What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers are very thin pieces of ceramic that are fixed to the forward facing surfaces of the teeth to mask defects e.g. cracks, excessive staining and breakages. It is reasonable to think of a dental veneer as being similar to a false nail but for the teeth!
Sometimes referred to as "instant orthodontics" dental veneers provide a rapid way to achieve a great looking smile, relatively cost effectively. Veneers can be used on their own or in conjunction with other cosmetic dentistry treatments to create full smile reconstructions.
The process
Veneers are normally fitted over two visits to the cosmetic dentist. During the first visit, the teeth are profiled to remove a very small surface layer on which the veneer fits. This is so that the thin ceramic layer sits comfortably and does not protrude above the natural tooth line. Following the profiling, the cosmetic dentist will take an impression of the teeth which will be used by the dental laboratory to match the veneers as closely as possible to the rest of your teeth. Temporary veneers may then be fitted whilst you await a second appointment.
During the second visit, the profiled teeth will be cleaned and prepared and the dental veneers glued in place using a special dental adhesive. The smile transformation is complete!
Advantages and disadvantages of dental veneers
- can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively
- have good longevity lasting up to 10 years
- can protect worn teeth from further damage
- less invasive than dental crowns
- although slight, some tooth material has to be removed
- heavy biting or tooth grinding can damage veneers
Please contact us for a detailed consultation with our experienced Derby cosmetic dentist, Darren Bywater. We are pleased to provide dental veneers for our patients across the East Midlands including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Loughborough.
