable material. Composite fittings are more likely to stain and do not last as long as the highly sought after alternative. Additionally, porcelain installations provide a more natural-looking, translucent appearance, which is why they are the more costly of the two. While composite veneers could be the ideal course of action for individuals with minor problems with their teeth, the weakness and low cost of this option may mean they need replacing sooner than the more expensive treatment. What happens during this procedure? Patients will attend an initial consultation with a dental professional before this procedure is carried out. During this appointment, they will be able to express their needs and concerns, as well as learn what will occur during the course of treatment. Additionally, this visit is an ideal opportunity for individuals to receive advice on the likely recovery time and the overall cost of dental veneers. Before the custom-designed fixtures are created, a dentist will reshape and prepare the front surfaces of the teeth to accommodate the veneers. This process may seem daunting, but patients can rest assured the teeth and gums will be numbed with a local anaesthetic so pain and discomfort will not be experienced. During this procedure, a tiny part of the front surface of the teeth will be shaved off using a special type of dental drill. The amount of the tooth that is removed is largely dependent on the thickness of the veneer that will sit over the top. Following this, an impression of the pearly whites is taken after dental putty is pushed into the teeth to allow the creation of an imprint. This copy is then sent to a dental laboratory where an accurate model is created to be used as a guide to manufacturer the new veneers. Due to the complexity of this process, patients should expect to wait around three weeks. Some dental professionals will provide individuals with temporary veneers while this process is carried out, which could be ideal for those who are worried about their appearance. The second appointment will see the veneers fitted to the front surface of the teeth after they are thoroughly cleaned and roughed with a special acid to provide the best possible surface for the dental cement to stick to. When they are cemented into place, a specialised curling light is used to activate the dental adhesive to permanently bond the veneer to the appropriate area. A dentist will trim away any excess cement in order to achieve the best possible result. Do dental veneers provide a long-term solution? Dental veneers usually last between five and ten years, meaning they will certainly need to be replaced at some point. In some cases, the fixture can come lose and fall off so it is important for patients to keep hold of their veneer if such an event occurs. An effective oral hygiene routine that is carried out on a daily basis can significantly increase the chances of veneers lasting longer. While they are commonly attached over a minimum of two visits, some dentists have the technology to crate and fit the attachments in a limited time. CAM/CAD in-house ceramic studios can produce the custom-made high-quality veneers on-site in as little as six minutes, allowing the patient to enjoy a new smile in just one day. Are there any alternatives? As dental veneers have become a more established form of cosmetic dentistry, an increasing number of alternatives have been introduced to fit the needs of individuals with special requirements. Lumineers – are created from a patented cerinate porcelain that is around the same thickness as a contact lens, but much more durable. With this type of veneer, the tooth surface does not need to be trimmed, making the procedure completely pain-free. This is also the case with Durathin veneers, which are normally fitted within one hour. MAC Veneers – These fixtures are created from pressed ceramic, which provides more strength than traditional alternatives. Individuals seeking a smile makeover could truly see their quality of life improve with this strong and attractive option. Da Vinci Veneers – Manufactured in the US, the da Vinci brand name is extremely popular with high-profile cosmetic dentists who provide this type of treatment for big named celebrities.

A guide to veneers Emerging technologies in the world of cosmetic dentistry have made individuals realise they no longer have to live with crooked, broken or missing teeth, with a high number of people now able to afford this type of treatment. The use of veneers to complete the ultimate smile makeover has become gradually more popular among members of the public of all ages as a means of creating a brand new smile that can be proudly showed off, while allowing previously shy patients to embrace social situations. What are dental veneers? This course of action sees a dental professional attach wafer-thin laminates of tooth-coloured material (produced from either ceramic, porcelain or composite bonding items) to the front of the pearly whites to drastically improve their cosmetic appearance. What problems can they help to resolve? Dental veneers can be used to treat a wide variety of problems that may have resulted in individuals having a poor quality of life as a result of self-esteem issues. Gapped teeth: spaces that have emerged between pearly whites – or indeed been present since eruption – can be closed as part of this course of action, which – in turn – will create a neater, more uniform-looking smile. Stained teeth: Badly discoloured teeth that can not be improved using other methods of dentistry – including whitening procedures – can be transformed using dental veneers, which can cover any existing marks on the surface. Crooked teeth: While this type of cosmetic dentistry is not ideally suited to treating misaligned pearly whites, the thin layer of film can be placed over the uneven area to create a more attractive solution. Individuals who are living with this problem should attend an appointment with their dental professional in order to discuss the possible routes they can take to make improvements, with invisible braces often the most popular course of action due to the fact they preserve the natural structure of the mouth. Damaged teeth: In cases when individuals consume too many sugary drinks or grind their jaw during the night, an oral health expert will usually recommend the creation of dental veneers to replace broken or eroded teeth. Small chips or cavities can more often than not be filed with composite bonding, while a single damaged pearly white can be repaired with a porcelain veneer that is manufactured to match the characteristics and shade of the natural area. What does the dental veneer procedure entail? Firstly, an initial consultation will take place between a prospective patient and a dental professional to discuss the issue and allow the practitioner to examine the area, while getting a detailed feel of the requirements and desires of the visitor. During this appointment, individuals are urged to raise any questions they may have about the procedure, including the cost and likely timeframe to give them peace of mind that there will be no glitches along the way. Before the installations can be fitted, the front surfaces of the natural teeth are reshaped and drilled down to accommodate the additions. The dentist will numb the teeth and surrounding gum tissue with a local anaesthetic so patients will not feel any pain or discomfort throughout the procedure. Using a special tool, the practitioner will shave a tiny part of the front surface of each pearly white, while the amount removed is approximately the equivalent to the thickness of the film that will sit over the top of the tooth. Following this, an impression of the teeth is taken after putty is placed into the mouth on a tray and pushed against the affected area to create an imprint. The mould is then used as the basis to create an accurate depiction of the pearly whites, which is used as a guide to create the new veneers. While this process can take between one and three weeks, many cosmetic dentists will fit temporary installations to protect the prepared teeth and allow patients to walk around with confidence in the moments before the final procedure is carried out. During the second appointment, the new fittings will be attached to the surfaces of the shaven down area – which is previously roughened with a special acid to create the optimum conditions for the adhesive – before being thoroughly cleaned. Composite vs. Porcelain The most popular type of veneer selected by image-conscious members of the public is porcelain due to its durability and stronger nature, while composite alternatives are usually more prone to staining and do not last as long as their counterparts. For this reason, the aforementioned installation is more expensive due to its natural-looking, translucent appearance, whereas the cheaper version is better suited for fixing small chips. How long do dental veneers last? More expensive options will typically last between five and ten years, while those that cost less will stay in place for one or two years at the most. It is important for patients to understand that – although they are a long-term solution – their veneers will eventually need to be replaced. In some cases, the fittings may become loose and fall off, with patients advised to keep hold of the material and contact their dental professional for treatment as soon as possible. An effective daily oral hygiene routine can help individuals enjoy their improved appearance for much longer. What are Lumineers? Similarly to standard porcelain devices, Lumineers are manufactured using a patented cerinate material that is around the same thickness as a contact lens, but extremely strong. Using this method, a professional dentist does not need to reshape the surface of the natural tooth, making this course of action quicker and completely painless. What about da Vinci Veneers? Like Lumineers, this course of action uses an extremely thin substance that is often used in smile makeovers. This technique is extremely popular with high profile cosmetic dentists in the US, with many boasting a range of celebrities among their clients. Alternatively, MAC Veneers are produced from pressed ceramic, which provides more strength than traditional feldspathic attachments. This type of treatment combines beauty and strength to provide an ideal solution for anyone looking to improve their smile and quality of life with beautiful, bright teeth.