Dental veneers, also called porcelain veneers or
composite veneers are wafer thin shells of tooth-colored, translucent porcelain
or composite resin, that is custom made to be fixed over existing teeth and
improve their color, shape and overall appearance. The placement of dental veneers
is known to drastically and dramatically improve an individual's smile and overall
appearance.
What
types of flaws can dental veneers correct?
Many individuals and practitioners refer to Porcelain Veneers in Dubai as
'instant orthodontics' because they can be used to cover a plethora of dental
flaws and problems involving teeth in the 'smile zone', which includes,
·
Spaces between the teeth
·
Poorly shaped, misaligned or crooked teeth
·
Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
·
Stained teeth
·
Unsightly or stained fillings
Dental veneers can improve the appearance of the teeth
and perform a complete smile
makeover Dubai, however, it
cannot realign the jaw or correct overbites and underbites.
Orthodontics are required to correct these more complicated dental problems.
What other alternatives do individuals have other than dental
veneers?
The most closest cosmetic dental alternative to porcelain
veneers is composite resin. Composite resin is a tooth-colored filling material
that could be used to make dental veneers. Dental crowns are another
alternative that can be used to correct the same problems that dental veneers correct,
however, it is a far less traditional dental procedure.
Porcelain veneers have a variety of advantages as opposed
to composite resin veneers. These include,
Porcelain dental veneers are long lasting and highly durable.
Although porcelain veneers may look and feel like thin shells, usually between
0.5 to 0.7 millimeters and inherently brittle, once they are bonded to the
healthy tooth structure they become strong and do not break or chip. Porcelain
veneers last for many years, usually 10-15 years, with proper oral care and
dental hygiene. A tooth or teeth that are fixed with dental veneers should not
be used to chew hard objects like ice and should most definitely not be used as
a tool.
Porcelain veneers create a 'lifelike and natural' appearance.
The translucent properties of the porcelain allow the veneers to mimic the
light handling characteristics of enamel giving it a realistic look, which
cannot be achieved with other cosmetic bonding materials such as composite
resin.
Porcelain veneers do not stain easily, as opposed to
other types of cosmetic dental bonding materials because porcelain is a smooth,
impervious ceramic, and therefore is not respectable to permanent stains from dark
or richly colored food, beverages and spices.
Porcelain veneers are conservative and only a very small
amount of tooth structure is removed during
the procedure, as opposed to other types of dental treatment.
Some of the disadvantages of porcelain veneers as opposed
to composite resin veneers include,
Porcelain veneers are not pre-made or done at chair-side,
unlike other dental treatments. Porcelain veneers are made to order, therefore
they are first fabricated in a dental
laboratory and the patient may need a maximum of two to three dental visits to
have them placed perfectly. On the other hand, composite resin veneers are
accomplished in just one visit. An adequate amount of tooth structure is
removed to allow for placement of composite resin in the desired shape. The
bonding adhesive is applied and the composite resin is then added, light cured,
then finished and polished.
Porcelain veneers are more expensive, compared to composite
veneers. The placement of porcelain veneers requires a fair amount of time, expertise
and resources to fabricate, bond them in place and therefore cost more.
Porcelain veneers cannot be repaired, if they break they
can only be replaced.
Who
makes a good candidate for dental veneers?
The Montreal International Clinics in Jumeirah say
that Dental veneers are not appropriate for everyone. Patient selection is an
extremely important factor in the success of this treatment. Dental veneers are
not reversible as the tooth structure needs to be removed to achieve the desired
results. An appointment with an experienced dentist can determine whether
dental veneers are an appropriate option for the patient. Some of the instances
where certain individuals and teeth are not good candidates for dental veneers
include,
·
Unhealthy teeth such as cavities and dental decay
and gum disease must be first treated prior to fabricating and bonding dental
veneers.
·
Weak and brittle teeth. Patients who have a significant
amount of tooth structure missing or had a large filling in the teeth in
question, then it will not be strong enough to function with a dental veneer.
·
Teeth with insufficient dental enamel. Dental
veneers are bonded to the tooth enamel to be successful.
·
Individuals who have a habit of clenching or
grinding teeth, also known as Bruxism. This
condition can be overcome with the use of dental night-guards, in some cases.
·
Individuals with an unstable bite.
·
Badly positioned teeth or misaligned teeth. Prior
to veneers, orthodontic treatment is required to achieve the desired result.
What
is the process of placing porcelain veneers?
A patient may need two visits to the dentists for veneers.
Firstly, the dentist will examine the teeth, and the
patient's desires and expectations, size and shape of the teeth and the corrective limitations of porcelain
veneers are discussed and color shades are selected. The patient should be actively involved in
this process.
Next, the teeth are prepped for porcelain veneers, by trimming the enamel from the front and
biting edge of the teeth to accommodate the added thickness of the veneers so
they can fit over the teeth without any noticeable flaws. Typically 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters of enamel will be removed.
Thereafter, an impression is taken to make the porcelain veneers to fit the teeth.
Depending on the patient and the amount of tooth structure that is removed, temporary
veneers may or may not be placed.
At the second visit, the temporary veneers, if present, is
removed and the custom made porcelain veneers will be checked for its shape, color,
fit and feel and if the patient is happy with it, the teeth are cleaned with a
mild acidic solution and the veneers are bonded to the teeth. Once the porcelain
veneers are bonded it is permanent and cannot be adjusted. Once the veneers are
bonded any excess cement will be removed, and the teeth will be flossed and the
veneers will be polished.
Dental veneers can chip or come off if proper post care
is not followed. To improve their durability and longevity, a patient needs to maintain
a consistent oral care routine with regular dental examinations and cleanings.