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Smile please! Say cheese! These are the most common tasks while going in for a photoshoot. But if you have discoloured, chipped, or broken teeth, you try to hide them behind your lips. What’s the solution? Dental veneers.
Thanks to the affordability of dental veneers, they are becoming quite popular in the UK compared to other restorative alternatives. There are several dental practices offering dental veneer solutions to patients looking for the best and most reliable service.
What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers, made from resin composite materials or porcelain, are tooth-coloured, thin shells that are attached to the front surface of teeth to enhance their appearance. The veneers are permanently bonded to the teeth. Dental veneers hide or beautify various cosmetic concerns like uneven, broken, or smaller-than-average teeth.
Some people may only go for one veneer to hide their chipped or broken tooth, while many prefer six to eight veneers to create a symmetrical, even smile. The eight front top teeth are the most preferred for veneer application. Dental veneers are made to measure. They are designed to go with your existing tooth colour, so they appear natural.
What are The Types of Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are usually made of porcelain or composite resin. They require thorough prep work. Also, there are “no-prep” veneers that are applied through a different process.
The application of traditional dental veneers usually requires grinding down the tooth structure. It sometimes involves the removal of some of the tooth, even past the enamel. This enables proper placement. It is also an irreversible process that may be painful to bear and require a local anaesthetic.
The tooth reduction will depend on the number of teeth involved and your dental concerns. In the case of multiple teeth, the dentist may use a wax model to show how the veneers will look. No-prep veneers may demand some alteration or tooth preparation, but these alterations are pretty minimal.
Porcelain Veneers
Dentists follow a process for creating and fitting porcelain veneers.
- The dentist grinds down the teeth
- Makes impression of the teeth for mould creation
- Send the mould to a lab for making porcelain veneer
Once ready, the dentist will place the veneer on your prepared tooth and cement it in place. The dentist may sometimes use temporary veneers until permanent veneers are received from the lab.
Many dentists use CAD/CAM technology so the computer can design the veneer. And so, the dentist can create the actual veneer within their office.
Composite Resin Veneers
The dentist prepares the tooth before fitting the composite resin veneers.
- The dentist etches the tooth surface
- Applies a thin layer of composite material to the tooth
To achieve the intended look, added layers of the composite may be mandatory.
The dentist will finish the process by curing/hardening the composite veneer using a special light.
No-Prep Veneers
The no-prep veneers include options like Vivaneers and Lumineers – these are the brands of porcelain veneers.
- Less invasive in application
- Take lesser time compared to other veneers
No-prep veneers only affect the enamel instead of removing tooth layers under the enamel.
No-prep veneers do not need temporary veneers or local anaesthetics in several cases.
What are The Benefits of Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers can benefit people with different teeth problems and restore their smiles.
- Change Tooth Colour: Dental veneers can help bring whiteness or shine to teeth with a dull or yellowish look.
- Cover Translucent Teeth: Dental veneers can provide protection and aesthetic improvement to translucent teeth resulting from thinning enamel.
- Alter the Shape of Teeth: Dental veneers can help equalise the teeth shape that may naturally be too short or too small.
- Repair Chipped Teeth: Dental veneers can help people have small chips in their teeth, which may be making them conscious while smiling.
- Improve Alignment: Dental veneers can be helpful to those who want to straighten their teeth without braces.
- Repair Damage Caused by Bruxism: Porcelain dental veneers help restore the cosmetic appearance and protect teeth from hot/cold sensitivities. It is ideal for those suffering from bruxism (tooth grinding).
What is the Procedure for Putting Veneers on Teeth?
It usually takes around one to two weeks after the dentist creates your mould to get your veneers from the lab. Once your veneers are received, you can schedule your appointment with your dentist to get them fitted.
During this visit, your dentist will evaluate the shape, fit, and colouration of the veneers to ensure they are perfect. After that, the dentist will clean your teeth thoroughly to prevent the bacteria from being buried under the veneer and causing decay.
Thereafter, the dentist will use the grinding tool to make the texture of eligible teeth rougher. This is to ensure that the veneer sticks to the teeth properly. For bonding the veneer to the teeth, your dentist will apply dental cement. They will also use ultraviolet light to solidify the dental cement quickly.
The second appointment in which veneers are placed normally does not last longer than two hours.
How Much do Dental Veneers Cost?
Here is the average cost of dental veneers in the UK.
- Composite dental veneers: £100 – £400 per tooth
- Porcelain dental veneers: £400 – £1,000 per tooth
However, the actual cost of dental veneers will depend on the patient’s problem, and the solution opted for.
What is The Result of Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers seem just like natural teeth. They enhance the look of your teeth by giving them equal shape, size and colour. They help build a person’s confidence, making them smile and laugh without hesitation.
However, dental veneers demand maintaining dental hygiene standards. Just like a routine, you should brush regularly and adequately. Also, you should schedule regular visits to your dentists for professional cleaning. Following this, your veneers will last for many years without creating any problems.
To book a consultation, contact Complete Smiles to discuss all your dental veneer solutions in Harrow.
Get in touch today!
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