Cosmetic Dentistry General and Preventive Dentistry

Dental veneers are thin sheets of porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit over your teeth, providing a natural look. They can be used to fix chipped, stained, misaligned, worn down, uneven, or abnormally spaced teeth.

How long do porcelain veneers last?

The anticipated shelf-life of a porcelain veneer is usually between seven and 20 years. Veneers sometimes chip off. In such a scenario, they can be repaired or replaced. Also, in due course of time, the living tooth and gum tissue around the veneers will undergo age-related alterations that may require modifications to your veneers.

What do you expect during a veneer procedure?

  • Firstly, a small amount of the tooth structure is removed to facilitate placement of the veneer.
  • An impression of the tooth is taken and forwarded to the dental laboratory.
  • The dental veneer is custom made to accurately adapt to the tooth surface.
  • The veneer is bonded/fixed to the tooth with resin cement.

Aside from eating and drinking many activities, habits and even everyday occurrences can result in sensitivity including –

Are veneers prone to staining?

No, they don’t stain. However, you should try to avoid or minimize habits that lead to stainings like excessive tea or coffee consumption, smoking, and look after them with normal hygiene and maintenance procedures.

What is the difference between veneers and crowns?

Crowns completely cover your teeth like a cap, however, a veneer is a thin sheet of ceramic that is placed to the front/visible surface of your tooth with less impairment to the tooth structure.

Will my veneer teeth be sensitive to hot and cold?

Initially, there will be mild sensitivity to hot and cold beverages due to the removal of a thin layer of the tooth surface. This will subside in a few days. Avoidance of hot and cold beverages is recommended for a few days for the veneers to adapt.

How sturdy are veneers? Are there any diet restrictions if I’m wearing veneers?

Porcelain veneers are very strong. Nevertheless, porcelain is a glass and can crack if very strong forces are applied. It is advisable to avoid chewing hard food items like ice, hard nuts, candy, apples, popcorn. The natural teeth are often damaged by these same foods while porcelain veneers are very resilient, they aren’t indestructible.

Am I prone to cavities with veneers on my teeth?

There is no higher or lower prevalence of tooth decay with veneers as long as they receive appropriate care.

Is the procedure reversible?

Because the procedure involves the removal of a very thin layer of tooth enamel to accommodate the thickness of the veneer, the process is not considered reversible.

 I have a habit of grinding my teeth at night. Will this damage my porcelain veneers?

Yes, this will gradually damage your veneers just as this habit will grind down natural teeth. Consult with your dentist to provide you with a protective bite guard to wear at night to reduce the stress on your teeth while you sleep.

What are the advantages of dental veneers?

The preparation of veneers is conservative in nature, meaning it requires the removal of minimal tooth structure.  They can vastly improve the appearance of your teeth, and gum tissues respond well to dental veneers.  The color of the veneer can be custom selected to match the other teeth and these types of restorations are extremely stain resistant.

How do you care for veneers?

The veneers tend to adhere strongly to your tooth, but you have to keep it clean and free from plaque buildup to ensure its ongoing health and resilience. It is recommended to brush thoroughly around all surfaces of the tooth and floss between the teeth daily. Avoid biting hot foods or drinking hot beverages with your veneers as much as possible and drink less sugary beverages. One of the most important things to remember after you get your veneers is to keep up with twice-yearly appointments for cleanings and checkups.

Getting started with veneers

The best candidates for porcelain veneers have one or more issues that make them unhappy with their smile. To make sure veneers are an option, your dentist will examine you for:

  • Tooth decay
  • The overall health of your gums
  • Overly large fillings
  • Teeth grinding habit i.e. bruxism

Are there any alternatives to dental veneers?

Yes, there are alternatives to dental veneers. The closest substitute to this dental treatment happens to be a composite resin which is a tooth-colored filling substance used to make dental veneers. Dental crowns can also solve the same dental problems as veneers but the latter gives you more natural-looking and lasting results.

Aesthetics of dental veneers

Veneers are aesthetically pleasing. They are designed to mimic the natural tooth; especially the porcelain veneers. Tooth preparation for veneers is conservative. However, the perfection and fitment of the veneers will depend on the dentist and the technique used.

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