Porcelain Veneers
Don’t settle for a smile that doesn’t make you feel amazing! Porcelain veneers can change the colour, shape and length of your teeth and completely transform your smile!
Dental veneers or “porcelain veneers” are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured materials that are placed over the front surface of teeth giving them a clean, even, and natural appearance. The veneers are designed to change the colour, shape, size, or length of your teeth.
Dental veneers are made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and better mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Veneers are strongly bonded to the teeth with resin cement.
If you have teeth that appear too small, uneven, chipped, or have dark stains, porcelain veneers may be a great choice for you.
Who is a good candidate for porcelain veneers:
Porcelain veneers can be used to solve a wide variety of aesthetic concerns. These include the treatment of teeth that:
- Are discoloured due to root canal treatment
- Are stained from tetracycline or excessive fluoride
- Have large white composite fillings that have discoloured
- Are worn down
- Are chipped or broken
- Are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped
- Have gaps between them
Who should avoid porcelain veneers:
Unfortunately, veneers are not a good choice for everyone. People should avoid veneers if they:
- Clench and grind their teeth due to the risk of cracking and chipping. In some cases, a brux guard can be worn to avoid this.
- Have unhealthy teeth due to decay or active gum disease
- Have weakened teeth as a result of decay, fracture or large dental fillings. In this case, a crown may be a better option.
- Have an inadequate amount of existing enamel on the tooth surface.
What to expect
Getting a dental veneer usually requires three trips to the dentist – one for a consultation and two to make and apply the veneers. One tooth or many teeth can simultaneously undergo the veneering process described below.
- Diagnosis and treatment planning - This first step involves your active participation. You will need to explain to your dentist the result that you are trying to achieve. During this appointment, your dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate for you and discuss what the procedure will involve and some of its limitations. Often they will take X-rays, impressions of your mouth and teeth and photographs to discuss smile goals and evaluate symmetry.
- Preparation - To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will reshape the tooth surface. The amount removed is more or less equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. Before trimming off the enamel, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area. Next, your dentist takes an impression of your teeth or does a 3D scan and sends it to a dental laboratory to have your veneer(s) made. Temporary dental veneers are placed that will mimic the final result allowing you to “test drive” your new smile.
- Bonding - In about 2 weeks, when your veneers have been fabricated, you will return to have your veneers bonded in place. Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented to your tooth, your dentist will temporarily place it on your tooth to examine its fit and colour. The veneer colour can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. Next, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched to allow for a strong bonding process. The veneer will be bonded in place using special cement and a curing light. Any excess cement will be removed and your bite evaluated.
- Your dentist may ask you to return for a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to check how your gums are responding to the presence of your veneer and to once again examine the veneer's placement.
Smile makeover
In some instances, patients are unhappy with their smile because multiple front teeth are short or unsightly. In these cases, it may be necessary to provide multiple veneers to create an acceptable new smile. These cases require careful diagnosis and treatment as there are often other factors such as extensive, decay, grinding, erosion or misaligned bite that have contributed to the deterioration of the front teeth.
Porcelain veneers can offer a conservative approach to changing the colour, shape and length of your teeth. They generally don't require as extensive re-shaping of teeth prior to the procedure as crowns do, yet they still provide a strong, aesthetic tooth restoration.
Advantages of porcelain veneers
- They provide a natural tooth appearance.
- Gum tissue tolerates porcelain well.
- Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant.
- The colour of a porcelain veneer can be selected such that it makes dark teeth appear whiter
Disadvantages of porcelain veneers
- The process is not reversible
- Veneers are usually not repairable should they chip or crack.
- Because enamel has been removed, your tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages.
- Veneers may not exactly match the colour of your other teeth and it can’t be altered once in place. If you plan on whitening your teeth, you need to do so before getting veneers.
- Veneers occasionally dislodge and fall off
- Veneers are usually more costly than composite resin bonding.
- Teeth with veneers can still experience decay, possibly necessitating full coverage of the tooth with a crown.
What to avoid if you have veneers
Porcelain veneers are very strong but they are not as strong as natural teeth and they can chip or dislodge. If you decide to proceed with veneers you should avoid biting on hard objects such as pencils, ice and fingernails. In addition, a brux guard is usually recommended to prevent breakage due to night-time clenching and grinding.
How Long Do Dental Veneers Last?
Veneers generally last between 7 and 15 years depending on the patient and their dental health and habits. After this time, the veneers usually need to be replaced.