Dental Veneers are designed to transform your smile by hiding any imperfections on your teeth. Veneers are a cosmetic treatment that delivers an aesthetically pleasing look, and these are one of the main reasons why patients opt for veneers. It’s also a great option should you experience discoloration, gaps, and chips.
How Are Dental Veneers Fitted?
After the initial consultation at your family dentist, you and the dentist will have decided whether dental veneers are the right choice of treatment. Once you move forward with dental veneers, the tooth is prepared.
The dentist first takes a thin layer of the enamel away from the tooth to make way for the veneers to be fitted. There is unlikely to be any pain to this, but you may be given a temporary cover to place over the tooth whilst the veneer is being prepared.
Once the dentist has taken an impression of your mouth, and the veneer is molded accordingly to fit the shape and size of your smile, the veneer is attached to the front surface to replace the thin-shaped enamel that was taken away.
What Are The Types Of Veneers Available?
Although, which types of veneers should you choose? There are five types to be aware of.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are tooth-shaped covers, or crowns, that are placed to cover the front surface of the teeth. They are minimally invasive, meaning that the damage they can cause is minimal, which is why porcelain veneers are popular.
The procedure involves placing a thin-shaped porcelain shell on top of your teeth, connected with a bonding agent. If you’re suffering from chips, cracks, and discoloration, porcelain is a natural choice to hide those imperfections.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers are also referred to as composite bonding and are made from a colored resin material that’s applied directly to your teeth without wearing away your enamel. Like porcelain, they’re designed to cover any imperfections such as chips, cracks, and discoloration.
They’re slightly cheaper and are typically completed within one appointment, where the resin material is placed on the cut enamel. The composite material is more inclined to become damaged but is repairable. With porcelain, the damaged veneer would need replacing. We ave added more details on types of Porcelain Veneer and Composite veneers.
Palatal Veneers (Onlays)
Palatal Veneers are designed to replace teeth towards the back of the mouth called posterior teeth, and teeth towards the front of the mouth called anterior teeth. Damage to the teeth is caused by conditions such as teeth grinding and enamel erosion. Palatal veneers are a good choice to restore any comprised areas of your teeth.
Lumineers
Lumineers are ultra-thin and translucent, meaning they can be seen in light and reflect the color of your tooth enamel. The difference between Porcelain and Lumineers is that Lumineers are extremely thin, meaning no tooth contouring or enamel removal is required.
Although, Lumineers are more delicate compared to Porcelain and are prone to chipping. If looked after, Lumineers can last for up to 15 years.
Removable Veneers (Non-Permanent)
Removable veneers are also known as Snap-On veneers made from dental-grade polymer, that are a non-permanent option compared to dental veneers. They’re considered an alternative for those who want a temporary solution to their smile.
Just like Porcelain veneers, Snap-On veneers are also designed to hide imperfections to your smiles, such as crooked teeth, chips, and stains. The advantage of Removable veneers is no enamel needs to be removed.
Although, they’re not as durable compared to Porcelain veneers and need frequent visits to the dentist to replace them.
Are There Any Side Effects To Wearing Veneers?
Traditional veneers are a great choice if you want to transform your smile. Although, like many other cosmetic procedures, there are conditions and side effects to be aware of.
Tooth Sensitivity – During the first few weeks of veneer treatment, there will be some sensitivity whilst your mouth adjusts to fitted veneers. If the sensitivity continues, it is an indication that there’s an unknown problem that needs to be seen to.
Dentin Issues – The dentist will be extra careful and professional in removing a thin layer of enamel from your teeth. If the veneer is poorly fitted, this will cause jaw pain and further sensitivity. On a rare occurrence, this could happen.
Replacing Damaged Veneers – The dentist will recommend that any damage to your enamel before veneers are placed gets seen. Whilst there are other forms of treatment available, if you’re set on veneers, make sure your enamel is strong to hold the bonding agent.
It’s Time To Transform Your Smile…
Dental veneers cannot restore any damaged teeth but can hide those imperfections that have damaged your smiling confidence. Any minor imperfections such as light discoloration or chips can be resolved with other preventative treatments. For an aesthetically-pleasing outlook, veneers are a very popular choice.
