WHAT ARE DENTAL VENEERS?

Dental veneers, also known as porcelain veneers or composite veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored, translucent porcelain or composite resin, custom made to fit over teeth and improve their color, shape and overall appearance. Placement of dental veneers can dramatically improve your smile and appearance.

TYPES OF VENEERS:

There are two types of veneers:
a. Ceramic Veneers (sometimes called laminates)
b. Resin-Based Composite Veneers.

a. Ceramic Veneers:

Ceramic veneers are extremely thin shells made of a strong and durable dental ceramic. A participating dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of the tooth. This makes room for the veneer and prevents the restored tooth from feeling or looking bulky or unnatural. Next, the participating dentist makes an impression of the prepared teeth so that the shape of the preparations and surrounding teeth can be replicated in the dental laboratory. The participating dentist also looks for the shade that will best match or blend with the other teeth. The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory that makes the ceramic veneers to fit your individual teeth. This may take several days. At the next visit, the participating dentist places the veneers on the teeth to check the fit and shape. After any adjustments, the teeth are cleaned and the ceramic veneers are bonded to the teeth with dental cement. Further adjustments may be done at a subsequent appointment.

B. Resin-Based Composite Veneers:

Resin-based composite veneers generally are placed in one appointment. After the tooth is prepared or reshaped, the participating dentist carefully bonds and sculpts the composite material in a colour that matches your other teeth. A special light is used to harden the composite. The veneer is smoothed and polished to look like a natural tooth.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO DENTAL VENEERS?

The closest conservative cosmetic alternative to porcelain veneers is composite resin. Composite resin is a tooth-colored filling material that may be used to form dental veneers. Dental crowns may also be used to correct the same problems that dental veneers correct, however it is a much less conservative procedure.