What are Porcelain Laminate Veneers?
Veneers are thin facings placed on the front of teeth to help create beautiful smiles. The materials are usually porcelain (ceramic) or composite resin. With veneers it is possible to make dramatic changes in tooth color, size and shape, and to achieve the smile of your dreams.
Porcelain Laminate Veneers
Porcelain is the most durable and aesthetic material and will not stain over time. Porcelain laminate veneers require a two-step technique to complete. The first step is to remove a little tooth structure on the front (facial) surface of the tooth. The amount of tooth removed usually ranges from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm to make room for the veneer that will be placed. After the tooth is prepared, a mold is taken and sent to a dental laboratory where the veneers themselves are made. We make and place temporary veneers at the preparation visit. The second step (about two weeks after the first visit) is to remove the temporary veneers and cement the final veneers. Many people are choosing veneers to correct imperfections in their teeth. Porcelain laminate veneers are what most movie stars and many media personalities have had done to improve their smile.
With porcelain laminate veneers, three things must happen to obtain excellent results:
- A clear vision of what we are trying to achieve.
- Teeth that are properly prepared.
- An excellent lab.
We have worked with many labs and only work with the best we could find. Our lab is able to produce outstanding results with as little as 0.5 mm of tooth preparation, something many labs are unable to do even with 1.5 mm of reduction.
Composite Resin Veneers
Composite resin veneers are the other option. This is usually a one-step process. This involves preparing teeth (usually conservatively) then bonding composite resin on the teeth to form the size, shape, and color desired. Composite resins can also give excellent aesthetic results, although composite veneers tend to discolor after 5 to 10 years, usually necessitating their replacement. The advantages of composite resin veneers are:
- They only take one visit to complete.
- They are less costly than porcelain.
- They possibly require less tooth preparation.
Whether for professional or personal reasons, veneers are an excellent way to put some magic in to your smile.
