An aesthetically pleasing smile is something that enhances everyone’s appearance. It gives self-confidence and allows people to communicate more freely. Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy this. Sometimes the natural colour or shape of the teeth is unsatisfactory, while in some cases discomfort is caused by changes resulting from trauma, disease, or harmful habits. Modern dentistry makes it possible to smile confidently. With aesthetic prosthetic treatment, the tooth surface is restored, making the teeth look healthy and attractive.
When is aesthetic prosthetic treatment recommended?
The procedure during which the tooth surface is covered with veneers is called aesthetic prosthetic treatment or microprosthetic treatment. It is performed when the aim is to:
- lighten the colour of the teeth;
- correct the shape of the teeth;
- close gaps between teeth;
- restore the anatomy of worn or chipped teeth.
During aesthetic prosthetic treatment, the adjacent teeth are not damaged, and a highly aesthetic and long-lasting result is achieved.
What are veneers?
Veneers are very thin ceramic plates attached to the front surface of the tooth. Special cement is used for this purpose.
What are the distinctive features of dental veneers?
The thickness of these plates averages only 0.2–0.5 mm. Dental veneers are translucent, therefore they look extremely natural. The plates used for restoring the tooth surface are durable; over time, they do not darken or lose their shine. The most suitable veneer colour and shape are selected individually according to the patient’s needs. They bond firmly to the tooth surface and are naturally surrounded by the gums.
How and from what are veneers made?
Veneers are made in a laboratory using the most modern computer scanning and modelling programs. This makes it possible to ensure their very natural and aesthetic appearance. Natural materials—porcelain and ceramic—are used to produce the plates.
What types of veneers are there?
Three main types of plates used for dental restoration can be distinguished:
CEREC veneers are made in the clinic using computer milling. Usually, they are placed during the first visit after the teeth have been prepared, so temporary veneers are not required. Regardless of the individuality of the teeth, these restorative plates are usually identical.
Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory. Each of these veneers is covered with a ceramic layer, which allows the effect of natural teeth to be created. In order to find the optimal solution and see the final appearance before placing permanent veneers, temporary plates are made. Each porcelain veneer is individually adapted, so before bonding them, the tooth is prepared only minimally.
Composite veneers are produced industrially in large quantities, therefore they are all identical. In this case, temporary veneers are not made, so the final result is visible immediately after the procedure. The tooth is adapted to the composite veneer, and for this reason it may be prepared more than when using porcelain restorative plates.
How to care for teeth restored with ceramic veneers?
After aesthetic prosthetic treatment, dental care remains the same as before. In order to maintain a healthy and attractive smile, it is important to take care of daily oral hygiene, i.e. use a toothbrush, dental floss, and mouthwash. It is also important to visit the dentist and oral hygienist regularly.
Are all dental veneers the same?
No, the main differences between these restorations are determined by the production method — milling, pressing, or layering — and the materials, such as feldspathic and leucite-reinforced ceramic. Before milling, the teeth are scanned with an advanced computer system, creating a veneer model. Veneers can be milled with a special machine and sintered.
Pressed veneers are first cast and then pressed. During layering, the dental technician builds the plates layer by layer, almost like painting a picture. Ceramic veneers made in this way are distinguished by exceptional aesthetics and individuality. They can be extremely thin, therefore they look the most natural.
What does the price of dental veneers depend on?
There are several reasons why the price of dental veneers is relatively high. First of all, very strong, high-quality materials are used in the production of these plates, ensuring a long-lasting result.
Second, veneer production requires exceptional precision and care. Restorative plates created by the best specialists in the field look very natural and aesthetic. Considering the advantages of aesthetic restoration, the price of dental veneers appears truly attractive.
How is dental veneering performed?
The following steps of this procedure can be distinguished:
Consultation. During the consultation, the patient’s needs are discussed, a treatment plan is prepared, and the teeth are examined in detail. The dentist evaluates the general condition of the teeth and the possibilities of performing dental veneering. If, for certain reasons, this procedure is not possible, the specialist recommends alternative solutions. Before prosthetic treatment, a wax-up is performed — an image of the future veneers is created, which can be tried on the patient’s existing teeth.
Tooth preparation. First, approximately 0.3–0.5 mm of the front surface of the teeth is prepared. This is done under local anaesthesia, so you will not feel any pain. When only the colour of the teeth needs to be changed, this stage may not be necessary. After preparing the tooth surface, impressions are taken, according to which veneers are made in the dental laboratory. Depending on the planned number of teeth to be veneered, the procedure may take from 1 to 3 hours. While the long-term plates are being made, the patient receives temporary milled veneers, which are precise and aesthetic.
Veneer production. Each restoration is made individually in the dental laboratory, taking into account the required shape, colour, and shine. The process takes up to 10 days. While production is taking place, the patient receives temporary veneers.
Veneer placement. Veneers are bonded with special cement. This procedure is very precise and requires attention and care — veneers are cemented one by one. The cement is hardened using a special lamp, which allows the best possible result to be achieved.
Usually, two visits to the dentist are sufficient to achieve the final result.
What are the advantages of veneers?
The main advantages of dental veneers are:
Highly aesthetic and natural appearance. Dental veneers are made from a translucent material, so teeth restored with them look very aesthetic and natural. In addition, over time, these plates do not lose their attractive appearance.
Strength and durability. Veneers are especially strong and more durable than fillings.
Preservation of tooth tissues. Before bonding such restorative plates, only minimal preparation of the tooth surface is required, up to 1 mm. This makes it possible to ensure not only an aesthetic appearance but also the preservation of tooth tissues.
Painless and fast procedure. Aesthetic prosthetic treatment does not cause any unpleasant sensations and is one of the least invasive dental procedures. Usually, only 1–2 visits to the dentist are enough to achieve the final result.
Safety. Restorative plates made from natural materials are well tolerated by the human body.
Individuality. Veneers are made individually for each patient, taking into account the shape and size of their teeth.
Aesthetic prosthetic treatment using veneers allows patients to enjoy an attractive-looking smile.
Is veneer correction required after some time?
Like natural teeth, veneers must be properly cared for, i.e. cleaned daily with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and professional oral hygiene must also be performed regularly. Additional correction of veneers is not required.
Can veneers be placed on lower teeth?
Yes, these porcelain plates can be bonded both to upper and lower teeth.
Can crooked teeth be straightened with aesthetic prosthetic treatment?
Veneers do not straighten teeth, but they can be used to correct the shape of the front teeth.
Can veneers be placed on aesthetically filled teeth?
Veneers are placed only on the natural tooth surface. Therefore, before aesthetic prosthetic treatment, the filling must be removed.
How does aesthetic prosthetic treatment differ from aesthetic filling?
Aesthetic prosthetic treatment using veneers is quite often confused with aesthetic filling, but these are two different procedures:
Teeth that are chipped, worn, or have lost their natural colour are restored with veneers. Aesthetic prosthetic treatment can also be performed when the aim is to correct irregularly shaped teeth or close gaps between them. This procedure is well suited for adults.
Veneers guarantee a long-lasting and highly aesthetic result, which is usually visible after just two visits. In addition, continuous renewal of the plates is not required.
Aesthetic filling helps restore the anatomical structure of a tooth by selecting the ideal shape, colour, direction, and size. This procedure can be applied in various cases, for example, after tooth tissue has been lost for certain reasons, when there is dissatisfaction with tooth colour, or when the aim is to close gaps between teeth. Aesthetic filling can be performed for patients of any age.
Compared with aesthetic prosthetic treatment, this procedure does not provide such long-lasting results. In addition, continuous renewal of fillings and special care are required. Nevertheless, aesthetic filling is the procedure that preserves tooth tissues the most. Safe materials that are well tolerated by the human body are used during the procedure. In addition, aesthetic filling is comparatively inexpensive.
Interested in aesthetic prosthetic treatment? Contact the specialists of “Ozo” Aesthetic Dentistry and Implantology Clinic — they are ready to help. Enjoy a flawless smile and trust yourself!
