The close connection between veneers and the "Hollywood smile" is no accident. In the field of cosmetic dentistry, thin dental veneers have been used for nearly 40 years - since the early 1980s. Prior to that, for over 50 years, contemporary prototype veneers were used as staging pieces in the film industry. They were used to literally create a set of beautifully aligned teeth for scenes in which their faces were filmed in close-up. Although veneers are not new to dentistry, there are still many questions that clinic patients have about them. In this article, we try to answer the main ones. We want the all the patients who want veneers in Turkey to know as much as they wish they would about the operation.
What are dental veneers? They are dental prostheses - thin plates made of ceramic or composite materials, which cover the front of the teeth. In most cases, they are used to improve the aesthetics of the teeth. They are usually placed on the front teeth, but if you wish, veneers can be placed on all teeth that are visible when you smile. For example, the first through fifth teeth on both sides of the upper and lower jaw. In real life and in pictures, dental veneers are invisible, all others see is a bright white smile and straight teeth without any imperfections. Dental veneers are also often used for smile design operations with veneers.
Veneers, crowns and composite restorations can be used to solve a variety of dental problems:
• Veneers are designed to improve the appearance of teeth. They can be used in a matter of days, sometimes in a single visit to the dentist or orthopedist, to smooth teeth and mask visual flaws such as unsightly color, dark fillings or poor positioning.
• The purpose of a crown is to protect the tooth from decay. Crowns are usually placed on teeth after root canals have been made and nerves have been removed. After the opening of a cavity caused by pulpitis, periodontitis or tooth decay, the tooth becomes more vulnerable and decay appears more quickly. In order to preserve it, the surface is completely covered with a crown.
• A composite restoration is a restoration of a partially damaged tooth with a filling material. For example, when part of the crown breaks off or the doctor has to remove a large part of the enamel and dentin due to severe decay.
To summarize the differences: veneers correct visual defects, dental crowns are used to protect teeth from decay and composite restorations restore damaged teeth.
Veneers and braces are both used to correct defects and make the smile more beautiful. But they do this in different ways:
• Veneers are fixed appliances that are bonded to the surface of the tooth and stay in place forever (unless they need to be replaced). They create the desired visual effect.
• Braces are removable orthodontic appliances whose purpose is to physiologically correct the position of the teeth in the dental arch and the occlusion. Once the goal is achieved, the braces are removed.
In some cases, veneers may not be sufficient to correct the defect. For example, if the patient has severely crooked or sloppy teeth, veneer treatment is not recommended. To create a straight appearance, teeth would have to be ground down very hard, which greatly accelerates their deterioration. If you have such defects, it is best to have your teeth aligned with braces.
Several types of dental veneers are used in cosmetic dentistry and they differ in terms of material and placement. Depending on how veneers are made, they are divided into two main types: direct and indirect. It is not the shape of the veneers, but the method of application.
Direct veneers are "made" directly in the patient's mouth at the dental office. Indirect veneers are made by a dental technician after a preliminary fabrication. Veneers are also classified according to the type of material - ceramic and composite. Ceramic ones are more beautiful, stronger, more durable and more expensive. Classic ceramic onlays are made of pressed ceramic, applied to a special frame and fired in a kiln. The thickness of these veneers is 0.3 to 0.5 mm along the base surface. The incisal edge is approximately 1 mm thicker. Refractory veneers are made from feldspathic porcelain, which is applied in layers. This is a more expensive type of veneer. The high price is due to the fact that they are more complex to make and place than traditional veneers. Only an experienced orthopedic dentist can perform veneers properly. If the teeth do not have critical defects, veneers can be applied without the need to grind the teeth.
Veneers can also be made from filling materials. They are much less expensive than ceramic veneers, but they are much less durable. They come in two varieties:
• As overlays on the teeth. They are made by a dental technician and are similar to traditional ceramic restorations.
• Composite. Are made by the doctor directly in his office.
Patient feedback on composite veneers is varied, but in most cases, the negatives are related to poor quality placement.
Lumineers are a distinct type of dental inlay. They differ from veneers in their thickness, which does not exceed 0.2 mm, and in the method of application. Because of the thinness of the material, they are usually placed without grinding away the tooth enamel. Lumineers are used when it is not necessary to visually correct the shape of the tooth. The disadvantages of lumineers are as follows:
• Low strength. It is not physically possible to ensure this with a minimum thickness of 0.2 mm;
• High price. Veneers are the most expensive type of veneers.
Ceramic veneers are applied after the diagnosis and complete sanitation of the teeth. There are several steps in the application process:
• The doctor prepares (grinds) the teeth, takes an impression and applies the temporary veneers;
• A 3D model of the future veneers is created and the work is sent to a dental technician;
• Adjust the ready veneers and, if they are correct, insert them.
The entire process takes 7 to 10 days. Refractory ceramic veneers can take longer to fabricate and place.
The application of direct composite veneers is similar to that of composite restorations. The doctor grinds the surface of the tooth to 0.3 to 0.7 mm and laminates the composite (filling material), curing each layer with a curing light. A single visit to the dental office is usually sufficient. Veneers are fabricated and applied in the same manner as ceramic veneers.
If you compare pictures of teeth with veneers before and after they are placed, the visual effect is always impressive. It is difficult to tell at first glance what material they are made of. In fact, immediately after placement, porcelain and composite veneers look great. It may be tempting to opt for less expensive composite veneers. If the budget is limited, the choice is justified. However, it is important to understand that composite veneers may not last long - 4 to 7 years. Ceramic plates last more than 10 years.
Price is not the only selection criterion. The type of defect that will be corrected with veneers is important. For example, if you only want to whiten your smile, lumineers are a good option. You don't have to prepare your teeth for them and they look as natural as possible. However, if the problem is a shape defect, thin lumineers can't hide it.
The choice of veneers should be decided with a doctor after a detailed diagnosis and identification of all details.
Veneers can correct many types of cosmetic tooth defects, but not all.
Veneers can mask the most common visual defects that spoil the smile:
• Dark, loose fillings placed on the front of the tooth;
• Yellow or gray tooth enamel;
• Single, crooked or twisted teeth, as long as the bite is correct and the teeth are mostly straight;
• Irregularly shaped teeth with structural abnormalities;
• Chips and abrasions on the teeth;
• Large gaps between teeth.
One of the most common requests for advice is whether veneers can be used on decayed teeth or whether they are suitable for "dead" teeth. The answer is yes, overlays can be placed on filled or edentulous teeth. But only if there is enough enamel left, because ceramic and composite fillings do not perform as well on dentin. If there is insufficient enamel, an experienced dentist will recommend a crown.
In addition to deficient tooth enamel, veneers are contraindicated if:
• The patient suffers from bruxism (teeth grinding);
• Several consecutive chewing teeth are missing;
• Poor bite or crooked teeth;
• Lower jaw is displaced forward (protrusion) or backward (retrogression).
The advantages of veneers are numerous:
• They allow you to hide the defects of your teeth and to obtain a "Hollywood" smile in a few days;
• They also strengthen and protect your teeth;
• Ceramic veneers last 10 years or more; composite veneers last 3 to 4 times less.
There are only two disadvantages: