Dental veneers have long been used to create dazzling smiles and are the treatment of choice for hiding irregularities in front teeth to achieve an even, white and clean look to your smile.
They can be made of either porcelain or white filling material called composite and are accurately matched to the colour of your teeth so they will look not only highly aesthetic but also completely natural. Your dentist will advise you on which type would be best suited for you.
So what exactly are they?
They are wafer thin coverings or laminates which are made completely by hand to best suit your smile and existing teeth. They are stuck or ‘cemented’ to your teeth to improve their overall cosmetic appearance. They are seen as one of the least destructive ways of improving the appearance of front teeth and so are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available. It is possible to veneer multiple teeth or even just one.
What kind of problems are they used for?
There are many reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers:
Stained teeth- badly stained or discolored teeth that can not be improved by regular polishing or tooth whitening can be effectively masked up by veneers and can be custom-made to the exact colour of your choice
Damaged teeth- teeth that have been chipped by accident or injury can be markedly improved by this treatment. Also teeth that have been left to look thin and weak by acid erosion i.e. fizzy drinks can also be treated successfully using this method.
Gaps- through the use of veneers spacing between your teeth can easily be closed, making your smile more uniform.
Crooked teeth- teeth which do not look well aligned can be treated with veneers without the need for long term orthodontic treatment providing they are not severely crowded.
So which are better composite veneers or porcelain veneers?
The most popular type of veneers are porcelain, these offer a stronger and more durable alternative to its composite counterpart. Composite veneers are more prone to staining and do not last as long as porcelain veneers which also offer more a natural looking, translucent tooth-like appearance. Composite veneers are much cheaper than porcelain veneers in general, but considering that they do not last as long and need replacing more often they could end up costing more in the long run. Composite work is ideal for small chips as this treatment preserves more of your natural tooth structure.
How long do dental veneers last?
Porcelain veneers will typically last between 5-10 years and composite veneers maybe a year or two at the most. The bottom line is that eventually your veneers will need to be replaced. Although veneers are strongly cemented into place on very rare occasions there have been cases where they come loose and fallen off, in such situations it is important that you keep hold of your veneer and contact your dentist immediately. To make your veneers last longer it is important to follow a good oral hygiene program and also visit your dentist for check ups on a regular basis.
