One of the most versatile tools available for a cosmetic dentist to help brighten and renew smiles is the porcelain veneer. Porcelain is a semi-translucent ceramic material that closely resembles the tooth enamel it replaces. Only a fraction of a millimetre thick, veneers are shaped and fitted by a cosmetic dentist and bonded to existing teeth.

Problems They Can Address
Veneers are a quick way to address relatively minor dental defects. If the problems are too severe, other solutions would be used, such as porcelain crowns, porcelain fillings, or orthodontics.
• Staining- Deeply stained teeth that are resistant to tooth whitening can be covered with porcelain veneers.
• Cracks and chips - The porcelain acts as a splint when applied to cracked teeth, preventing them from sustaining further damage. The veneer has a full front surface which covers the small chip
• Mismatched teeth - Your cosmetic dentist can create veneers such that they give a new front surface to any unevenly sized teeth, making them look nicely matched to each other.
• Gaps - Veneers can be shaped so as to extend slightly over a gap, two veneers covering half the gap each.

How Porcelain Veneers Are Done
Most often, veneers take a couple visits to complete. During the first visit, the cosmetic dentist evaluates the teeth and buffs the front surfaces, removing a tiny part of the enamel to make space for the veneers. Most veneers are only 0.5 to 0.7 mm thick. The dentist then makes an impression of the teeth, and sends an order to a dental lab to make the veneers. In a second visit, the veneers are attached.

However, some cosmetic dentists have a chairside CEREC system which does the entire job in just one visit. The dentist will use a digital camera to get detailed images of what is needed, instead of having you bite on that putty-like substance to make a tooth impression. The digital images are input to the CEREC system, and the CEREC software enables the dentist to plan your veneers. The CEREC mill then makes them as you wait.

Caring for Your Veneers
Normal dental hygiene should be continued to protect your veneers. You would not want to allow bacteria to spread up under them and decay your teeth and tooth roots. Avoid crunching ice or hard nuts with a veneer as they could chip. Porcelain is stain-resistant and very durable. With good daily care your veneers should last many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Author:  Dr David Dooley