Definition
Causes
Anyone who is self-conscious about their smile or seeking added strength and protection for their teeth may be a candidate for veneers. Dental veneers can remarkably transform teeth that are:
- Discolored
- Misaligned
- Worn or chipped
- Badly spaced
- Inappropriately sized
Treatment Options
- Composite veneers are the least expensive choice when considering veneers. They are molded and sculpted from composite resins by the dentist on a single visit and do not require the services of a dental lab. Many times they are used as temporaries. The lifespan of composite veneers is three to 10 years.
- Porcelain veneers (ceramic veneers) are the recognized standard of excellence
- when considering a smile makeover. Porcelain veneers are created by a partnership of your dentist and a master ceramist. The process requires two or three visits to the dentist. Porcelain veneers are strong, durable and stain resistant and are able to maintain a translucent, tooth-like quality. You will find many excellent local and national dental labs specializing in veneers. Some of them (ie: Lumineers, daVinci Veneers, MAC Veneers and others) have worked hard to establish themselves as brands.
- Lumineers® (Den-Mat Holdings, LLC, Santa Maria, CA) are made of contact-lens thin porcelain, which does not require numbing or removal of sensitive tooth structure when placed. Expect little or no discomfort, and the procedure is reversible.
- daVinci™ Veneers (DaVinci Dental Studios, West Hills, CA) are wafer-thin porcelain veneers made popular on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and FOX’s “The Swan.” In preparation, your teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small, added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic.
- MAC Veneers (Micro Advanced Cosmetics, Dublin, CA) are unique, because they are cast from molten-pressed ceramic porcelain as opposed to feldspathic porcelain. Molten-pressed ceramic porcelain veneers are two times stronger than feldspathic porcelain and are stain resistant.
- CEREC® (Sirona Dental Systems LLC, Charlotte, NC). CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This revolutionary technology employs CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture) technology. Digital impressions are taken, and veneers are designed, milled and fit in the dentist’s office in a single visit, a procedure that would normally take several weeks.
Benefits
- Long-lasting and natural-looking
- Improves bite
- Protection for teeth
- Porcelain is stain-resistant
- Improves self-esteem and confidence
- Allows your personality to reach its full potential
- Results noticeable to others
- No additional maintenance required