Porcelain Veneers
What are Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain which are custom made by our ceramicist and then bonded over the front of your natural teeth to change the way they look. They are aesthetic restorations which hide the underlying tooth structure beneath them.
When veneers are placed next to each other you can improve the symmetry, shape and colour of your smile.
What can you use them for?
We can use porcelain veneers to enhance the aesthetics of your teeth by. They are something to consider if you want to:
- Change the colour of your teeth
- Close spaces
- Rebuild broken and chipped teeth
- Replace decayed areas
- Change the shape and size of teeth
- Align crooked teeth
Sometimes if a tooth is too damaged or the defect is too large, a crown will be required instead.
Design
At our initial consultation we will determine whether you are a good candidate for veneers. We will assess what you want to achieve in terms of the colour, shape and size of your teeth and the overall design of your smile.
If we are considering multiple veneers we will normally do a smile design or mock-up. We take moulds of your teeth and get our ceramicist to design a mock-up on a wax model so you can visualise the changes before and after. We can also do a digital smile design on the computer.
Preparation
If you are happy with the proposed design we can prepare the teeth for the veneers. This involves removing a thin layer of enamel from the teeth. We then take a silicone mould to send to our ceramicist and attach temporary veneers. The temporary veneers give you another opportunity to assess the smile design and make changes if you wish.
Insert
Approximately 2 weeks later we remove the temporary veneers and try on the custom porcelain veneers. If you are happy with the appearance these are bonded into place.
Porcelain veneers last approximately 10-15 years with good maintenance and aftercare. Depending on habits and usage they can sometimes last a lifetime.
Porcelain veneers are the best aesthetic restorations available. The glass like translucency of the porcelain allows them to absorb and reflect light like natural teeth making them almost invisible. They are therefore more aesthetic then dental bonding, as well as stronger and more stain resistant. Because of the multiple appointments and time required porcelain veneers are also more expensive. Deciding which option is best for you varies from one individual to another and what you want to achieve.
Learn More About Veneers
We’d love to help you achieve your smile goals—porcelain veneers can be an incredible way to do exactly that. Contact our team at Southern Dental Care – Smile By Design today to schedule your appointment and get started on unlocking the smile of your dreams.
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