Veneers

Veneers are thin shells that cover the front surface of the teeth. They restore the teeth by correcting their contours, colour, and dimensions to improve the appearance of the smile.

Veneers are made of porcelain or composite. Pporcelain veneers are more aesthetic and resist better to food stains than composite veneers.

Problems that veneers can fix

• Stained teeth that tooth whitening cannot improve.
• Teeth that are worn down to a normal extent (severely worn down teeth are better repaired with crowns).
• Mildly f ractured teeth.
• Misaligned teeth, although it is recommended to consider orthodontics first.
• Diastemas (space between teeth) where orthodontics can also be effective.

Steps in the preparation of porcelain veneers

• First visit. Before this appointment the dentist has already examined the teeth and the x-rays to make sure that veneers are the appropriate treatment. To prepare a tooth in view of placing a veneer, the dentist must remove about ½ millimeter of enamel all around, under local anesthesia. After, an impression of the teeth is taken and sent to the dental laboratory where the veneers are made. Temporary veneers are then placed on the teeth and they remain there until the following appointment.

• Second visit. The cementation of permanent veneers is done two to three weeks later. The dentist removes the temporary veneers, verifies the adaptation and the color of the porcelain veneers before installing them with dental cement.
• Composite veneers need only one visit.

Advantages of porcelain veneers

• They offer the very natural appearance of a tooth.
• They resist to food stains.
• Colour of the porcelain can be chosen to make the teeth appear whiter.

Maintenance of the veneers

Good oral hygiene must be maintained by brushing and flossing teeth that have veneers, as would be done with all other teeth.

Even thought porcelain veneers are resistant to food stains, the dentist can recommend reducing the use of staining foods, like coffee, tea, or red wine.

Veneers last between eight and twelve years. After that time they are replaced. One should take into account that getting veneers done is an irreversible treatment.

Cost of veneers

The price of veneers varies depending on whether the material is porcelain or composite, and which part of the country we live in. In general, the cost varies between 250$ and 500$ for composite veneers and between 700$ and 1,500$ for porcelain veneers.

References