Frequently asked questions about veneers
Having a white and healthy mouth is looked at as a virtue of health and beauty. For numerous people, attaining that perfect look is still a dream because of chipped, discolored, or misaligned teeth. But, through the technologies of beauty dentistry, veneers are a safe and excellent reliable means of changing the appearance of smiles in a glamorous way in a shorter time span.
What is a dental veneer?
Dental veneers are sensible, thin layers of material made from a composite or ceramic and applied directly to the enamel. It is used on patients who need to have their teeth reshaped, red-colored, or repositioned in one way or the other.
Steps involved in getting a dental veneer
The simplest form of porcelain veneer treatment typically takes the following process: Understanding this condition, treatment begins with an initial consultation with a prosthodontist, during which you will describe what you want and what worries you. The prosthodontist will effectively show you how veneers fit your requirements and may take photographs, X-rays, or impressions of your teeth.
In the next step, the tooth is reduced by a small amount of enamel to allow the veneer to be placed on. An impression of the tooth is then made, and temporary veneers are set. In the last sittings, the temporary veneer is glued to be replaced by the final veneer once it is ready and cemented to your tooth.
When it comes to those composite bonding veneers, the procedure is a lot easier and can be done all within one visit. The prosthodontist will subsequently take a small amount of the tooth structure and then apply and sculpt the tooth-colored filling. Nonetheless, there are composite veneers, which, though considerably cheaper than porcelain veneers, are not as long-lasting or stain resistant.
How long can you expect dental veneers to last?
Dental veneers normally last an average of 5 to 10 years. One of the most important advantages is the ease of their maintenance: they should be brushed as well as flossed and visited by the prosthodontist following the standard procedure. If veneers are treated patiently, they can even outlast the average lifespan of a dental veneer. Annual examinations and biannual professional cleaning treatments are advised to increase their life span.
In the next step, the tooth is reduced by a small amount of enamel to allow the veneer to be placed on. An impression of the tooth is then made, and temporary veneers are set. In the last sittings, the temporary veneer is glued to be replaced by the final veneer once it is ready and cemented to your tooth.
When it comes to those composite bonding veneers, the procedure is a lot easier and can be done all within one visit. The prosthodontist will subsequently take a small amount of the tooth structure and then apply and sculpt the tooth-colored filling. Nonetheless, there are composite veneers, which, though considerably cheaper than porcelain veneers, are not as long-lasting or stain resistant.
Can you whiten veneers with toothpaste or whitening strips?
You might feel the urge to whiten your veneers if they do not blend with your natural teeth color. However, the whitening gels do not affect the veneers well, and to match the color of the veneers, they will need to be cemented.
In the next step, the tooth is reduced by a small amount of enamel to allow the veneer to be placed on. An impression of the tooth is then made, and temporary veneers are set. In the last sittings, the temporary veneer is glued to be replaced by the final veneer once it is ready and cemented to your tooth.
When it comes to those composite bonding veneers, the procedure is a lot easier and can be done all within one visit. The prosthodontist will subsequently take a small amount of the tooth structure and then apply and sculpt the tooth-colored filling. Nonetheless, there are composite veneers, which, though considerably cheaper than porcelain veneers, are not as long-lasting or stain resistant.
Why veneers turn yellow and what you can do about it?
You might feel the urge to whiten your veneers if they do not blend with your natural teeth color. However, the whitening gels do not affect the veneers well, and to match the color of the veneers, they will need to be cemented.
In the next step, the tooth is reduced by a small amount of enamel to allow the veneer to be placed on. An impression of the tooth is then made, and temporary veneers are set. In the last sittings, the temporary veneer is glued to be replaced by the final veneer once it is ready and cemented to your tooth.
When it comes to those composite bonding veneers, the procedure is a lot easier and can be done all within one visit. The prosthodontist will subsequently take a small amount of the tooth structure and then apply and sculpt the tooth-colored filling. Nonetheless, there are composite veneers, which, though considerably cheaper than porcelain veneers, are not as long-lasting or stain resistant.
1. Brown Lines at the Gum Line:
With time you develop receding gums, and this leaves a gap between the veneer and the tooth where you have a glue line, which may turn color as you take coffee, wine, or other dark pigments.
What to Do:
Make sure to pay attention to gum recession. When you visit your dentist for a regular dental checkup, ask for a pocket reading to know the degree of your receded gum line. Gingival recession is currently untreatable; however, its progression can be managed when the patient visits a dentist early enough.
2. Darkened Veneers:
Less frequently, plastic veneers may offer minimal discoloration, while porcelain veneers are resistant to discoloration.
What to Do:
The next time you go for a dental cleaning appointment, ask the hygienist who cleans your teeth to buff the veneer to eliminate all stains that are found on the surface.
3. Impacted Teeth:
In case a certain tooth gets injured, the inner tissue of the tooth, which is dentin, wears out and could be at a faster pace than that of non-injured teeth.
What to Do:
One should use a whitening gel tray to fit the shape of the back of the affected tooth for the shade modification. It may bleach or alter the dentin, which shall positively change the look of the tooth through the veneer.
4. Old Veneers:
Those veneers that were done over 20 years ago could have been fixed with more porous materials, so they will find it hard to resist the stain-holding materials.
What to Do:
In case you have veneers well past their prime, consider switching to new, stronger, and less prone to discoloration porcelain ones.
Determining the right number of dental veneers for you
The number of veneers required in a particular case is decided in a prosthodontic examination; the dentist may advise veneers for you or may not. Ideally, the number of veneers should be even to give a sleek look to the smile, as it is advised two, four, eight, or ten, up to twelve veneers at a time.
How should I care for my veneers?
Veneer requires certain dental care measures, such as rinsing your mouth twice daily for two minutes, flossing daily, and getting a night guard. It is also advisable not to bite heavily on such hard foods as almonds or lean on the front veneers to break the shell, as this would help increase the veneers' life span.
What to ask your prosthodontist before veneers?
Before getting veneers, ask your prosthodontist the following questions:
- Can you show me some veneer cases similar to mine that you have done before?
- How many veneer treatments have you done?
- Is the dental lab you deal with skilled in cosmetic veneers?
- Might I see a model of what my veneers will appear like before the final application?
Am I able to have a look at how my veneer teeth will look before the process takes place?
Of course, a digital smile preview is achievable by taking a photograph of your face and editing the teeth digitally. This gives you an extensive view of the likely aesthetic result, enabling you to consider if veneers are the right choice for you.