An Overview of Veneers: What Are They, and When Are They Required?

At our dental practice, we see many patients every week asking how they can improve the appearance of their smile and get that ever-sought-after celebrity grin.

Some of my patients ask whether they are eligible for veneers – and what the process of installing veneers involves.

Are you considering having veneers fitted?

Keep reading as we explore everything you need to know about veneers, including who they’re for, what they are, and the procedures involved with fitting them.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are purely cosmetic dental procedures. They improve the appearance, colour, shape, and texture of teeth.

Often, when you see celebrities sporting a perfect, ultra-white, and straight smile, this is because they have had veneers placed.

Veneers are typically only fitted on the teeth visible when we smile, as the procedure is for cosmetic purposes and can be quite costly. There is little reason to place veneers on your back teeth.

Veneers are thin shells of ceramic material in the shape of teeth bonded to the patient’s natural teeth. The veneers may close gaps between the teeth, cover uneven or chipped teeth, and improve the smile’s structure.

Originally, veneers were a non-permanent solution. They were designed to instantly lift a smile, allowing patients to fit a temporary cap over their teeth to improve their smile for photographs. In recent years, however, they have been used as a permanent solution to create an attractive and well-structured smile.

What To Expect In A Veneers Procedure?

To help you understand what veneers are and what’s involved in the veneer procedure, below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to the dental veneer procedure.

Dental Examination

Before your dentist installs your veneers, they must perform a dental examination. This involves checking the condition of the teeth, taking photographs, and performing X-ray scans on the teeth.

Sometimes, your dentist will take intraoral pictures of your teeth before and after the procedure to show you the difference when your dentist has installed your veneers.

Preparing The Tooth/Teeth

For this part of the veneer placement procedure, you will receive numbing via local anaesthetic to make you feel more comfortable and minimise pain. Your dentist will file down a portion of your enamel to make room for your veneers.

Creating a Mould

Once your dentist has prepared the teeth, they will create a mould of your filed-down ones to create your veneers. The dentist will use putty in a mouthguard-shaped applicator to make an impression on your teeth.

While your dentist makes your veneers, you won’t need to worry about how your teeth look. Your dentist will create temporary veneers during your appointment that you can wear as you wait for your next appointment.

Your dentist will also verify the shade of your teeth so they can create veneers that look natural – but brighter and whiter.

Fitting The Veneers

Your veneers will be ready at your next appointment, and your dentist will fit your veneers. They will then ensure that your bite is natural and won’t lead to jaw issues. From there, you can enjoy your new teeth!

Who Should Have Veneers?

Veneers are suitable for those who wish to correct the following dental flaws:

Irregularly shaped teeth
An irregular gumline
Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
Worn down teeth
Discoloured teeth

Suppose your teeth are well-shaped and have a healthy colour that you can improve with a simple whitening procedure. In that case, your Maroubra dentist will likely recommend keeping your natural teeth and investing in more care and maintenance to preserve them.

If your teeth are infected, missing, decayed, or broken too seriously, you may not be viable for veneers. Since veneers attach to the existing tooth, they will not be feasible for those with deteriorated natural teeth. If your teeth are rotten, decayed, or missing, your dentist will likely recommend an extraction or dental implant instead.

Aftercare For Veneers

Once your veneers bond to the teeth, you can drink and eat as usual. Additionally, just because a portion of your teeth will be artificial does not mean you should not practice oral care as usual. You should still brush, floss, and use mouthwash as per your typical dental routine.

Veneers are permanent, but they do not last forever. You should expect to replace your veneers after around ten years of the fitting. You should visit your Maroubra dentist regularly for routine checkups to see if your veneers are holding up well over time. Suppose your veneer chips or breaks, seek dental attention.

Benefits Of Veneers

Veneers can give you the picture-perfect smile you’ve always wanted. They are a lasting investment and can remedy cosmetic issues. You don’t need to worry about your teeth yellowing as you get older – your veneers will maintain their colour, and you can replace them in 10 years, so you don’t need to worry about degradation!

Summary

Are you looking for that picture-perfect smile you see on social media? You can ask your dentist about veneers if you have yellow, chipped, broken, or uneven teeth. The veneer procedure is painless, and you will walk out with a perfect smile!

If you’re interested in improving your smile, reach out to our friendly team of expert dental practitioners here at Maroubra Dental Clinic.

Maroubra Clinic

Parramatta Clinic

Dentist Journal