Dental Veneers: Types, Procedure and How to Take Care of Them

A veneer is a thin layered material applied on the visible part of a tooth. Its main purpose is to improve the aesthetic appearance of a person. Dental veneers are usually made from porcelain or resin composite materials. They are used to give color to a discolored tooth, correct dental erosion, and are also used in chipped and broken teeth. Many people get about six to eight veneers for a better symmetrical smile. Dental veneers can also be placed on the premolars. If you need any veneer placement, visit our Family Dentistry in 80015 to get the veneer placement of your choice.

In this article, there’s an overview of different types of dental veneers and the procedure used in installing them on your teeth.

Types of Dental Veneers

• Porcelain Veneers

They are tooth-colored and adaptable. It is a commonly used material for veneers. They are long-lasting and the strongest over all other veneer materials. They are also the least harmful veneer material meaning they do not injure the soft tissues in the mouth and the gum tissues. Porcelain dental veneers are made of ceramic materials. There are fewer preparations for the porcelain replacement. Our Aurora dentist will let you choose the porcelain shade of your desire. During the visit, your dentist will shape the remaining healthy tooth before starting the porcelain veneer procedure. Then the dentist will replace the natural tooth with cement and cover it with a porcelain shell.

• Composite Veneers

A composite veneer is a type of cosmetic dentistry procedure. Composite Veneers are relatively cheaper than porcelain veneers and are made from tooth-colored resin. They remain intact to your teeth for up to 10 years. Composite veneers are made on the same day of treatment, meaning they will be placed in one dental visit. After that, however, they need to be replaced more often.

With this veneer, direct composite is curved on the teeth rather than in a dental laboratory. Next, your teeth are reshaped before placing the veneer.

Composite veneers can be placed directly on the tooth by your dentist. Unlike the porcelain veneer, when the composite cracks, the cracked area can be repaired. In contrast, porcelain can only be replaced.

• Lumineers

Lumineers are a brand of dental veneers. They are so thin hence the tooth does not have to be recontoured during the procedure. These veneers have a similar shape and color to the natural enamel and last up to 20 years. However, they are at high risk of chipping, leading to a shorter lifespan. Lumineers are usually used to treat irregularly shaped teeth and also discolored ones.

• Palatal Veneers

Also called palatal Onlays, these veneers are used to restore both anterior and posterior teeth. Palatal veneers restore only the affected part of the mouth. However, they cause some damages to the anterior teeth, like tooth erosion and bruxism.

• Removable Veneers

They are also called Snap-On veneers; removable veneers are relatively cheaper than traditional veneers. They are less harmful and are not permanent. They can be removed at any time and don’t prevent you from eating. Snap-On veneers do not require tooth reduction when being inserted into the tooth’s enamel. This type of veneer has some disadvantages and might not be the best choice. They don’t blend well with the natural color of the teeth. They are also subjected to plaque building upon them, causing some gum diseases and are supposed to be replaced often.

How to Take Care of Veneers Once After being Placed

Veneers are prone to damage if not taken good care of. After veneers are placed on your teeth, you’ll experience some roughness, which ends after some days. If they don’t, visit an emergency dentist near you for it to be smoothed by your dentist. Usually, the recovery process doesn’t take a long time. By having good oral health and taking some measures, your veneers can last for a long time. Some of these measures include;

• Use less abrasive fluoride toothpaste
• Always wear a mouthguard when playing sports
• Brushing your teeth twice a daily and flossing at least once a day
• You should avoid chewing hard substances
• Limit yourself from taking foods and beverages with too much sugar
• Never open any packaging like soda using your teeth.