Dental veneers are custom-made shells that are placed on the front surface of teeth. Veneers mask cracks, chips, stains, and other cosmetic imperfections. Veneer placement is one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures.
There are several types of veneers. However, there is no single type that is better than the others. It is important to choose the option that suits you best.
What Are Veneers
Veneers are shells placed on the front surface of teeth. High-quality dental materials such as tooth-colored composites or porcelain (ceramics) are used for their fabrication.
Dental veneers are used for cosmetic purposes. They can conceal a wide range of aesthetic imperfections, including chips, cracks, gaps, tooth discoloration, and more.
How Veneers Work and Who Needs Them
Veneers cover the front surface of teeth to enhance your smile. They mask cosmetic imperfections. Anyone who wants to improve their smile can get veneers.
This type of dental restoration can conceal:
- chipped or broken teeth;
- diastema (gaps between teeth);
- stains that do not disappear after teeth whitening;
- excessively small teeth;
- tooth deformities.
It is important to note that veneers are suitable only if you do not have advanced tooth decay or gum disease. If you have serious oral health problems, they should be treated before improving the appearance of your teeth.
How Veneers Differ from Crowns
Veneers are a minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry option in which most of the tooth remains untouched. A veneer performs not only a cosmetic function but also restores affected or damaged tissues.
Both veneers and crowns are dental restorations that improve the appearance and function of teeth. They are generally used to restore teeth that are damaged in some way, whether they are discolored, misaligned, decayed, chipped, cracked, or broken. Both veneers and crowns are made to match the color of the remaining teeth, except for full-metal crowns.
A veneer is attached only to the front surface of the tooth, while a dental crown covers the entire tooth. This makes veneers more aesthetic than crowns.
Crowns are thicker than veneers — about two millimeters compared to one millimeter.
Types of Veneers
There are several different types of veneers.
Composite Veneers. Composite veneers can conceal minor cosmetic imperfections. Composite veneers get their name from the fact that they are made from several materials.
Composite restoration can be direct — to achieve the desired results, the dentist uses tooth-colored composite resin, the same material used for bonding teeth.
These veneers are faster and easier to place and do not require additional visits. They are created directly on the patient’s teeth.
There are also indirect composite veneers, which are fabricated by a dental technician in a laboratory after the dentist takes impressions.
Composite veneers blend with your teeth just like ceramic veneers and are among the most affordable options on the market.
On the other hand, composite veneers are not as durable.
You will also need to be more careful to avoid damaging them. Composite veneers are much easier to chip than ceramic veneers.
Ceramic (Porcelain) Veneers. Ceramic veneers can eliminate a range of aesthetic imperfections. They are custom-made according to your dental anatomy. Before placement, the dentist must remove part of the enamel from the natural teeth. This makes the surface rougher and helps the veneers stay in place.
Ceramic veneers must fit precisely to the teeth. Many people choose ceramic veneers when they want to restore the beauty of their smile.
Advantages of Ceramic Veneers
- the material they are made from is stain-resistant;
- they harmonize with natural teeth;
- they are strong and resistant to chipping and fracture even under significant load.
If you take proper care of your veneers, in some cases you can expect to enjoy them for 15–20 years. In addition, ceramics do not affect natural tissues in any way. This makes these veneers a good choice for people with sensitive gums or teeth.
Several types of porcelain are used for porcelain veneers: layered porcelain, zirconia-reinforced porcelain, pressed ceramic, and feldspathic porcelain.
E-max Laminated Veneers. E-max laminated veneers are one type of ceramic veneers. They are made from lithium disilicate with a ceramic layering. The material used for these veneers is characterized by a beautiful appearance and translucency. Their service life depends on care and can range from 11 to 25 years.
Lumineers — no-prep or minimal-prep veneers — are a less invasive option. Like traditional veneers, no-prep veneers are also custom-made. However, they require removal of less enamel than traditional veneers.
Another advantage of Lumineers is their thinness. Their thickness is only about 0.2–0.3 mm, which minimizes invasiveness. In some cases, this allows the dentist to avoid affecting the patient’s dentin.
However, it is important to understand that no-prep veneers often still require some enamel removal. In addition, they are not suitable for everyone, but only for people with straight teeth without gaps or crowding.
Which Type of Veneers Is Best for You
Several factors should be considered when choosing the type of veneers:
- Biting forces and habits. If the patient has bruxism, this must be considered when selecting the material and type of veneers.
- Aesthetic expectations. It is important to discuss with your dentist your expectations regarding the appearance of your teeth after veneer placement, including color, shape, and size.
- Condition of the teeth. The degree of tooth damage or wear may influence the choice of veneer type. For example, feldspathic veneers may be a better option for minimal corrections.
- Stain resistance. If the patient consumes a lot of coffee, tea, or wine, porcelain veneers may be the better choice because they are more stain-resistant than composite veneers.
- Budget. Composite veneers are less expensive than ceramic veneers.
- Durability. Porcelain veneers last longer than composite veneers.
Procedure Details
During the first appointment, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to determine whether veneers are suitable for you.
If so, the dentist will prepare the teeth by removing a small amount of enamel. Then impressions will be taken.
A dental laboratory technician will use these impressions to fabricate the veneers.
It may take several weeks for the veneers to be made. If necessary, temporary veneers may be placed in the meantime.
During the second visit, the dentist will check the shape, color, and fit of the veneers and then permanently bond them using dental cement.
The dentist will check your bite and make any necessary adjustments.
People who receive veneers can eat and drink immediately after the anesthesia wears off.
Do Veneers Require Special Care?
Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are all you need to keep your veneers in good condition. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste. Avoid whitening products, as they may damage veneers. To ensure the longevity of your veneers, you should avoid biting hard or crunchy foods such as apples, carrots, and tough meat. Cut these foods into pieces and chew them with your back teeth. Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, but it is still advisable not to overconsume dark-colored foods and beverages such as berries, red wine, coffee, and tea. These foods and drinks may stain veneers over time.
Advantages of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers offer several advantages:
- they can significantly improve your smile;
- they resist stains better than natural enamel;
- they do not require special care.
Depending on the type of veneers and their maintenance, they may last from 5 to 25 years.
Disadvantages of Veneers
Veneers also have certain disadvantages:
- you will lose at least part of your natural enamel;
- teeth may become more sensitive to heat and cold;
- a veneer may detach or shift.
It is important to understand that veneers do not damage teeth. However, the natural tooth structure underneath can still deteriorate. Therefore, it is important to brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist.
If you are unhappy with your smile, dental veneers may be the solution. Contact YAREMA DENTAL clinic and talk to your dentist about your cosmetic concerns to find out whether veneers are right for you.
Dentistry plays an important role in oral health. Our specialists can develop an individual treatment plan to preserve your smile for many years.
Previously, we wrote about whether veneers can be placed if teeth are missing.
This article does not replace a medical consultation. For complete and personalized information, please consult your dentist.