Types of Dental Veneers, Their Installation Procedures, and Aftercare Tips

Dental veneers, also known as dental porcelain laminates, are custom made, thin shells. They are fitted on the front teeth to cover their surfaces. Veneers are used to improve the appearance of a person.

What Are the Types of Veneers?

Veneers are classified according to the material that they are made from. There are two types of materials used to make veneers. These are composite and resin.

Composite Veneers

They are made right in the dentist’s office and applied to your teeth directly. You need only a single appointment to get these kinds of veneers.

Porcelain Veneers

Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory. The full procedure to install porcelain veneers requires two appointments. The first session is used to prepare and the second to cement the veneers on the teeth.

Are Porcelain Veneers the Same as Crowns?

Porcelain veneers and crowns are not the same but work in the same way. They offer an artificial cover for damaged teeth. Veneers cover the front part of the tooth and can wrap around depending on the patient’s needs. Crowns, on the other hand, cover the entire tooth.

Veneers are considered to be half veneers and crowns are considered if more tooth surface needs to be covered. Crowns enhance both the functionality and cosmetic appearance while veneers improve the appearance only.

Veneers are considered to be half veneers and crowns are considered if more tooth surface needs to be covered. Crowns enhance both the functionality and cosmetic appearance while veneers improve the appearance only.

Before getting any of the two, your dentist will check the extent of the damage on your teeth and choose the right method. They both last for 15 to 20 years, but with proper care, they can last up to 30 years. In case you got any of the two while young, you may need to replace them.

Reasons Behind Getting Veneers

Veneers fix the following problems:

• Discolored teeth
• Worn-down teeth
• Teeth that are broken or chipped
• Irregularly shaped, misaligned, uneven or teeth with crater and bulges on them
• Gapped teeth

What Is the Procedure for Getting Veneers?

To get porcelain veneers, you need three appointments with the dentist. The first appointment is for consultation, while the other two are for making and applying the veneers. The process of getting dental veneers treatment in Bayside is described below.

Diagnosis and Planning for Treatment

During this step, you will explain your expectations to the dentist. After explaining to your dentist what you want, he or she will examine your teeth and determine whether veneers are the best options. He or she will then explain to you how the procedure is carried out and some of its limitations. The dentist might take x-rays to make an impression of your teeth and mouth.

Preparation

Your dentist reshapes the tooth surface to match the amount of veneer that will be added to the tooth surface. He or she will then decide if you need anesthesia before trimming the enamel. Your dentist will then make a model of your tooth.

The model is sent to a dental laboratory to create a veneer. It takes up to 3 weeks to get the veneer thus, the dentist schedules the next appointment when the veneers arrive.

Fitting

Your dentist will first fix the veneers to your teeth to check if they properly fit. He or she will then clean your teeth so as to prepare for fitting. Your dentist applies special cement and places the veneer on the tooth. He or she will then pass a beam of light over the veneer to harden the cement.

Your dentist will scrape any excess cement out and evaluate the bite of the tooth. Sometimes the dentist might ask you to return for follow-up.

Advantages

• Provide natural tooth appearance
• Porcelain is tolerated by the gum tissue very well
• Porcelain is stain resistant
• Offer a conservative way to whiten your teeth

Disadvantages

• Irreversible
• Not repairable if they get chipped
• Since your enamel is removed your tooth becomes more sensitive to temperature changes
• Easy to fall off
• Teeth with veneers can still experience tooth decay

Do Veneers Require Any Specialized Care?

Dr. AramCazazian, porcelain veneers dentist at Bayside Family Dentistry in Bayside, NY 11361, recommends you to:

• Practice good oral hygiene
• Avoid stain-causing foods and drinks such as red wine coffee and blueberries
• Do not play aggressive sports without a mouthguard
• Stop habitual teeth grinding
• Visit a dentist regularly for follow ups

Visit a dentist near you today and get veneers for your teeth.