How Do Veneers Work? How the Smile Makeover Takes Place

How Do Veneers Work: The Process Explained

Dental veneer application typically involves several steps. It’s a collaboration between you, your cosmetic dentist, and sometimes a dental laboratory to ensure the final result is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound.

Step 1: Consultation and Treatment Planning

The process begins with a consultation at your dentist’s office. Your dentist evaluates your oral health, discusses your cosmetic goals, and explains how veneers work. They might also take X-rays and impressions of your mouth and teeth.

Step 2: Tooth Preparation

Following the treatment planning, your dentist prepares the tooth for the veneer. A small amount of the tooth enamel is removed—roughly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added. This tooth preparation allows the veneer to fit seamlessly within your smile and look natural. Your dentist then creates an impression or model of your tooth, which is sent to a dental lab to create your veneer.

Step 3: Temporary Veneers

While the permanent veneers are being created, which could take a few weeks, your dentist might place temporary dental veneers to protect the prepared teeth.

Step 4: Bonding

Once the permanent veneers are prepared, your dentist temporarily places them on your tooth to check the fit and colour, trimming the veneer as necessary for a perfect fit. Before the veneer is permanently bonded to your tooth, your tooth is cleaned, polished, and etched, allowing for a strong bonding process.

Finally, special dental cement is applied to the veneer and placed on your tooth. The last part of the application process also involves using a unique light beam that activates the chemicals within the dental cement, causing it to set rapidly. Your dentist will then take care to fine-tune any necessary adjustments. It’s quite typical to be asked to swing by for a follow-up visit, so your dentist can see how your gums are adjusting to the new veneer.

The Magic of Veneers: What They Can Address

Dental veneers can work magic on many cosmetic occurrences, transforming the look of your teeth. Here’s what they can address:

1. Discoloured Teeth: Whether due to excessive fluoride, root canal treatment, or other causes, veneers cover discolourations, delivering a dazzling white smile.
2. Worn Down Teeth: Veneers can restore their length and shape for teeth that have been worn down from grinding or due to age.
3. Chipped or Broken Teeth: Veneers can mask the damage and present a flawless tooth surface.
4. Misaligned, Uneven, or Irregularly Shaped Teeth: If braces aren’t for you, veneers can offer a solution, creating a uniform smile.
5. Gaps Between Teeth: Veneers can be designed to close gaps between your teeth, offering an alternative to orthodontic treatment.

The Benefits of Dental Veneers

Now that we’ve answered the question, “How do veneers work,” let’s look at why they are a popular choice in cosmetic dentistry.

Natural Appearance: Dental veneers are designed to mimic the look of your natural teeth, offering a realistic and appealing aesthetic. The shade of the veneer can be selected to make dark teeth appear whiter or to match your existing teeth.

Gum-Friendly: Gum tissue tolerates porcelain veneers well, minimising irritation or discomfort.

Stain-Resistant: Porcelain is a stain-resistant material, keeping your smile bright even if you enjoy stain-causing foods and beverages.

Strength and Durability: While not as strong as natural teeth, porcelain veneers are still reasonably durable, providing a long-lasting cosmetic solution.

Confidence Boost: By addressing various cosmetic concerns, veneers can dramatically improve your smile, increasing your self-confidence.

Caring For Your Veneers

Just like your natural teeth, veneers require good oral hygiene. Regular brushing and flossing, as are regular check-ups and cleanings at the dentist’s office, are essential. Although porcelain veneers resist stains, your dentist may advise you to limit foods and beverages that stain teeth, like coffee, tea, or red wine.

Veneers should be treated with care, just like your natural teeth. Do not use them to open packaging, bite your fingernails, or chew on hard objects. While they are designed to handle the forces of chewing and biting, they could be damaged by habits such as these.

How Much Do Veneers Cost?

The price tag attached to veneers can fluctuate based on a few key variables, including how complex your situation might be, whether you opt for porcelain or composite resin veneers, the number of veneers required, and the skill level of your dentist. While veneers might seem like a hefty expense up front, the remarkable transformation they offer could make them a value-for-money spend.

Choosing Between Porcelain and Composite Resin Veneers

Once you’ve decided to take the leap towards a dazzling smile with dental veneers, your next decision is to choose between porcelain and composite resin veneers. Each of these materials has its unique attributes and advantages.

Porcelain Veneers

Often the first choice for many, porcelain veneers are renowned for their exceptional durability and uncanny ability to echo the light-reflecting properties and sheen of natural tooth enamel, placing them at the top spot of the most commonly applied veneers.

Produced meticulously in a dental lab, these traditional porcelain veneers usually require a couple of visits to your dentist’s practice. The first appointment is for tooth preparation and impression taking, and the second is for veneer placement. A key highlight of porcelain veneers that sets them apart is their resistance to staining. Unlike our natural teeth and composite resin counterparts, porcelain is nonporous, which makes it resistant to the staining culprits we often encounter in our daily lives – think coffee, red wine, and nicotine.

However, porcelain veneers do come with a caveat – a higher price point, reflecting the advanced technology and high-grade materials employed in their crafting. Moreover, it’s important to note that the procedure is irreversible due to the necessary removal of some enamel from the tooth surface to accommodate the veneer.

Composite Resin Veneers

Alternatively, your dentist sculpts composite resin veneers directly onto your teeth in a single appointment. Composite veneers offer the advantage of immediacy – you can walk out of your dentist’s office with a brand-new smile in one day.

Composite resin veneers are less costly and don’t require a lot of tooth preparation, meaning that more of your natural tooth structure stays preserved. Additionally, they can be repaired if they chip or break, unlike porcelain veneers.

However, composite veneers don’t last as long as porcelain veneers, typically needing replacement every 5 to 7 years. They’re also less resistant to staining and don’t have the same light-reflecting properties as porcelain, resulting in a less natural-looking result.

The Lifespan of Veneers: What to Expect

No matter the kind of veneers you choose remember they aren’t permanent. Even with the most meticulous oral hygiene and care, they will eventually need to be changed out. However, their lifespan can differ significantly, depending on the material and your oral habits.

Porcelain veneers are known to have a typical lifespan of at least a decade, while composite veneers usually need replacement every 5 to 7 years. Regular check-ups with your dentist will ensure any potential issues are caught early, extending the life of your veneers.

Potential Risks and Disadvantages of Veneers

While veneers can offer a significant cosmetic upgrade, they also come with some potential risks and downsides you should consider:

• Irreversible Procedure: With traditional veneers, the process involves the removal of a layer of your tooth enamel, which is irreversible.
• Potential for Damage: Although veneers are strong, they’re not invincible. Chewing or biting on hard objects can cause them to chip or crack.
• Sensitivity: Some patients may undergo increased sensitivity to foods and drinks, both hot and cold, after the procedure due to enamel removal.
• No Immunity to Decay: Veneers cover the front surface of your teeth, but the back and sides are still susceptible to decay and gum disease.
• Replacement Costs: While veneers are long-lasting, they are not a lifetime solution and will eventually need to be replaced.

Looking After Your Veneers

Good oral hygiene habits don’t stop when you get veneers; they’re just as crucial as ever. Even though veneers cover the front of your teeth, the back and sides of your teeth are still susceptible to cavities.

To protect your new veneers, follow a daily oral hygiene routine that includes teeth brushing twice daily, flossing, and using an antiseptic mouthwash. Going to the dentist for check-ups and professional cleanings regularly is also essential. Be careful with your veneers, just as you would with your natural teeth, avoiding hard and sticky foods that could damage them.

While veneers can offer a beautiful smile, they work best when combined with good oral hygiene and a commitment to protecting your overall oral health. Whether you opt for porcelain or composite resin, dental veneers can significantly boost confidence and allow you to show off your best smile every day.

Book Your Consultation Today

So, how do veneers work? As we’ve explored, they work by offering a robust and aesthetic solution to a range of cosmetic concerns. Whether you’re looking to correct a broken or chipped tooth, close gaps, correct misshapen teeth, or address smaller-than-average teeth, veneers offer a solution that can improve the look of your teeth and boost your confidence.

At Beyond 32 Dental, we’re passionate about bringing smiles to life with high-quality dental procedures, including the provision of stunning veneers. If you’ve been considering how veneers could help you, don’t wait any longer. Take the first step towards your new smile today.

Ready to boost your confidence with a brand-new smile? Book a consultation with us at Beyond 32 Dental today. After all, you deserve to smile with pride, knowing your teeth look their absolute best. Let us help you on your journey towards a smile you love.

References:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/all-topics-a-z/veneers

https://alwafd.org/ada-code-direct-coposite-veneer

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23522-dental-veneers