Dental Veneers are wafer-thin shells that are bonded to the surfaces of teeth. The veneers are matched to the patient’s tooth colour to give them a more natural and even smile. Veneers are a popular choice for patients as they can drastically improve the overall aesthetics of your smile
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Many film star’s TV personalities and actors have chosen porcelain veneers, and the treatment doesn’t cost as much as you think. If you have unsightly gaps, chipped or crooked, stained or discoloured teeth dental veneers could transform your life!
The procedure is extremely straightforward and the amount of enamel removed is minimal and will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted so that the tooth stays the same size. Once the tooth has been prepared, the dentist will take an ‘impression’ (mould). This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer.
To begin the procedure, a small amount of preparation is required before fitting porcelain veneers. A thin layer is taken from the surface of your tooth – a layer that is the same thickness as the veneer to be fitted, so the resulting tooth remains the same size. Next, an impression of your teeth is made and a mould is sent to a laboratory where your veneer is fabricated.
The veneer will then be bonded to the top of your tooth, almost like a shield or cover, during a secondary appointment with your dentist. In the meantime, while you wait for your second appointment you will be given a temporary veneer.
Both appointments are relatively quick and easy for our team of professional dentists, who will keep you informed along every step of the process.
Typically, porcelain veneers will require at least 2 visits to your dentist. In the first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your jaw and teeth, and then send the resulting mould to a lab. This is where your custom veneers will be created. A set of temporary veneers will be given to you to wear in the meantime. This allows you to walk away from your first visit still with something to smile about, and an opportunity for you to get accustomed to the new image. When you go back for your second visit, your actual porcelain veneers will be ready to be bonded to your teeth.
There are two primary forms of dental veneers within the world of cosmetic dentistry – composite and porcelain veneers. Here at Parkfield Dental, we specialise mainly in porcelain veneers, which are typically more expensive than the composite type, and for good reason. More preparation, skill, time and effort is required to fabricate porcelain veneers in comparison – but this does result in a more durable and natural-looking veneer.
It is impossible to say for sure how much dental veneers cost, as it all depends on your individual circumstances. The cost will inevitably increase if your veneers break or need replacing for any other reason in the future. The only way to know for sure is to speak to a dentist and obtain a tailored quote for your specific desires.
Porcelain veneers are not completely resistant to stains, as with any other form of dental veneer, which can stain over an extended period of time just like your natural teeth. Nevertheless, with meticulous oral hygiene and good care, they should remain in good condition for 10 to 15 years. The initial material is incredibly fragile, but once bonded to the tooth it becomes extremely durable and resistant to chipping. If damage is to occur to your porcelain veneer, it will need to be replaced as it cannot be repaired in most cases. In some instances, your dentist may be able to carry out some stain removal work to lift some of the surface stains from your teeth and your veneer.
There are quite a number of differences between these two forms of dental veneer. The main differences lie within the preparation and how long each procedure takes. To have a porcelain veneer, your dentist must first remove a thin layer of enamel from the surface of your tooth so that your veneer can bond to it. An impression of your mouth is made and sent to a lab, where your veneer is fabricated to be fit in a secondary appointment back with your dentist.
This typically makes the procedure last and cost more when compared to composite veneers, but the results are much more durable and aesthetically pleasing. In most cases, you cannot repair a porcelain veneer if it breaks and you must replace it. However, as they are stronger and more durable, our dentists would expect to see broken porcelain veneers a lot less often than composite ones. Composite veneers are known to focus on fixing broken or misaligned teeth, over making your face look aesthetically better. With porcelain veneers, they concentrate on both equally.
You should not be tempted to try a home-based tooth whitening kit on composite veneers in particular, as they will not respond well to this tooth whitening treatment. You should speak to your dentist if you notice that your veneers are starting to look yellow or brown, or stain in any other way. Your dentist may be able to conduct a professional clean to help lift and remove stains, which porcelain and composite veneers tend to respond well to. If this is not possible, porcelain veneers can be replaced.
In almost all instances, veneers shouldn’t stain. But it’s important to take into consideration the propensity your teeth have to staining. If you are someone whose teeth are known to stain very easily, then after you have had your dental veneers fitted you should make an attempt to avoid or at least cut down on the kind of foods and behaviours that can lead to stained teeth. Here at Parkfield Dental, we always recommend that you look after your dental veneers as you would your natural teeth with proper oral hygiene and dental care.
This can change from patient to patient, and we always recommend that you speak to your dentist for a more clear picture. The dental veneer itself is artificial and non-living – as such, decay of the veneer is not something you need to worry about. But the tooth or teeth to which your dental veneers are attached, along with the surrounding gum tissue, are all living and subject to change over the years. Tooth decay or gum link shrinkage can lead to the veneer becoming weakened or may expose root surfaces.
If you are worried about losing your veneer, know that should it come off in an accident or otherwise, dental veneers can often be re-bonded to the teeth. If it is chipped or damaged, it can sometimes be re-bonded, or it may need replacing.
If you have stained, discoloured, chipped, misaligned, worn down or irregularly shaped teeth, then dental veneers could be a fantastic option. Veneers often require filing down your tooth enamel to be replaced with the porcelain or composite veneer, meaning that they cover up your existing teeth. This makes them an incredibly popular option for anyone who wants to achieve their dream smile – they are a common part of our smile makeover treatments. Dental veneers are known for being a very popular option among celebrities! Also, porcelain veneers are a very popular and effective option for those hoping to close a gap between their front teeth.
However, if you are suffering from extensive tooth decay, it is not recommended to seek to cover this up with dental veneers. You may require a consultation and dental care work before being considered viable for dental veneers first.
Veneers are commonly used to close gaps between natural teeth and to correct small or minor misalignments in your teeth. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, dental veneers are a popular option because they can improve the shape and alignment of your teeth while also providing an alternative to traditional tooth whitening at the same time. In fact, ceramic veneers are a popular solution for those hoping to improve the brightness of their smile. This dual purpose is one of the reasons that dental veneers are a popular option and are often part of our smile makeovers.
As alarming as it may initially be, you shouldn’t worry if one of your veneers comes off. Of course, it’s very rare that a veneer should become totally detached, but this does sometimes happen. We recommend that you attempt to save the veneer itself if at all possible, but do not attempt to reattach the veneer yourself under any circumstance. Get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible and you will be advised as to what you should do next. It may be possible to have your veneer re-bonded or replaced relatively quickly. In the meantime, your tooth may be more sensitive to cold foods and liquids while the veneer is detached.
One of the main advantages to dental veneers as a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure is that the preparation of the veneers will preserve a great deal of the tooth structure of your permanent teeth. For improved bond strength for the veneers, it is usually only necessary to remove a thin outer layer of tooth enamel – doing this makes the bond strength better while also improving the appearance of the veneer.
The dental veneer procedure is incredibly straightforward and easy – sometimes the entire process can be performed without the use of local anesthetic. However, for most procedures and for those patients that are nervous or anxious, local anesthetic can be applied to numb the given area.
Dental veneers can boost the appearance of your teeth a great deal, and gum tissue actually responds very well to the application of dental veneers. The colour of your dental veneers can also be custom selected in order to best match the natural colour of your permanent teeth, offering a seamless smile.
If there’s one thing you should always bear in mind when preparing for dental veneers, it is that the process is not reversible. While veneers preserve a large amount of your original tooth structure, some enamel must be removed in order for the procedure to be performed. This means that once you have begun preparation of veneers and had some of your enamel removed, the process cannot be undone.
This means that in the case of your veneers cracking or becoming damaged, it is difficult to have this repaired without needing to replace the entire veneer. A very minor amount of enamel is taken most the time, but it is still worth bearing this in mind if planning your own dental veneer journey.
It’s also good to reiterate the fact that one of the disadvantages of dental veneers are that it is not a very good option for people who have bad or poor gum health. As we have touched upon before, veneers are not a good option for covering up tooth or gum decay and you should always have a consultation with one of the dentists here at Parkfield before committing to a dental veneer treatment. This is for your own safety and the protection and health or your teeth and gums.
Another slight disadvantage to dental veneers is that they may require some small behavioral changes. For example, people with dental veneers should avoid habits like nail biting, pen chewing and similar activities. These are at risk of damaging or cracking the veneers. Also, people who grind and clench their teeth (such as people who grind their teeth habitually while sleeping) are also at risk of cracking and chipping any veneers they may have.
Another note to make is that veneers are actually susceptible to decay – meaning that maintaining excellent oral health and hygiene is absolutely essential. You should also visit your dentist regularly and see us for a consultation about how best you can maintain excellent oral health and a nice smile with your new dental veneers.
If you have discoloured, chipped, misaligned, uneven or worn down teeth, then dental veneers are an excellent dental treatment that can help you to improve any or all of these qualities. If you have gapped teeth you would like to fix, dental veneers can do that too. If you are interested in dental veneers and think they may be an excellent option for you, get in touch with the expert team of dentists here at Parkfield. Porcelain veneers are a common and popular cosmetic treatment used by many across the UK – get in touch with us to find out whether it’s the right treatment for your smile.
Porcelain veneers are incredibly strong and it can take quite a lot for veneer cracks to appear. That said, porcelain is still a glass material and can be cracked when a lot of force is applied. As such, it is advised to help keep your veneers strong and well maintained with good oral health such as regular brushing, using mouthwash and also flossing.
In terms of foods, as we have mentioned before, it is always gut to avoid chewing on particularly hard foods with your veneers. Things like ice, harder nuts and some candies can be potential hazards so try to avoid chewing on these with your veneers. The easiest way to think about it is that these foods are also the same kinds of food that can damage your natural teeth. So while porcelain veneers are exceptionally resilient, they can still crack and we advise caution when eating anything that might damage your natural teeth too.
In some particular cases when having the dental veneer treatment, your dentist may recommend gum contouring to improve the aesthetic and overall appearance of the treatment. This often done to improve the symmetry of your smile and can be used to lengthen shorter teeth. Most gum contouring treatments are performed without pain or discomfort – but in some rarer cases, surgical hum contouring might be advised.
If you have any questions or queries or if you would like to arrange an appointment, please call us, email us or use the form.
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