Veneers

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells of composite or porcelain material that adhere to teeth to improve the look and strength of your smile, usually for anterior teeth. They are a popular choice to combat chipped and misshapen teeth, discolouration, fractures and gaps between teeth. The process for veneers is very similar to that of crowns. The primary difference is the need for less filing of your tooth as only the front and side surfaces of your tooth are filed.

Bearspaw Dental offers veneers to give you the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!

Veneer Placement Process

The first step to placing veneers is a dental assessment, which includes x-rays and esthetic pictures of your teeth. With your dentist, together you will determine the appropriate shape, esthetic and colour for your veneers. Ideally a preparation to trim approximately half a millimeter of enamel from your teeth is completed.

If you receive composite resin veneers, they will likely be applied during a single appointment. Composite resin veneers are sculpted directly in your mouth, layer by layer, to cover existing teeth. Each thin layer is shaped and cured until the final result is achieved.

A more esthetic and longer lasting option is to have porcelain veneers. A putty or a digital scanner will be used to take an impression of your smile, which will be sent to a lab to fabricate custom-made veneers. At this time, you may or may not receive temporary dental veneers depending on the condition of your teeth.

Once your porcelain veneers are ready, you will be called in for a second appointment. Your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned to prepare for placement of the veneers and the surface of your teeth will be roughened to improve adhesion. Veneers will then be individually bonded to the front of your teeth, resulting in a natural looking smile.

Local anaesthesia may or may not be required for this treatment procedure. However, your dentist may recommend it if your teeth are sensitive.

You will be instructed to brush and floss your teeth twice per day, just as you normally would. With proper care, veneers are expected to last five to ten years before they require replacement.

Risks & Complications

While veneers are an effective treatment option to drastically improve your smile, there are some associated risks and potential complications.

First and foremost, veneers are non-reversible. You will always require veneers once you have them. Therefore, it’s important to understand that veneers are a permanent cosmetic dental solution and a trained professional should produce and place veneers to achieve desired results.

Because enamel is removed from your teeth during the preparatory phase, your teeth can become more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Additionally, there is a small chance veneers could crack as your teeth marginally expand and contract to hot and cold foods and beverages.

While composite and porcelain material cannot decay, it’s possible for tooth decay to occur around the margins of a veneer. This could result in veneers falling off if proper oral health isn’t maintained.

Veneers can chip, fracture or break due to grinding, eating hard foods and injuries to the mouth. To minimize this risk, wear a mouthguard at night (if needed) and during contact sports, be mindful of the food you eat and do not add unnecessary pressure to your teeth, such as nail biting.

Finally, veneers may not 100% match the colour of your natural teeth and the colour cannot be changed once cemented in place. If you plan on whitening your teeth, you must do so prior to receiving veneers. Additionally, veneers can experience staining, so it is important to watch your diet and clean your teeth thoroughly every day.

Veneers are a fantastic treatment option to quickly transform your smile and improve your dental health. Contact Bearspaw Dental today to learn if veneers are right for you.