What are dental veneers and under what conditions would you recommend them to a patient?
Posted: 2009-07-14Dental veneers help create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned teeth. Dental veneers are thin, custom designed shells of tooth-coloured material that are designed to cover the front side of teeth. The two most common materials used in the fabrication of dental veneers are composite resin and porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers typically last longer and look more natural. Porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory and are bonded to the teeth with resin cement.
Dental veneers help to create a more natural, great looking smile. Possible conditions of teeth that veneers would help with include:
- Worn Enamel: Over time, the enamel may become worn, dulled and discoloured.
- Chipped teeth: Teeth naturally wear down with time, creating chips, cracks or a generally uneven appearance.
- Spacing between teeth: Some people are born with abnormal spacing between their teeth or teeth that look too small or malformed.
- Uneven Teeth: Uneven teeth can result from tooth grinding or general wear and tear.
Dental veneers are esthetically pleasing and can also serve a functional purpose by protecting the surface of a damaged tooth. Once veneers are bonded into place, they are relatively strong and durable. If you are interested in veneers, ask your dentist if veneers are appropriate for you.
