Normally, a good alternative to crowns, veneers are very thin pieces of specially shaped porcelain or plastic that are attached over the front of your teeth. It is a great procedure as it needs very little or no anesthesia. The appearance of the veneers, when applied by a licensed cosmetic dentist, is virtually interchangeable compared to natural teeth, meaning a very genuine look for you. The people who mainly taken advantage of this procedure, suffer from severely discolored, chipped, crooked, broken, cracking or pitted teeth.

Very different from crowns, veneers do not require the cosmetic dentist to remove a significant amount of the tooth. They usually only have remove very little tooth. This is important to you because it cuts down on the possibility of trauma to your tooth.

 

What can you expect?

Your initial visit to your cosmetic dentist’s office consists of an exam, to be sure that this procedure is right for you. This is where you are able to ask the dentist any questions or concerns you may have, and also if he/she feels you are a good candidate for the procedure. After this, your second visit will typically involve the cosmetic dentist creating an impression of your teeth, and your third visit will consist of attaching the veneers onto your teeth.

Prior to the veneer being permanently placed on your tooth, your cosmetic dentist will temporally place the veneer on your tooth to examine its fit and color. Your dentist will make the necessary changes, if any, to achieve perfect fit. The next step is the cleaning, polishing and etching (scraping kind of, it roughens the tooth to allow for better bonding. The cement or bonding, is then spread on to the veneer, which is positioned on your tooth. The cosmetic dentist then uses a laser, which triggers the chemicals in the bonding, or cement, to harden quickly.

The final process is quite simple, and involves cleaning up any excess cement and making sure your bite is proper. Expect for you cosmetic dentist to request you to come in, for a follow up appointment, a couple weeks later, This allows your cosmetic dentist to do a final examination of the veneers placement, along with being sure your gums are responding well to the presence of your new veneers.

What types of Veneers are there?

1. Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers are a very thin porcelain material that is applied to your tooth. This procedure requires at least two (probably three) visits to the dentist and also a dental laboratory to construct your veneers. Some of your tooth is shaved off, so the veneers can fit properly.

Pros of Porcelain Veneers:

• Last at least 10-15 years, and sometimes even longer
• Very difficult to stain
• Strong and very durable
• Can strengthen your tooth

Cons of Porcelain Veneers:

• More expensive than regular composite veneers
• Typically very little tooth is removed, but in some extreme cases, more tooth has to be removed and it can cause tooth trauma

2. Lumineer Porcelain Veneers: Lumineer porcelain veneers are rather new to the market and made from Cerinate porcelain.

Cerinate is a thinner type of porcelain than the porcelain used in standard veneers. Lumineer porcelain veneers are as thin as a contact lense. This is great for you because very little and sometimes no tooth reduction is required. Like porcelain veneers, lumineers also require at least two visits to your cosmetic dentist.

Pros of Lumineer porcelain Veneers:

• The Lumineer porcelain veneers are as thin as a contact lens, which means little or no tooth removal for you.
• You will not need to wear temporary veneers
• Last at least 10-15 years, and sometimes even longer
• Very difficult to stain
• Strong and very durable
• Reversible if no tooth is removed

Cons of Lumineer porcelain Veneers:

• More expensive than the other types of veneers

3. Composite Veneers: Composite veneers is a procedure which involves applying composite resin substance directly to your tooth’s surface. It can be fashioned by your cosmetic dentist for your desired shape of the tooth. The are also known as direct veneers.

Pros of Composite Veneers:

• Cheaper than the other types of Veneers
• Can be completed usually in a single visit to your cosmetic dentists office

Cons of Composite Veneers:

• Last only 5-7 years typically