What are they?
If your teeth are broken down or fairly heavily filled with restorations then bleaching alone may not give you the smile you want. The next step is a porcelain veneer. They are a thin veneer that is bonded to the front of your tooth. They are a single restoration that has a glassy appearance (like natural enamel) and can be characterized to look exactly like your own teeth. They can be used to close gaps and build up partially broken down anterior (front) teeth.
The main advantage of porcelain veneers is that they are translucent and allow natural light to colour the tooth giving a completely natural appearance. Veneers should only be used on teeth that are light in colour. If the teeth are too dark and the veneer needs to cover darkness then a veneer is not the restoration of choice. Teeth are often bleached prior to veneering to give the best aesthetic result and dark teeth can be bleached internally before veneering is considered.
Procedure
A small amount of tooth structure (0.5mm) is removed from the front and side of the tooth. We then use CEREC technology to create your veneer on the spot.
Most dentists will send the work to a laboratory in resulting in temporary restorations that fall off and an unsightly intervening period before you get your permanent restorations.
This won’t happen with us. All cases that you see are created on the same day the patient arrives for treatment.
Why a veneer and not a crown?
Veneers and crowns can be used for aesthetics. Veneers require minimal tooth preparation, crowns require extensive tooth preparation. If you desire to change the shape of your teeth you can use both.
If you have any questions you can always contact us.