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What Are Veneers and How Do They Compare to Dental Crowns?

Las Vegas Veneers are thin, strong caps that dentists can apply to teeth for cosmetic results. It is important to get all the facts if you are considering veneers.

Veneers can hide many minor dental flaws, such as chips, gaps, discoloration, crookedness, and more. They can even improve bite alignment.

Porcelain veneers are thin, durable shells that bond over the front of your teeth to hide cracks, chips, stains, discoloration, and other cosmetic flaws. They’re crafted to mimic the dimensions and sheen of natural tooth enamel, allowing you to enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile without altering your natural appearance or oral health routine. With proper care, porcelain veneers can last for years — if not decades.

Achieving the best results with veneers requires a thorough consultation and examination with your Chandler dentist. Dr. Arooni will evaluate your mouth to ensure that you are a good candidate for this treatment and will address any other dental issues you may have before proceeding.

Once he has determined that you are suitable for porcelain veneers, he will remove only a small amount of the original tooth surface to make room for the new material. Then, he will custom-make the veneer and have it color-tinted to match the surrounding teeth. The entire process typically takes only two office visits to complete.

Since they are fabricated from natural porcelain, veneers are extremely stain-resistant. Unlike composite resin, they will not discolor from coffee, tea, wine and other staining agents. You should still practice regular oral hygiene to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can shorten the lifespan of your veneers.

Veneers are made from strong ceramic materials that mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural tooth enamel. Their translucent properties create a look that’s incredibly lifelike and blends in seamlessly with your other teeth. Porcelain veneers are more costly than their composite counterparts because they require more time, expertise and resources to produce. However, since they last longer than composite veneers, they can end up saving you money in the long run.

Some patients experience sensitivity when they first receive their veneers. This is usually caused by the rough spots that occur as a result of extra cement on the tooth surface, which can wear off after a few days of normal eating and teeth brushing. Using toothpastes and rinses that reduce sensitivity can help alleviate the discomfort. You should also avoid biting down on hard objects like pens and fingernails and stop grinding or clenching your teeth at night to prevent them from becoming damaged.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers are thin shells applied to teeth to correct their appearance, close gaps or fix minor chips or cracks. They are made from composite resin and can be applied in a single appointment to match surrounding teeth. Composite veneers are cheaper and less invasive than porcelain, but they are not as durable or stain-resistant.1 Good oral hygiene habits and regular dental visits help preserve the look of your composite veneers. Your dentist can advise you on other measures that you can take, such as eating a nutritious diet and avoiding stains from coffee, red wine and smoking, to keep your smile looking great.

Before applying composite veneers, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel to help the material adhere to your teeth. They will also apply an adhesive glue to aid in the process and cure or harden the veneers using a special light. Then, your dentist will sculpt the veneers to achieve your desired cosmetic result and polish them for a polished finish.

You can get direct composite veneers or indirect composite veneers. Direct veneers are the more popular option, as they can be applied directly to your teeth. Indirect veneers, on the other hand, are fabricated in a lab setting and then bonded to your teeth. The entire process is a bit lengthier, but it allows you to get the right aesthetic for your smile.

To prepare for either type of veneers, your dentist will take a series of images and impressions of your teeth to create a model for the laboratory. Then, they will color-match the resin composite to ensure that it blends in with your natural tooth color and appearance. Once the dentist has the perfect shade for your veneers, they will use an adhesive cement to adhere them to your teeth and cure them with a special light.

Veneers are a great option for anyone who wants to make subtle changes to their smile, such as fixing a chipped tooth or whitening stained teeth. They are also a better choice than crowns for teeth that are significantly damaged, as crowns are more invasive and require a greater degree of preparation.

Porcelain Laminate Veneers

While thin veneers can give a great appearance, they may not stand up to the wear and tear you inflict on your teeth as well as other types of restorations (like dental crowns) can. They tend to be more brittle, and since they don’t receive reinforcement from the tooth structure that’s bonded to them, they can be susceptible to fracture or debonding.

Thicker laminate veneers, on the other hand, can stand up to more than just your usual wear and tear. Aside from their superior durability, they can also offer your dentist a greater degree of control over how natural-looking the result will be by allowing them to incorporate characterization and shading qualities that closely mirror the color of your teeth.

The type of porcelain that’s used for fabricating your veneers can also have a considerable impact on how lifelike the finished product will look. Your dentist may recommend that you whiten your teeth before starting the fabrication process to make sure that your new veneers will reflect light in the same way as your natural tooth enamel does.

Veneers can be fabricated to correct many different types of problems. The “before” picture below shows an example of how they can be used to close a small gap between this person’s upper lateral incisors.

Porcelain veneers can also be placed over deteriorating or stained white fillings to improve their appearance. In this case the ceramic nature of the laminate material typically offers a more long-lasting and stain-resistant surface than bonding can.

Veneers do not strengthen your teeth, so they aren’t appropriate for teeth that have lost a significant amount of structure due to wear, decay or fracture or for those with large fillings. They are not the best choice for fixing crooked or chipped teeth either, as your dentist will need to remove sufficient enamel to accommodate them. This can leave your teeth vulnerable to flexure, and they will likely need replacing. If you’re a candidate for veneers, then your dentist will suggest that you avoid hard, crunchy foods and beverages to protect them from fracture or debonding.

Porcelain Bonding

Both porcelain veneers and dental bonding offer restorative solutions for cosmetic issues that impact the smile’s appearance. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is important for patients to consider these factors carefully when deciding on which treatment option will be best for them.

With dental bonding, a dentist applies a new resin directly to the tooth’s surface. This material is then polished and shaped to create the desired look. The resin is not designed to last forever, however, and it will eventually need to be replaced. It is also not as stain-resistant as natural tooth enamel, meaning that patients may experience discoloration over time if they regularly consume coffee, red wine, and other dark-colored foods.

A cosmetic dentist will recommend bonding to repair minor flaws in teeth, such as chips, cracks, or uneven surfaces. It is also used to fill gaps in the teeth or to cover up stains. The bonding material is similar to the color of a patient’s tooth, so it will blend in and appear natural. Unlike porcelain veneers, dental bonding does not require the removal of any tooth enamel, so it is a more conservative solution for those who are looking to improve their smile’s appearance.

While porcelain veneers are more durable than dental bonding, they are also more expensive. Additionally, the treatment takes longer to complete than dental bonding. It is important for patients to consider their budget and lifestyle when deciding on which treatment option is right for them.

Porcelain veneers are also more likely to resist chipping and staining than composite resin, making them a more long-lasting and cost-effective choice for those who want to improve the look of their smile. However, they are not recommended for use in areas of the mouth that experience a lot of biting force as they can break or chip easily.

Both porcelain and composite veneers offer significant improvements in the appearance of a smile. Whether the treatment is used to repair minor imperfections or to reshape the teeth, the outcome will be a beautiful and more confident smile. If you are considering either cosmetic enhancement procedure, contact a specialist for a no obligation consultation today.