PORCELAIN VENEERS
As we age, our teeth can yellow and wear down. If it’s just the yellowing that’s bothering you, we can recommend teeth whitening treatment — however, if your teeth are worn or chipped as well, we recommend opting for veneers.
Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells made of dental-grade ceramic that are bonded to the front surface of teeth. These veneers are designed to improve the appearance of teeth by correcting various cosmetic issues like discolouration, chips, gaps, and misalignments.
Porcelain veneers procedure
The porcelain veneers process can be broken down into a few simple steps.
- Impressions: On the first visit, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and complete a diagnostic wax-up to produce an accurate model of your veneers.
- Try-on appointment: You will be invited back to a second try-on appointment, where your dentist will create veneers out of tooth-coloured filling material, which will be placed onto your teeth so you can see what the final result will look like. Adjustments can be made to the shape and size at this point.
- Teeth preparation: A small amount of enamel needs to be removed from the front surface of the teeth receiving veneers. This creates space for the veneers and ensures a natural-looking result. Local anaesthesia can be used to numb the area during this process.
- Impressions: Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth, which are sent to a local laboratory to create custom-made veneers that fit your teeth perfectly. This takes approximately two weeks.
- Veneer placement: Once your custom veneers are ready, you will be invited back to Boulton Dental for their placement. Your dentist will check the veneers’ fit, shape, and colour before permanently bonding them to your teeth.
- Bonding: Your dentist will carefully etch the tooth surface and apply a dental adhesive to ensure a strong bond. The veneers are then placed on the teeth and positioned. A special light activates and hardens the adhesive, securing the veneers in place.
- Final adjustments: Your dentist will make any necessary adjustments to ensure the veneers fit comfortably and look natural. This may involve trimming the veneers and refining the shape and colour to achieve a beautiful new look.
The porcelain veneers procedure requires multiple dental visits, with a temporary phase between the tooth preparation and the final placement of the veneers. However, porcelain veneers can provide a long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing solution with proper care and maintenance!
Porcelain veneers are almost as strong as your natural teeth
You might have heard that porcelain veneers aren’t as strong as your natural teeth — while that might have been true once, modern dental technology and bonding materials have debunked this theory!
It’s true that veneers don’t usually last forever, and you will need to be prepared to replace them at some point. However, veneers come with the added bonus that you won’t lose as much of your natural tooth (only around 3% or so) compared with a crown.
Plus, porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, unlike natural enamel!