How are Dental Veneers Made?

 The materials used in making Dental Veneers are either porcelain or resin composite. However, Dentists and patients generally prefer a Porcelain Veneer because it has the ability to resist tooth stains better than resin composite. The other reason why the former is chosen mostly is that it gives the look and feel of natural teeth. Resin veneers are even thinner than porcelain veneers and they do not require substantial tooth removal. Eventually, it is up to your dentist to decide which veneer suits you the best.

Problems fixed by Dental Veneers

Our mouth is prone to multiple dental problems. Some are fixed by medications but certain problems such as Periodontal Disease and any such gum disease might require dental surgery. When talking about Veneers they are used to fix problems such as -

1. Discolored Teeth - Caused due to Root Canal Treatment or any sort of drugs/medication.
2. Worn out teeth
3. Chipped or Broken Teeth.
4. Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth.
5. Gaps in teeth

The procedure of Getting Dental Veneers

You will be required to visit your dentist three times for the successful completion of your dental veneers. The first trip will be consultation and analysis of your teeth. The second and third will be to make and finally apply the veneers. The veneering process (for one or multiple teeth) is as follows:

1. In the first stage your Dentist will prepare the diagnosis plan and it requires your proactive participation. You need to tell your dentist why you wish to undergo this treatment. 

2. The second stage is preparation. For this, your dentist will remove around ½ mm of your enamel. This is the exact thickness of the Veneers teeth which will be added to your tooth surface. You can discuss with your dentist the use of anesthesia. After all, this is done the sample will be sent to the lab and will be delivered to your dentist within 1-2 weeks.

3. The last stage of this procedure is bonding. Your dentist will place the veneer on your teeth so that he/she can examine the fitting and also the color. They will remove and trim the veneer teeth so that you get the proper fit. The color gets adjusted depending on the shade of cement to be used. After all this, your teeth will be prepared to receive the veneer. It will be cleaned, polished, and will be roughened for a strong bonding process to take place. In the final steps, excess cement will be removed.

Advantages of Dental Veneers

Following are the advantages of dental veneers or porcelain veneers:

• Gives your teeth a natural look
• Gum Tissues accept porcelain veneers quite easily.
• They are stain-resistant
• You can select the color of your veneers so that they resemble your teeth.

The disadvantage of Dental Veneers

Following are the disadvantage of them:

• It's an irreversible process
• They are costly. Generally, veneers cost is $500 to $1000 per tooth and the worst part is that they are not covered under insurance.
• Not repairable if they chip so you will have to undergo the whole process again
• The process might increase the sensitivity of your teeth as the enamel will be removed.

The life span of veneers is 5-10 years and during this time they will not be replaced. You should also know that they do not require any sort of special care so you can continue with your regular oral hygiene.