Dental veneers can effectively address these issues and enhance your smile if you have minor dental flaws like stains, chips, misalignments, and improper gaps. A tooth veneer is a thin, custom-made shell or coating bonded to the tooth’s front surfaces to improve its size, shape, and color.
When considering dental veneers, you should understand that they come in different types. In this article, let’s explore the various types of teeth veneers to help determine which suits you.
Different types of veneers are differentiated based on their procedure, purpose, and construction material. The four common types of veneers include:
Thanks to their excellent aesthetics, stain resistance, and durability, porcelain veneers are the most widely used type. The veneers are made in a dental lab using high-quality porcelain materials that closely mimic the natural teeth’ color and translucency.
When getting porcelain veneers, the dentist will remove a minor portion of the enamel from the tooth’s front surface. Creating enough room for the veneers to fit perfectly and ensure a proper bite is essential.
Then, impressions of the prepared tooth and adjacent teeth are taken and sent to the dental lab, where the porcelain veneers are fabricated. This process can take about two weeks. In the meantime, the dentist will prepare and place a temporary restoration to protect the prepared tooth.
Once the custom veneer is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary and test the porcelain veneers. If everything is good, the veneers are bonded to the teeth using a strong dental adhesive. Porcelain veneers win in durability, excellent aesthetics, and stain resistance compared to other veneers.
Composite or resin veneers are another common type of dental veneer. They contain composite resin material, which can match your teeth’s appearance closely. Unlike porcelain veneers fabricated in a dental lab, the dentist applies the composite veneers directly to the tooth in layers.
Then, the resin is hardened using a special light or laser and polished to ensure a proper fit and appearance. Before application, the dentist will shave a minor portion of the enamel, less than what’s removed for porcelain veneers. Thus, composite veneers are more conservative and preserve more of your natural tooth, promoting overall dental health.
On the downside, they are generally less durable, lasting five to seven years. Similarly, they are more prone to staining and wear, requiring more frequent repairs and maintenance than porcelain veneers.
Lumineers are ultra-thin veneers that require minimal or no enamel shaving. It makes them an excellent conservative alternative to traditional veneers.
Thanks to their extremely thin nature, more of the tooth’s enamel remains intact, making them reversible. It means you can remove them if you change your mind. With traditional veneers, removing the veneer exposes the tooth, increasing the likelihood of sensitivity, infections, and fractures.
While very conservative, veneers have a greater likelihood of chipping than traditional veneers. Similarly, their very thin nature might not be ideal for hiding severe stains, as the dark color can show through the Lumineers. However, with proper care and maintenance, Lumineers can last as long as traditional veneers.
Temporary or removable veneers are Snap-On veneers that don’t require tooth shaving or trimming. They are thus non-invasive, reversible, and less expensive than traditional veneers.
On the downside, removable veneers are less natural-looking than traditional veneers. They are also more prone to chipping and staining. In most cases, they protect a tooth while waiting for the permanent veneer.
When choosing the right dental veneers for your smile, several factors should be considered, including:
Are you considering dental veneers for a healthier, straighter, balanced, and brighter smile? Or would you like to compare different types of dental veneers with our dentist? Contact Concord Woods Dental Group to book your dentist consultation today.
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