Veneers

Veneers: Porcelain & Resin

Porcelain Veneers.

Porcelain veneers are a thin shell of porcelain that is bonded to the front surface of the tooth and are designed to dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth.

The dentist is able to retain the natural structure of your teeth, and the results achieved are very natural. Veneers are able to straighten the appearance of your teeth, whiten or if required change the shape of your teeth.  Veneers are usually made on groups of teeth eg. the front upper 6-8 teeth, as it is very difficult to precisely match one veneer to adjacent teeth.

What is involved?

Two visits, in most cases, is all that is required. The length of the appointments varies depending on how many veneers and the complexity of the design.

The first appointment we shape the teeth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression is taken of the prepared teeth and sent to a dental laboratory, who will construct the veneers to the dentist’s specifications.

During the period of time between the first and second appointment, we may, if needed, prepare temporary veneers and temporarily bond them onto the prepared tooth.

The second appointment is when the permanent veneer is bonded, we will trial fit them first to ensure we are happy with the final appearance.

What is the life span of a veneer?

The average life of veneers is between 7 to 10 years. The main factor involved in how long they will last is how well you look after them. Veneers usually require replacing due to gum recession or decay. Both these are preventable with meticulous cleaning, and regular examinations and cleaning by your dental team. The other main cause of a veneer failing is due to a heavy bite, or night grinding, in these circumstances the dentist may recommend a night splint to prevent damage to the veneers and to your natural teeth.

Caring for your Veneers

Regular professional cleans are essential for long-term maintenance of veneers. Veneers are very strong; however like your natural teeth, very strong force on the teeth can result in fractures, avoid chewing pens, very sticky foods and other hard objects, just as you would for your natural teeth.

Regular brushing and flossing, as instructed by the dental team will allow a long and successful life of veneers.

Resin Veneers.

Resin veneers are a thin shell of composite material (ceramic particles embedded in a plastic matrix) which are bonded to the front surface of the tooth and are designed to improve the appearance of your teeth.  Veneers are able to straighten the appearance of your teeth, whiten or if required change the shape of your teeth.  Veneers are usually made on groups of teeth eg. the front upper 6-8 teeth, as it is very difficult to precisely match one veneer to adjacent teeth.

What is involved?

One visit is all that is required. The length of the appointment varies depending on how many veneers and the complexity of the design.

At this appointment we shape the teeth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, often no shaping or drilling is necessary.  The tooth surface is then prepared for bonding – this is the ‘glue’ that holds the resin onto the tooth surface. The resin is placed and then contoured to the optimum shape.

What is the life span of a veneer?

The average life of veneers is between 5 to 7 years. The main factor involved in how long they will last is how well you look after them. Veneers usually require replacing due to discolouration, chipping, wearing or decay.  These are preventable with meticulous cleaning, and regular examinations and cleaning by your dental team. The other main cause of a veneer failing is due to a heavy bite, or night grinding, in these circumstances the dentist may recommend a night splint to prevent damage to the veneers and to your natural teeth.

Caring for your Veneers

Regular professional cleans are essential for long-term maintenance of veneers. Veneers are quite strong; however like your natural teeth, very strong force on the teeth can result in fractures, avoid chewing pens, very sticky foods and other hard objects, just as you would for your natural teeth.

Regular brushing and flossing, as instructed by the dental team will allow a long and successful life of veneers.

The surface of the veneer will lose its gloss with time and is likely to discolour and lose its vital, natural appearance.  Avoiding products that stain your teeth such as smoking, red wine, tea and coffee, will extend the life of the veneer.

Resin Versus Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain: Pro’s- more natural looking, shiny, smoother, less bulky, stronger

                Con’s- requires tooth preparation, 2 visits, more expensive

Resin:    Pro’s- no tooth grinding, one visit only, less expensive

              Con’s- bulkier as bonded onto the un-prepared tooth, weaker, more difficult to mask very dark teeth