Veneers
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells that are attached to the front surface of the teeth to improve their appearance. They’re often made from porcelain or resin-composite materials and are permanently bonded to the teeth. Veneers can be used to treat a number of cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, discoloured, or smaller-than-average teeth.
Different Types of Veneers
Dental veneers are most commonly made out of porcelain. There are two types of veneers — traditional and no-prep dental veneers. Traditional dental veneers typically involves grinding down the tooth structure, sometimes removing some of the tooth even past the enamel. The process can be painful and often requires a local anaesthetic.
No-prep veneers may require some minimal tooth preparation but it does not go beyond removing layers of tooth under the enamel. There is no need of local anaesthetics in this case.
How is it performed?
- Moulds of the patient’s teeth are taken by the orthodontist.
- Creation of veneers takes between one and two weeks.
- Once ready, the veneers are placed in the mouth and evaluated for fit, shape, and colouration.
- The dentist thoroughly cleans the patient’s teeth, as it keeps bacteria from being trapped under the veneers.
- Post cleaning, a grinding tool is used to create a rougher texture. This makes it easier for the veneer to stick to the tooth.
- The dentist then uses dental cement to bind the veneer to the tooth. Ultraviolet light is used to harden the cement quickly.
- The placement of the veneers typically last for two hours.
