Composite and Porcelain Tooth Veneers
Veneers are often used as an alternative to crowns. They are very thin pieces of porcelain or composite that are glued onto the front of the teeth. Depending on the amount of dental work required the patient may or may not need to have anesthesia. Veneers are used to correct severely discolored or chipped teeth, crooked teeth, teeth that have small holes in them or to fill in spaces between teeth. The dentist does not have to remove very much of the original tooth, thus reducing the amount of trauma to the tooth. The dentist takes an impression of the teeth and the veneers are custom made for each tooth. They are then glued directly onto the tooth. They usually last from ten to fifteen years a re are quite durable and stain resistant.
Before you commit to having permanent veneers, you can try veneers in temporary cement in the same color as in the permanent ones. You need to look at them in the mirror to make sure that it is what you want. Some of the enamel of your teeth has to be buffed off to make room for veneers and you have to wear the temporary ones until the permanent ones are made by a dental lab from the impression the dentist takes. During this period, you can advise your dentist of any adjustments or changes you would like to have made in the shape or size.
The dentist will place the veneers on the teeth with glycerin or water to match the color of your other teeth. Once veneers are in place, the color cannot be changed. Then he/she cleans the tooth with chemicals so that the surface is rough and will bond with the veneer. Once it is glued onto the tooth, a bright light hardens the glue making it permanent.
The number of visits required for this procedure depends on the type of veneer you want. Composite veneers can be completed in one visit because the procedure is bonding and the material is glued directly to the enamel of the tooth. With porcelain veneers, you may have to have two visits to the dentist because the veneers have to be custom made in a dental lab. Composite veneers are much cheaper, costing about $250 per tooth, but they usually only last from 5 to 7 years. Porcelain veneers are much more expensive, ranging from $900 to $2500 per tooth. They require two or more visits about one or two weeks apart. They last longer than the composite veneers, about ten to fifteen years.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to having veneers for your teeth. Porcelain veneers are very difficult to stain so you retain your brilliant smile and whiter teeth. They come in colors that will lighten darker teeth and they won’t change color. They are very durable and long lasting. You don’t have any additional maintenance, apart from brushing and flossing your teeth. They give you a whiter smile, which adds to your appearance.
On the other hand, veneers require a period of one to two weeks for you to adjust to wearing them. If a lot of the tooth has to be removed, you may have a lot of pain because of the trauma caused to the tooth. You may experience some tooth sensitivity, especially to cold foods or even the wind when you are outdoors. You may not be able to pronounce certain letters, such as “s”, until you get used to having veneers and this become very noticeable to others. It may actually take you a month or two to get used to them. If you grind of clench your teeth, you may even crack the veneers and have to have them redone. You need to discuss all of these potential problems with the cosmetic dentist.
Currently Indexing Over 75 'BluePages' Covering 1,000+ topics!