What Are Porcelain Veneers? How Do They Benefit Patients?
Dental veneers can be applied when the front teeth are slightly crooked, misshapen or have gaps in between them. What are porcelain veneers? Veneers are thin sheaths that are fastened to the front teeth to correct an asymmetrical smile. They are glued to the front of natural teeth using a medical-grade adhesive and can improve the overall appearance of a patient’s teeth.
Veneers are usually made from porcelain or composite acrylic. At Big Smiles Dental we only use high quality porcelain veneers because they last longer and maintain a brighter, more natural-looking appearance. Porcelain veneers also react better with gum tissues than composite acrylic veneers do.
How Do Veneer Treatments Work?
Practising dentists will match the shape and colour of veneers purchased by their patients to the patients’ natural teeth. Veneers are designed to tesselate with bumps and grooves present amongst existing teeth. Veneers can be applied to single teeth if they have experienced trauma, however, they are usually applied in sets. Although the cause of the patient’s concern may be a single tooth that is very prominent, for symmetry’s sake veneers are usually applied in sets of four or eight.
Porcelain veneer treatment is also appropriate for patients who have suffered damage to the pigment of their teeth and who have tried fluoride and teeth whitening treatments to no effect. The pigment of veneers lasts a lifetime, given proper care and due diligence in avoiding excessive consumption of red wine, coffee and tobacco.
The procedure used to attach veneers is mildly invasive and requires the use of a local anaesthetic. In most cases, a segment of each tooth (0.3-0.5mm) must be shaved off using high quality dental equipment. Natural teeth are too slippery for adhesives to take hold and so a grain must be carved into them before veneers are attached. Following a shave, veneers are simply attached to the front of the teeth using highly adhesive dental glue. Veneers behave like natural teeth and do not noticeably impact eating or drinking.
Caring For Veneers
Dental veneers can last up to forty years if they are treated with the proper care. Regular brushing and flossing must be performed to ensure food detritus and other particles do not stick to the veneers and tarnish their façade. Regular dental check-ups are recommended too to ensure that the back of teeth remain clean and that veneers don’t display any signs of damage. Teeth whitening treatments, however, must be approached with care when a patient has veneers. Technicolour teeth is a condition that may manifest when the bleach used in teeth whitening doesn’t match the colour of a patient’s veneers.
Porcelain veneers are quite strong: almost as strong as natural teeth, and do not crack easily. However, if trauma or some other accident results in a cracked veneer, be sure to contact your dentist immediately and schedule a repair or replacement procedure. Undamaged porcelain veneers are tolerated very well by gum tissues because porcelain is of a similar weight and texture to real teeth. However, if they become cracked or damaged, veneers can damage the enamel present on real teeth as well as the root of the teeth and surrounding gum tissues.
The Cost Of Porcelain Veneers
As with most dental treatments, the cost of porcelain veneers will vary depending on which dentist you visit and the number of veneers the patients asks for. A benchmark that can be used is between $1,000 and $2,500 per tooth that needs a veneer. Veneers are cosmetic and therefore are not usually covered by dental insurance.
Contact Big Smiles Dental
Big Smiles Dental is open for business between 9:00am and 5:30pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and between 9:00am and 3:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Call us today on 02 9921 1799 or reach out via our contact page if you are interested in trying a take-home teeth whitening treatment. Our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you have when you call before scheduling your appointment.