Are Dental Veneers Just A Cosmetic Option?

 Many patients are interested in improving their appearance. One option is porcelain veneers. For a crown, this involves the removal of less tooth structure. The final appliance covers the entire tooth in a crown. A veneer only covers a small amount of the biting edge and the front portion of the tooth. It has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages are the fact that less tooth structure is removed and they are very aesthetic looking. A disadvantage would be on an individual basis as not all teeth are well suited for veneers. A person should be an adult before a veneer is considered.

 

On younger persons, a Local Dentist will place veneers there are such cases reported. In such cases, the teeth may not fully erupt and in time the margins will be exposed with an unsightly line. A patient's exaggerated expectations can be a factor that is a warning to a dentist who may not perform the veneer process. Veneers should not be placed on patients who have a heavy underbite. The veneers can split or chip readily in such cases.

 

The procedure of dental veneers

 

On good clinical grounds when a person is selected for veneers the process is actually very satisfying. In most cases, the teeth are reduced minimally by 1 -1.5 mm. If a tooth is out of line with the next one to it, the reduction may be more to allow for the final placement of Dental Veneers that line up aesthetically. The impression is taken and the case is sent to the laboratory.

 

The tooth is etched with phosphoric acid 4%, this roughens the tooth surface lightly allowing a bonding liquid to adhere to the tooth. With a polymer liquid bonding agent, the tooth is then painted. It is a polymer dissolved in acetone. For the material we next place in the veneer it becomes the “anchor”.  A polymer plastic paste is placed on the inside of the veneer.

 

This paste comes in many shades to both matches the underlying teeth, or often to mask the discoloration of the tooth. A paste and veneer that are complemented by the color of the underlying color of the teeth veneers are manufactured to allow light to shine through, these are called translucent. In some severe cases, the underlying tooth may be severely discolored and a non-translucent material is used in both the veneer and the bonding paste.

 

The material used has what is called an infinite cure polymer. That is once it has begun to harden the material will continue to set. This is particularly important as the veneer, even when translucent, does block some of the light from the curing unit.

 

Minor adjustments are made, such as removing the material between the teeth and trimming the margins where some of the polymer bonding material has overflowed. To ensure there is not a heavy contact on closing as this will crack a veneer teeth as well the ‘bite’ is checked. Veneers are estimated to last about 15+ years.