Why veneers are needed?
Beauty and health go hand in hand in modern dentistry, which is why veneers have become a popular way to create a Hollywood smile. Why veneers are needed and how they can change the appearance of your teeth – find out in this article.
What are veneers on teeth?
Veneers are special, extra-thin fillings. They are usually made on the teeth at the smile line. Veneers are preferably placed in pairs so that symmetrical teeth do not differ from each other. For a full smile reconstruction, veneers can cover up to 10 teeth on the upper jaw and the same number on the lower jaw. However, it is also possible to have one tooth covered with veneers.
Applying veneers is a type of dental restoration. Unlike crowns, veneers completely cover the front part of the tooth, hiding flaws. The result is a more aesthetic and natural-looking tooth.
Why do you need veneers?
Changing the color. Veneers are often used instead of bleaching teeth. Veneers allow you to effectively change the color and keep it for a lifetime.
- Tooth restorations. Veneers allow for a quick and safe restoration of the integrity of the incisal edge of the front teeth and correction of their shape.
- Masking chips and cracks. Veneers cover the entire front of the tooth, reliably concealing chips and cracks that for some reason have appeared on the enamel.
- Changes in shape and size. Slim onlays perfectly correct the shape and size of one or more teeth, making them wider or longer.
- Correction of enamel anomalies. Veneers are good at correcting enamel anomalies, such as hypoplasia and fluorosis.
- Correcting gaps between teeth. With the help of veneers, gaps between the teeth can be reduced.
Veneers effectively mask imperfections in enamel, hide large gaps between teeth and transform the tooth row, making your smile irreproachable.
Types of veneers
Dentists today offer veneers made of composite materials or ceramics.
Metal-ceramic veneers are not made on teeth.
- Composite veneers are a method of direct restoration done in one visit. The dentist uses a layer-by-layer application of the filling material, working directly in the mouth. Such fillings have a short lifespan and change color over time.
- Ceramic veneers are made of porcelain. In terms of aesthetics, they are very similar to natural enamel. The porcelain onlays are made by a dental technician and the process may take several days from the initial consultation to the application. Ceramic veneers do not stain and are sufficiently durable.
Veneers on teeth: pros and cons
Ceramic and composite veneers have several advantages:
- They protect teeth from decay and decay
- Are easy to care for
- Conceal imperfections of the teeth
Ceramic veneers also have some important advantages:
- Lasts more than 10 years
- Retains its original shape
- Look natural
- No darkening over time.
The only two disadvantages of porcelain veneers are the high cost and the need for complete replacement in the case of minor chipping. Composite veneers do not have these disadvantages, but they are less aesthetic and their lifespan is about three times shorter than ceramic veneers.
When veneers should not be placed
- Significant bite problems
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding of teeth)
- Poor oral hygiene
How ceramic veneers are placed
From the time of application to the final stage of application of veneers, several visits to the dental clinic are necessary. During this time, the following steps are necessary:
- diagnostic
- taking impressions
- 3D model making
- Preparation and placement of temporary onlays
- veneer fabrication
- fitting
Veneers are very thin and only a minimum of 0.6 mm of preparation is needed for their application. In some cases, the onlays can be fixed without grind-down, if the size and width of the gaps between the teeth allow.
Care of the veneers
Ceramic veneers are attached by dental types of cement. With proper care and regular visits to the dentist, porcelain veneers may last for 10-15 years. Veneers care instructions are simple and the same as for your teeth:
- Do not chew hard foods or bite into foods that are too hard
- Brush your teeth regularly and adequately
- Visit a dental hygienist every six months.
Ceramic and composite veneers give teeth a perfect shape and improve their shade. Veneers can also mask enlarged gaps, chipped teeth, and imperfections in enamel.
Veneers are very difficult to distinguish from natural teeth, especially when ceramic restorations are properly made by a dental technician and properly fitted by a dental prosthodontist. With good care, these will keep your smile looking perfect for more than ten years.
Still, have questions? Ask us.
