Composite Resin and Porcelain Veneers in Dubai

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.