delicate elegance
porcelain veneers
Whats a veneer?
A veneer is a thin bonded ceramic restoration that restores the front surface and part of the side surfaces of teeth. Made of; porcelain, zirconia, or composite, they allow a prosthodontist to alter the shape, size, color, and contour of the teeth with minimal removal of tooth structure. Veneers have their limitations as very seldom do they provide any functional benefit, but they can mask the unwanted appearance of teeth.
The Process…
Consultation & Diagnostics: the first step will be to evaluate your condition and determine if veneers would be best for you and your situation.
Design: the teeth will be designed in wax prior to preparation
Preparation: about 1/2 millimeter of enamel will be prepared from the tooth surface, which coincides with the amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface.
Impressions & Provisionals: an impression will me made of the tooth or teeth and sent to the laboratory. A provisional will be made and cemented to the teeth during the fabrication process.
Delivery: Once glazed, polished and tried in to confirm the aesthetics the veneers can be bonded to the teeth.
When would you need a veneer?
Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
because of the thin nature of a veneer, the severity of staining or discoloration will be a determining factor whether a veneer is the best option
Following your consultation our doctors will discuss your options and help you decide what is best for your aesthetics needs.
Teeth that are worn down — because of attrition, abrasion or erosion the certainty that veneers will be enough to strengthen and reinforce the structural integrity of the teeth
attrition - type of tooth wear caused by enamel-to-enamel contact
abrasion - progressive loss of hard tooth substances caused by mechanical actions other than mastication or enamel-to-enamel contacts (ie. enamel-to-porcelain)
erosion - type of tooth wear due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial origin (ie. high acid diet, acid reflux)
Teeth that have minor chips or fractures - parafunction (abnormal function), physical trauma or structural fatigue from wear and tear to the teeth can attribute to these chips and breaks
its important to identify any parafunctional habits at an early stage to prevent the excessive forces that can lead chips and fractures
Parafunctional Habits: bruxisim (grinding), clenching
Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped - because of tooth wear , nutritional habits or irregularities in tooth shape and contour
severely misaligned teeth may require orthodontic intervention for an optimal outcome
Teeth with mild to moderate gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)
diastemas (gaps in between the teeth) can be managed with veneers, a space too large may require orthodontic assistance to evenly space the teeth to create a more balanced smile profile