Porcelain Veneers

What are Porcelain Veneers?

A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of strong ceramic material, custom-made to fit tightly over the front surface of a tooth, and which can cover the biting edge as well as the sides of the tooth. You can have porcelain veneers placed over any of your front teeth, including uppers and lowers, which are visible when you smile or talk.

The purpose of veneers is to hide imperfections or discolorations, creating a beautifully aligned, even smile. The porcelain used to fabricate modern veneers is lifelike and highly translucent, closely mimicking the natural light-reflecting properties of tooth enamel.

Understanding the Differences between Traditional and Prep-free Veneers

Traditionally, most veneers require minimal tooth preparation and are typically 0.5 mm thick. These veneers are irreversible since some tooth structure must be removed to make room for them. After treatment, these prepared teeth will always need some form of protection.

Some veneers are prepless, meaning no tooth preparation is required, and they are typically much thinner, around 0.2 mm. The reduction in thickness is possible since a stronger porcelain is used to fabricate them. These prepless veneers are, in theory, reversible, but are only suitable in specific circumstances.

Cosmetic Issues Addressed by Veneers

Porcelain veneers are excellent at hiding small imperfections in teeth, and you may wish to consider them if you have any of the following issues, including:

• Discolored and stained teeth that will not respond to teeth whitening.
• Chipped or cracked teeth.
• Worn teeth or teeth that are too short.
• Slightly misaligned teeth, which are uneven or crooked.
• Irregularly shaped teeth, or teeth that are too small.
• Gaps between teeth.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Choosing porcelain veneers to enhance the appearance of a smile cosmetically can provide aesthetic and functional benefits, including:

• Natural-looking results since the porcelain closely mimics real tooth enamel.
• Porcelain veneers are durable and can last 10 years or longer with the right aftercare.
• Porcelain is stain-resistant, so your smile will look good for years to come.
• Only minimal tooth preparation is needed, removing only a small amount of enamel.
• Results are fast, as we can often design, custom make, and fit your veneers in just two or three visits to Dental Pearl.
• Well-designed veneers can restore balance and harmony to your smile, boosting self-confidence.

Understanding the Treatment Process

At least two visits to our comfortable dental office are needed to plan, design, and fit your porcelain veneers. Below is a brief outline of what to expect, but everyone receives a custom treatment plan, so the exact process may vary.

1. Consultation & Dental Exam

During your initial visit, we discuss your treatment goals in depth to better understand the issues that concern you. Our cosmetic dentist will carefully examine your teeth to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for treatment. At this stage, we will also discuss how many veneers you may require.

Some people choose to have veneers covering all the upper and lower teeth visible when they smile and talk. Others only require one or two porcelain veneers, especially when this treatment is combined with other procedures such as teeth whitening.

2. Designing Your Treatment Plan

Your treatment plan is based on the number of veneers required and will detail the predicted dental veneers cost if you decide to proceed.

If required, we can use Digital Smile Design, which is based on a digital scan of your mouth combined with photographs. It is a useful technique when several veneers are desired, as we can show you virtual images depicting how your new veneers will look.

These images can be adjusted and refined until you are happy with the results. This can be a useful exercise for determining whether treatment will yield the desired outcome, and it can also be quite exciting.

3. Preparing Your Teeth

If we need to remove some tooth material, we use a local anesthetic to ensure you feel completely comfortable throughout the procedure. Once numb, our experienced cosmetic dentist will remove a minimal amount of tooth material, ensuring there is adequate room for your new veneers to fit correctly while looking natural and beautiful.

4. Digital Dental Scan

Once your teeth are prepared, we take a detailed digital impression that replaces traditional tray impressions. A digital impression is precise, fast, and minimally invasive. It is a much more comfortable process and ideal for anyone who struggles to sit still for several minutes or who has a strong gag reflex.

5. Temporary Veneers

You will only need temporary veneers if we must prepare your teeth. The temporary veneers protect these teeth and prevent them from becoming sensitive to temperature changes while your new veneers are fabricated.

These temporary veneers are fitted onto your teeth with temporary cement, so you will need to take care not to dislodge them. If you require multiple veneers and have had Digital Smile Design, we may base the design of your temporary veneers on your custom design.

This allows you to gain a much better idea of how your new teeth will look and feel before they are created. If necessary, we can then make any adjustments to the design.

6. Receiving Your Permanent Veneers

Once we have custom-made your porcelain veneers, a process that may take two weeks or longer, we can remove your temporary veneers and try them in. Our cosmetic dentist will check that they fit precisely and look beautiful before bonding them to your teeth.

What to Expect after Having Veneers

Any new restoration can initially feel slightly strange, so it may take a few days to become accustomed to the feel and appearance of your new veneers. During this time, you may encounter temporary tooth sensitivity. Continuing to brush and floss normally will help your teeth settle down more quickly.

Good ongoing oral care is essential, including a daily routine of twice-daily brushing and flossing. This should be combined with regular dental exams and hygiene appointments at Dental Pearl.

How Long Will Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneers can last 10 or more years. This depends on proper oral care. Factors that can affect the longevity include:

• Oral hygiene habits.
• Adherence to regular professional dental cleanings.
• The presence of oral habits like teeth grinding.

Are Porcelain Veneers Right for You?

Most people are suitable for veneers, but there are a few factors we need to consider during your consultation, which include:

• You shouldn’t have any large fillings or decay in teeth to be veneered, as they could be too weak for this kind of restoration.
• You mustn’t have any signs of active gum disease.
• There should be no issues with teeth grinding and clenching, a condition called bruxism, which is largely nocturnal. Bruxism can chip and crack teeth and porcelain veneers.

Alternatives to Veneers

Various alternatives to veneers do exist and are briefly outlined below.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding uses tooth coloured composite resin that is applied directly to tooth surfaces. It can enhance the appearance of the tooth, but the results are quite subtle. Also, dental bonding can become stained after a few years. However, treatment is very cost-effective.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is effective for externally stained teeth. It can be a good option if these teeth are generally in good shape and properly aligned.

However, porcelain veneers are more versatile and can hide teeth that do not respond to teeth whitening treatments. They can also correct the size, shape, and alignment of the tooth. Sometimes we may recommend using both procedures together for a more conservative treatment option.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Porcelain Veneers Become Chipped?

Yes, you can chip or crack porcelain veneers if you bite into something hard or use your teeth as tools. Damage can also occur if you have untreated bruxism.

2. Will Veneers Damage My Natural Teeth?

The amount of tooth preparation needed for veneers is minimal, but it’s important to understand that removing tooth structure means the veneers are irreversible. However, if you have prepless veneers, you can, in theory, reverse this treatment.

3. What are Press-On Veneers?

Press-on veneers are temporary and not meant to be worn all the time. They are made to clip onto or fit over natural teeth and are meant to be used only occasionally, for example, at special events.

These veneers are not ideal because they do not fit as well as porcelain veneers, and food and bacteria can become trapped underneath them. They may be an ideal temporary solution to see if veneers are right for you.