Things To Consider When You’re Considering Veneers

Veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures, which receive more than their fair share of coverage in celebrity, beauty and lifestyle magazines, perhaps due to the promise of a quick, painless way to truly perfect teeth. The veneer consists of bespoke porcelain covers, fitted over your teeth either individually or as a unit to make them look whiter, straighter and shinier. A veneer is the quickest way of hiding stains, cracks, and uneven bite, chips or other imperfections, and is often the next step after teeth whitening or in people for whom whitening is not an option. Many celebrities have veneers, which are an essential element of the ‘Hollywood smile’, but they are also commonly offered to individuals who suffer from gum disease and have partial or missing teeth.

Porcelain or resin?

The most common form of veneers are the individual, porcelain covers. These are thicker than composite or resin veneers, and are less likely to stain or fade: many people consider them more ‘real’ or natural-looking as a result. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to both types: the resin composite, while sometimes less convincing and prone to staining, is much thinner, which means that the dentist does not have to remove as much of the natural tooth enamel to apply it. The less removed, the better, as loss of enamel can lead to tooth decay and even the death of the root or nerve. The resin composite veneer is also usually quicker to fit, applied in a single appointment following the preliminary office visit, while porcelain veneers can take up to five appointments to apply.

What to expect

First, you’ll make a preliminary appointment, which should be quite quick: your dentist will make x-rays of your teeth. Use this appointment to talk about the ‘look’ you’re going for, and about any concerns you have about the size, colour and style of your new smile. It helps to use pictures as examples, and to attend with a list of questions about the procedure, including how long it will take, what your pain relief options are, and what aftercare is available if you chip or break a veneer.

The next time you see your dentist, he or she will prepare your teeth by removing up to a millimetre of enamel from the front face of each of the teeth to be ‘capped’. Once your teeth have been trimmed back, a mould will be made of your teeth. This mould will be used to create veneers which fit the front of your teeth snugly, a process which might take a few weeks.

The final stage

Finally, your dentist will call you in to view the veneers, check their fit and colour against your natural teeth, and fit them. You will have your teeth cleaned and then abraded to create the perfect surface on which to apply the strong cement-style adhesive which will attach your veneers to your existing teeth. The adhesive is hardened using UV light. You will schedule follow-up visits to check the fit of your veneers and discuss any problems you’ve been having.