What Are Dental Veneers? What’s their purpose?
Veneers are thin tooth coloured shells that attach to the front of your teeth to improve their aesthetic appearance. They help in transforming smiles and achieve desired results with very little tooth preparation. They can change the colour, size, shape and look of the teeth, depending on each individual’s requirement.
Veneers are part of a cosmetic procedure called a “smile makeover.”
After crowns, dental veneers are the most commonly carried out dental procedure to improve the aesthetics of teeth.
“26% of all cosmetic procedures done by a dentist are Veneers”
Veneers are thin tooth coloured shells that attach to the front of your teeth to improve their aesthetic appearance. They help in transforming smiles and achieve desired results with very little tooth preparation. They can change the colour, size, shape and look of the teeth, depending on each individual’s requirement.
Veneers are part of a cosmetic procedure called a “smile makeover.”
After crowns, dental veneers are the most commonly carried out dental procedure to improve the aesthetics of teeth.
“26% of all cosmetic procedures done by a dentist are Veneers”
Are Dental Veneers available in different shades?
Veneers not only improve aesthetics, they can, also protect the natural teeth from attack by chemicals, acids and artificial sugars. They are a good restorative option for people who have had a part of their tooth chipped off, or have discolorations and gaps in their front teeth.
Veneers are available in many shades and colours to achieve the most optimal result for you.
Reasons for getting Dental Veneers
The different reasons people get dental veneers are:
- To change the colour, size or length of their teeth
- To manage a tooth that has a broken off or chipped part, probably because of an injury.
- To restore teeth worn out by habits like teeth grinding, teeth clenching, forceful brushing, erosion, etc
- To hide white spots of Fluorosis caused by drinking water with a very high fluoride content
- To cover up stains and discolorations caused by coffee, tea, wine, dark-coloured foods and certain drugs like tetracycline
- To replace discoloured composite resin fillings that get discoloured over time
- To cover discolorations after a root canal treatment, which happens rarely
Veneers can also be placed on premolars, but they are rarely placed on first molars.
What are the different types of Veneers?
Two types of veneers are commonly available in the dental office. They are:
Porcelain Veneers
These are the number one choice for veneers. They replicate the exact color, shade, and look of the natural teeth and it is often quite difficult to tell them apart.. They are extremely versatile and can be custom made for each individual patient.
Porcelain veneers can last easily for 10-20 years and are extremely stain resistant. They require very minimal tooth structure to be removed for attachment. Porcelain veneers can be as thin as 0.5 mm and require the same amount of tooth preparation. They are preferred over crowns for correcting dental aesthetics because of this very reason.
Porcelain veneers can come in opaque as well as translucent shells. Depending on how deep the discolouration is, opaque or translucent ones may be used.
Composite Veneers
A more affordable alternative to porcelain veneers are composite resin veneers, which are made of the same material used in composite cavity fillings. They can be fabricated in the dental clinic, on the same day, using composite material. They require little to no tooth preparation.
Composite veneers may wear down at a quicker rate than porcelain veneers so their life span is usually shorter i.e. 5-7 years. They are also less stain resistant than porcelain veneers.
Composite veneers can be built up or repaired if there is any chipping or fracture in the shell. However, porcelain veneers cannot be repaired and need to be replaced completely if chipped off.
Lumineers
Lumineers are a special type of ultra-thin (0.2 mm) and translucent brand of veneers that require the least amount of tooth preparation. They perform the same functions as regular veneers but are more conservative in approach. Most often, they do not even require any tooth cutting.
If taken care of properly, they can last for over 15 years (more than porcelain veneers) but because of greater tendency to chip off, they usually have a shorter life.
Palatal Veneers (Palatal Onlays)
Palatal damage to teeth occurs due to chemical erosion (in case of bulimia, severe acid reflux or chronic vomiting), repeated and forceful pressure due to teeth grinding habits, and an improper bite. In such cases, palatal onlays are used to restore the palatal aspect of the anterior (front) teeth.
Side Effects of Dental Veneers
Some side effects of veneers may be noted in special cases, which can be avoided with proper care and maintenance of good oral hygiene:
- Tooth Sensitivity – Since a small part of the tooth is removed while placing veneers, the inner layer of your tooth (dentin) can get exposed. Dentin has lots of nerve endings attached to it, so whenever you drink anything hot or cold, you can have tooth sensitivity. Sensitivity may persist up to 3 weeks after veneer placement which is normal but if it persists for longer, contact your dentist.
- Pain on biting – Improperly placed or improperly constructed veneers can cause pain on biting because of protruding contours
- Veneer failure– Veneers are not recommended for people who do not have healthy teeth or an existing oral diseases like dental erosion or periodontal disease.In such cases, there is greater risk of veneer failure
How much do Dental Veneers cost?
Cost of dental veneers varies with the type of veneer you choose and how many teeth you would like veneers to be placed on. The average rates are as follows (per tooth):
Porcelain veneers — 3000-4000 shekels
Composite veneers — 1000-1500 shekels
Palatal Onlays — 3000-4000 shekels
Comparing Veneers with other Dental Treatments
Dental Crowns
Both veneers and crowns can alter the shape, colour and look of the teeth and improve aesthetics. While a dental veneer covers only the front surface of the tooth, dental crowns cover the entire tooth (all surfaces). Veneers are less invasive and require very little tooth preparation, whereas crowns require removal of more tooth structure. Veneers are more brittle and fracture easily on heavy load, whereas crowns are generally stronger. However, veneers are more costly than crowns and may have a shorter life span.
Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment can transform a patient’s smile and improve the esthetics, but it takes a really long time when compared to dental veneers. In just two-three visits to the dental office, you can get a beautiful smile, but orthodontic treatment takes 1-2 years to be completed. There’s also the added hassle of monthly appointments to the orthodontist for wire tightening and adjustments.
On the other hand, orthodontic treatment is a more comprehensive solution to teeth alignment problems. It corrects not only tooth aesthetics but also appearance and functions of the jaw. Ortho treatment is also less expensive than a set of 6-8 veneers. Dental veneers only present a cosmetic solution to the problem.
Teeth Whitening
Compared to dental veneers, (which lasts many years), tooth whitening is just a temporary solution. While both are safe and can bring aesthetic results, tooth whitening procedures are less invasive. Depending on everybody’s lifestyles and habits like drinking coffee, tea, wine, and smoking, the effects of teeth whitening may not stay for very long. On the other hand, dental porcelain veneers are resistant to all kinds of food and drink stains. The only reason some patients might reconsider it is that the procedure is irreversible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are veneers covered by insurance?
Veneers come under cosmetic procedures and are elective so they are not usually covered by insurance. However, in case an accident or trauma has resulted in the need to have veneers, some insurance providers might accept it.
Are dental veneers irreversible?
Since dental veneers require some amount of natural tooth structure to be shaved off or “prepared”, it is an irreversible procedure. structure.
Is it safe to get dental veneers?
Veneers are safe as long as you take good care of your teeth and do not exert any unnecessarily heavy forces on them. They crack or break only under very high forces like due to a traumatic fall or blow.
Will it hurt while getting dental veneers?
Placement of dental veneers is usually pain-free since it’s a non-invasive procedure which requires only a small amount of your enamel to be removed. There is no digging into the pulp or dentin space.
Will veneers stain?
Most types of veneers are stain resistant, so they can withstand normal stains from food and drinks and stay true to its original color or shade. However, some low quality veneers can stain a little over time, just like natural teeth. .
What is the lifespan of dental veneers?
If proper oral hygiene is practiced and regular check ups with the dentist are done, the lifespan of veneers can easily go up to 10-15 years. It’s just a matter of ensuring that you are taking good care of your veneers using correct brushing and flossing techniques, as well as regular teeth cleanings at the dental office.
