Everyone would like a perfect set of white, shiny teeth, which adds glamour and confidence as we speak or smile. However, only a few are fortunate enough to be blessed with such an aesthetic physical attribute. Today, those who are not as lucky need not worry anymore. With the level of cosmetic dentistry that we have today, it is no longer impossible for anyone to be able to flash that perfect smile without having to go through the long and painful orthodontic treatment that requires braces or caps.

Porcelain dental veneers are a beautiful way to correct chipped, crooked, or stained teeth. They are oftentimes more visible as they are placed on the side of the tooth, touching the cheeks.

Veneers give an unsightly set of teeth an overall aesthetic appeal by changing a tooth’s size, shape or color. Porcelain dental veneers can actually whiten the teeth, close spaces and fill in gaps between teeth.

Because of its bonding capability, resins are used in attaching porcelain veneer or a thin covering of porcelain to a tooth. The fragile and naturally brittle porcelain becomes quite strong and durable when securely bonded to a sturdy substructure such as the teeth.

The use of veneers by dentists can be traced way back in the 1930. The veneers were bonded with a dental adhesive tape and were most likely to fall off. Famous movie celebrities used veneers as “stop gap” arrangements. Dental fillings then were made of gold, amalgam and other materials, some of which were veneered with porcelain.

Two types of materials can be used in a veneer: composite and porcelain. A composite venner may be built directly up in the mouth, or may be indirectly fabricated by a dentist or dental technician. This type of veneer is later on bonded to the tooth with the use of a resin cement. A porcelain veneer can only be indirectly fabricated.

Porcelain Veneer Dental Procedure

Before undergoing any medical procedure, it is best to discuss with your dentist to assess the possibility of the veneer dental placement not being entirely favorable or successful.

Veneer failure may happen when there is additional bonding over old composite veneers, or when tooth surfaces have been overly excavated and thus have insufficient tissue and high dentine exposure, or when the procedure is done by an incompetent dental practitioner.

Another risk factor in the porcelain veneer dental procedure is stress brought about by fluctuation in temperature in combination with contraction due to chemical reaction. This causes the veneer to crack if the porcelain used is too thin and the compound utilized for the luting process is too thick. The use of excess dye to conceal the original discoloration of tooth to fit in with the new overlain veneer does not have the desired result.

Ideally, for a veneer placement to be successful, there must be an above 3 ratio of thickness of luting agent and porcelain.

There are usually four steps in the porcelain dental veneers treatment.

On your first visit to the dentist, a thorough check is done, after which the dentist will decide on what the best procedure to be used in order to get maximum benefit is. Then the dentist will make a mold or impression out of your current teeth formation.

On the next appointment, your teeth are prepared for the porcelain dental veneers. They are buffed lightly to take away about 0.5 mm from the tooth surface. This process may need local anesthesia. Veneer preparations can actually be done without local anesthesia. However, it has been found that sub-gingival margin placement inadvertently leads to dental exposure and high sensitivity to cold-water spray and aspirator. Hence, it is more comfortable for the patient to undergo veneer placement under a local anesthesia.

Then a mold or impression will be made to customize the porcelain dental veneers. This will be sent to a dental laboratory and will be used for creating a perfect fit. If you are worried on how the veneer will look on you, you may ask your dentist to provide you a temporary dental veneer.

When the porcelain dental veneers are ready, the dentist will attach them carefully, adjusting the shade if necessary. Dental cement is applied between the tooth and the porcelain dental veneers. And lastly, a “light” touch finalizes the procedure using a beam of light that activates the hardening of the cement.

Indeed, porcelain veneers are a great benefit to both the dentist and the patient. Age is not a barrier for having these veneers fitted to improve the appeal of one’s teeth. With the help of a reliable dental professional, best possible results of porcelain dental procedure can be achieved.