Veneers

Dental Veneers are, in most cases, the best solution to achieve smile enhancement or smile correction. They can be described as thin covers that adhere to the front (or visible) surface of the teeth, so their main purpose is to hide and / or correct imperfections.

When we talk about dental esthetics and smile enhancement or correction with our patients, we have to make sure every small detail is considered, each intervention executed with precision and clearly explained beforehand. This is because through our medical approach, we wish to give our patients the joy of smiling with confidence.

We use veneers to correct various dental problems, such as:

• teeth that have stains or an unaesthetic shade that cannot be corrected by professional teeth cleaning or bleaching;
• teeth that are crooked or twisted, misshapen (either in length or width), chipped, fractured or worn;
• a large diastema (the gap between the two central incisors) or uneven spaces between the teeth visible in the smile.
• diastema (the gap between the two central incisors) or uneven spaces between the teeth visible in the smile.

There is an array of dental issues that can be easily corrected with Veneers; however, it is important to mention that not every patient can get veneers. A proper dental hygiene is mandatory for the treatment’s overall success. Daily use of dental floss and / or a waterpik will ensure that there will be no decay or damage along the margins.

To avoid detachment, we need a very strong bond between tooth and porcelain, and we can achieve that, if the preparation extends only (or at least predominantly) in the outer layer of the tooth (dental enamel). So, you should know that if your natural teeth have many old fillings, big cavities, root canal treatments, build-ups or other large, old restorations that would pose a risk if not removed or corrected, we might suggest dental crowns instead. This is because preparation would extend to the inner layers of the tooth and so the bonding relation would be weaker. Thus, the need for a different type of cementation technique arises. Moreover, correcting multiple issues at once or hiding greater defects might be easier with a dental crown or a dental bridge.

Patients who grind their teeth (bruxism) are not the best candidate for getting veneers because grinding may chip or break the porcelain. In this case, a nightguard is recommended before anything else.

What is a dental veneer made of?

There are two types of veneers that we can apply either directly (in the Dental Office) or indirectly (with the help of a Dental Laboratory) on the tooth surface:

• Ceramic veneers (or porcelain) – minimally-invasive and non-invasive (indirect method)
• Composite veneers (direct method).

Each type has its own indications and each its own advantages, so before choosing one over the other, our team will analyze the particularities of your case. Every detail about the recommended procedure will be discussed during your first visit, before any preparations are engaged. This step is extremely important, because our patient’s understanding of the process and them having a realistic vision about the results are a crucial contribution to the therapeutic success.

Here is what you should know about ceramic veneers:

• They are strong and long-lasting.
• They are frequently used in esthetic dentistry.
• They have a natural-looking surface that doesn’t stain or change color in time.
• The tooth preparation is more conservative compared to that for a crown; this means less tissue (tooth structure) is removed. This is why they are considered a minimally-invasive esthetic solution.
• In some cases, patients can opt for the no-prep veneers (or Ceramic Lumineers), which, as their name states, require no preparation at all, so no tooth enamel will be removed before application. These are a non-invasive solution for smile correction.
• no-prep veneers (or Ceramic Lumineers), which, as their name states, require no preparation at all, so no tooth enamel will be removed before application. These are a non-invasive solution for smile correction.

What are the main steps to placing ceramic veneers?

• Schedule an appointment at Molnar Dental for a clinical examination and mention you wish to talk about smile correction or smile enhancement.
• During your first visit, our team will make a thorough analysis of your case and will perform a clinical examination. We will start by taking a few pictures that will help with documenting and planning the phases of your treatment. We will take measurements of the face, a bite registration and impressions of the arches. A color suited for your smile will be chosen. This means that the shade will match your natural teeth and go well with your skin tone and the coloring of your gums and lips.
• The procedure, materials, your questions about the intervention and the expected results are clarified in this session. Our patients’ desires are extremely important for us, so your thoughts are, of course, a key aspect when putting the plan together.
• The collected data is sent to the dental laboratory for analysis and preparations.
• The dental technician will prepare a wax-up of the future veneers, following our instructions regarding the size and shape. A wax-up is a wax model of the future prosthetic pieces, that serves as a guide for the minimally-invasive preparation and will help us visualize (and sometimes adjust) the results. During this visit, you will be able to see how the veneers will look like in your smile, because we will place acrylic copies of each veneer on your teeth (a mock-up). The necessary adjustments are noted and sent to the Lab.
• When the final design is decided upon, we may prepare the teeth under local anesthesia. Of course, in case we opted for the no-prep Lumineers, this step is modified, meaning no enamel is removed from your teeth, but some measures are taken to ensure the impressions are perfect.
• After the preparation, we will take the impressions of the arches and send all the necessary data to the Lab.
• In about a week the veneers are ready to be tried-in. In this session we will observe all the aspects we wanted to correct, as well as how the pieces integrate on the arch. Phonetics, esthetics, contact points and bite relations are all verified. Sometimes small adjustments are needed.
• If the patient is happy with the result and everything fits in perfectly, then we may proceed to bond the veneers to the teeth. This is a particular type of cementation that requires increased precision and attention, as well as high quality materials, to ensure that the bonding is long-lasting.
• If the patient is happy with the result and everything fits in perfectly, then we may proceed to bond the veneers to the teeth. This is a particular type of cementation that requires increased precision and attention, as well as high quality materials, to ensure that the bonding is long-lasting.

Here is what you should know about composite veneers:

A composite veneer is made from filling material, sculpted by the dentist directly on the tooth in such a way that it will cover the outer part of the tooth (or the part that is visible in the smile). Some corrections may be achieved with this method. It is relatively quick and may enhance your smile significantly.

Sometimes we use this type of veneer as a temporary solution in cases where the bite relations must also be corrected, because they are easy to fix if they get damaged. This also helps to visualize the results for the permanent treatment plan and to predict the necessary adjustments. When the patient has gotten used to the composite veneers and the bite is stable, we may proceed to prepare the teeth for ceramic veneers or crowns and bridges. Composite veneers need to be polished and / or adjusted periodically. This is because the material is not as strong or wear-resistant as porcelain.

How to care for veneers:

When caring for Veneers, a little more attention is required than when caring for natural teeth. To prevent damage, detachment, tooth decay and other complications, you must:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and evening) and clean between your teeth with dental floss and / or a waterpik every day.
• Use the oral care products recommended by our doctors to ensure that they meet the appropriate safety and efficacy standards for your particular case.
• As with natural teeth, it is advisable to avoid extremely hard foods, chewing ice or other hard objects, such as pencils or fruit kernels and seeds.
• A nightguard must be used to protect the veneers during sleep.
• Be sure to schedule regular check-ups and professional teeth cleanings at our clinic.
• regular check-ups and professional teeth cleanings at our clinic.