Veneers

If the appearance of your teeth is getting you down, why not consider our composite veneers and porcelain veneers treatments? Veneers that are custom-made ceramic facings that are bonded to the front of discoloured, chipped, cracked, poorly positioned or poorly shaped teeth. Here at Elegant Smiles at Tulip Dental Practice, we offer many types of veneers. The materials used by our ceramists to create your veneers provide the most aesthetic manmade alternative to natural tooth tissue.

Rapid advances in ceramic technology and resin bonding systems have revolutionized the concept of using composite veneers and porcelain veneers to ‘design a smile’. Preparation varies from patient to patient and is usually very minimal. If required, our dentists carry out a minimal tooth reduction of 0.5mm – 1mm for our ceramist to create your perfect smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Here at Elegant Smiles, our preference for the type of porcelain veneers we offer is E.max veneers. Ivoclar Vivadent’s patented Lithium Disilicate material is truly a revolution for the dental industry. Never before has a material been able to combine high strength, aesthetics and ease of use into one product, until now. E.max veneers are a form of high strength porcelain veneers that are custom made and bonded to teeth to improve the aesthetics and strength of the teeth or to enhance their function.

E.max veneers are pressed ceramic and their high strength and durability make it possible to produce them in very thin layers, allowing little or no preparation (drilling) of the teeth. This is one of the biggest advantages of E.max veneers, as drilling the teeth to peg shapes can be necessary with more conventional porcelain veneers. Because the bond is with the enamel, this also allows a much stronger bond between the veneer and tooth than bonding to the inner part of the tooth, known as the dentine.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers, also known as direct veneers, are made out of composite material and are used to improve the appearance of damaged or discolored teeth or teeth with unattractive gaps or improper alignment. Composite veneers are created by the dentist in the surgery, so this aesthetic improvement can be done in just one appointment. In comparison, porcelain veneers are created in a dental laboratory and usually require two or three appointments to complete. Composite veneers are a cost-effective solution to repair and improve the appearance of teeth. However, they may not be as natural-looking as porcelain ones.

What is the Procedure for Dental Veneers?

Initial consultation, assessment and planning will occur with one of our dental veneer specialists. The options appropriate to your case will be thoroughly discussed with you to help you choose between composite veneers or porcelain veneers. Preoperative pictures and tooth shade will be taken, and your smile design process is initiated. Impressions will be taken to allow our ceramist to provide a diagnostic wax-up of your composite veneers or porcelain veneers, this will physically allow you to visualize and approve the intended outcome with your veneer’s treatment.

At your second visit, the teeth to be veneered will be minimally prepared. An impression will be taken and sent to our ceramist along with your smile design and custom prescription. Temporary veneers are constructed to provide you with an aesthetic provisional restoration, already improving your smile. In the meantime, a veneers ceramist will hand craft your final composite veneer or porcelain veneers.

At the final visit, the provisional veneers are carefully removed and your custom-made veneers trial fitted. A thorough quality control programme is initiated to ensure that you receive a product of premier quality. You will be shown the finished look at this try in stage of your veneer’s treatment. Once you confirm that you are pleased with the appearance and fit, your dentist will bond the composite veneers or porcelain veneers to your teeth.

Recall and Review

With both composite veneers and porcelain veneers, it may take a couple of days for you to become accustomed to your new teeth. You will be invited to return a few weeks after your veneers treatment to review your oral health status, condition of your veneers and feedback of the cosmetic result. It is important to employ a strict oral hygiene regime encompassing professional hygiene intervention. You will be shown the most appropriate method to ensure optimal oral health. As with any treatment, regular recall and review are essential to ensure the status of your dental veneers.

It is generally accepted that between 1 in 5 and 1 in 8 teeth veneered or crowned go on to become non-vital and require a root canal treatment at some stage and this can be many years after the initial crown. Rarely, dental veneers may also fracture or debond and further work may be required.