Dental Veneers Process: Is It Safe For Your Teeth?

Your smile is one of the best things that you can offer to the world. Its radiance brings peace and friendliness, harbouring positivity wherever you go. That’s why dentistry is always creating the best way to help you achieve a beautiful smile. One of the simplest options to enhance your smile is through dental veneers. 

A tooth veneer is a thin dental shell that covers or laminates teeth imperfections such as chips and discolouration. The tooth shells are custom-made to fit your smile and make it look natural. They are either made of porcelain or composite materials. Each type of laminates has its own benefits and drawbacks. 

Types of dental laminates

Porcelain veneers

The dental shells that are made of porcelain material have the following advantages: 

• They are durable and lasts as long as 15 years with proper care.
• Its surface looks like a natural tooth.
• It is smooth and not porous making it non-susceptible to stains. 
• Comparing to a tooth crown process, less tooth enamel is removed with porcelain veneers. 

On the other hand, what patients need to expect about porcelain teeth shells: 

• Porcelain veneers cost can be quite expensive, especially when it involves more teeth. 
• The process requires you to visit your dentist more than once.
• Not advisable for patients who grind their teeth or have bruxism. 
• If a tooth shell chips or breaks, the entire process needs to be done from the beginning to repair it.

Composite resin veneers

Another type of dental shells that patients can avail are composite resin veneers with the following benefits: 

• The tooth-coloured material easily matches a look of real teeth. 
• Composite veneers cost less than the porcelain shells.
• Needs much less tooth enamel removed than crowns or the porcelain laminates.
• Resin veneer procedure has fewer steps mean fewer visits to the dentist. 

Meanwhile, the disadvantages of composite resin materials are as follows: 

• Less durable than porcelain types, hence, susceptible to damage.
• Twice a year maintenance check by the dentist to prevent breakage.
• Frequent repairs resulting in more visits to the dental office.
• May easily stain compared to porcelain.

Dental veneers process

If you decide to have dental laminates, you should expect at least two visits to the dentist. That doesn’t include the day you will have your consultation where you tell your dentist how you like your smile to improve. Also, a visit a week after the procedure to ensure there have been no problems with your teeth and gums. 

The other two appointments will entail the preparation of your teeth and the actual attachment of veneers process.

Preparation

In order to make veneers look natural in your mouth, the dentist will reshape your teeth. This involves thinning down the enamel so the shell fits in and not be bulgy. Before this process, your dentist will numb the teeth to keep you comfortable. 

Then, he makes a mould out of the reshaped teeth. This teeth impression is sent to the dental laboratory where they make veneers. Normally, a span of 2-4 weeks takes place before the new shells are sent back to the dental office. In the meantime, the patient wears temporary veneers to protect the teeth before going home. 

Bonding process

When you come back, the dentist will finally attach your teeth laminates. Since permanent veneers are non-reversible, your dentist needs to make sure that they have the right fit and colour for your smile. He places them on your teeth and examines it. If necessary, he will trim them down until it satisfies him. 

Then, he prepares your teeth for the bonding. Your dentist will clean and polish your teeth before etching the surface. Etching it will roughen the tooth and allows the veneer to adhere properly. 

After that, he applies a special cement on the shell and then carefully places it on the tooth. Once in position, he shines a curing light on the cement so it hardens quickly. Finally, he cleans extra cement off your teeth and polishes it again for a final touch. 

Is this process safe for you?

Dental veneer treatment is safe and suitable for patients who dream of having healthy and beautiful teeth. The process and technology in this procedure are also safe and not painful at all. 

Just make sure you tell your Thornhill dentist if you have dental conditions and issues, like bruxism and gum problems before the procedure to prevent negative effects.