 Veneers:
Porcelain laminate veneers may be used to cover stained or broken teeth, uneven teeth and large fillings. They may also be used to enhance your smile, by filling in gaps, evening out uneven teeth, and giving your teeth a whiter appearance. Veneers are custom-made porcelain coverings. They are very thin, yet quite strong and durable and may last for up to ten years or more.
How are veneers applied? A thin layer of enamel must be removed from your teeth. On a subsequent visit, the veneers are applied to your teeth with a light sensitive liquid adhesive. The veneers are then polished so they blend with your other teeth.
Normal brushing and flossing will keep the veneers in excellent condition. Veneers may be damaged by biting something hard, for example, nail biting.
Veneer Procedure:
At the first visit , local anesthesia (or freezing) is given. Your dentist then removes part of the enamel on the tooth to make room for the veneers. An impression or mold is taken and sent to the dental lab where the veneers are custom made. A temporary veneer is then placed for in between visits.
The next visit, about 1-2 weeks later, entails the dentist to place a mild chemical on the tooth, to make it a little rough in order for the composite resin cement to attach the veneer to the tooth.
Example: Veneer used as an alternative to orthodontics.
Dentistry By: Dr Kokonas
Treatment Options For Discoloured Teeth & "Gaps" in Front Teeth
Enameloplasty
Enameloplasty involves removing the surface layer of enamel on the teeth to remove surface discolouration. The surface enamel can be removed and then smoothed and polised in order to retain the tooth's natural appearance. In conjunction with whitening, an enameloplasty may be ideal and the most conservative treatment for discolourations that are very superficial in the enamel.
Before After
Labial Veneer Restorations
Veneer restorations involve removing surface enamel, more than with an enameloplasty, on the "front" of the teeth. They are indicated for more sever generalized discolourations or spaces between the front teeth. There are two methods & materials to veneering used:
Direct Composite Veneers
These are used satisfactorily for mainly external discolourations and very rarely involve the second layer of the tooth. These veneers are advantageous: not much tooth structure is removed, relatively low cost, on appointment is required. Some disadvantages are: they may stain and chip or debond over the years and need to be replaced. Even though they are easily repairable, care must be taken with everyday eating and chewing.
Indirect Porcelain Or Composite Veneers
These veneers use the same concept as direct veneers; however, the material is fabricated in the laboratory. Two appointments are required: 1) Prepare the teeth and make impressions 2) Try-in and cement the veneers.
Porcelain is usually indicated for deep and dark discolourations and spaces between front teeth. They are most frequently preformed in conjunction with whitening. There are some disadvantages to this indirect method include: increased cost due to lab fees and two appointments are required. On the other hand, they do not chip or stain easily, they are made of stronger material so they last longer and look more natural.
With any type of restorations, it is very important to practice good oral hygiene and obtain regular checkups and scaling to ensure the longevity of these treatment options and to prevent further progression of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque and bacteria. Plaque irritates the gums, causing them to become tender and swollen and bleed easily. If not removed from the teeth, it hardens and forms tartar and calculus. Eventually the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth is destroyed by the irritants in the plaque. Pockets are formed and eventually the jawbone supporting the teeth is destroyed, causing bone loss. Thus, it is very important to practice good oral hygiene and get regular checkups and scaling to ensure the longevity of these treatment options. |
