Dental Veneers

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are very thin laminates, usually made of porcelain or ceramic material that are cemented to the front surfaces of your teeth in order to improve their cosmetic appearance.
Dentists usually make the analogy that dental veneers do for teeth much the same job as false fingernails do for the nails.
Dental veneers are very easy to fit. The procedure is quick and painless, and the end result will be a perfect smile.

When should I consider Dental Veneers?
Here are some of the many reasons that you might want to consider having dental veneers fitted:

  1. You have stained teeth. Sometimes teeth whitening just can’t remove all the stains on your teeth that have been caused by years of smoking and drinking tea, coffee and wine. Dental veneers can hide the stains and marks that cannot be removed by other means
  2. You have crooked teeth. If your teeth are not overly crooked, dental veneers can be placed over the front in order to give the teeth a straight appearance
  3. You have damaged or chipped teeth. Teeth can become chipped and damaged through an accident, through decay or by continual grinding. Porcelain veneers can be placed over damaged teeth to give them a perfect appearance once again
  4. You have gaps between your teeth. If you have uneven spaces and gaps between your teeth, porcelain veneers can be fitted in order to close all the gaps and improve your smile

How are dental veneers fitted?
Having dental veneers fitted will usually involve at least two visits to your dentist. On the first visit, the dentist will prepare your teeth for the dental veneers by drilling a small portion of the front of the teeth away, corresponding to the thickness of the veneer to be fitted. This will ensure that the dental veneers will have a natural look once they are in place. The dentist will then take an impression of your teeth using dental putty. This will be sent to a dental laboratory and used to construct the dental veneers for your teeth. In the meantime, your dentist may fit temporary veneers in order to protect your prepared teeth.
On your second visit, your dentist will fit the custom made dental veneers. First of all, they will be tested for fit, and any necessary adjustments will be made. Once this has been done, the teeth will be cleaned and then roughened with a special acid in order to create a good surface for the dental veneers to adhere to. The veneers will then be cemented permanently in place.

What are dental veneers made of?
The most commonly used veneers are made from porcelain, although composite veneers are also available. Porcelain veneers are designed to offer a more natural appearance, are stronger and longer lasting.

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