Dental Veneers (Porcelain and Composite)

Types of Veneers

We offer two different types of veneers; porcelain and composite. The type of veneer you choose will be dependent on both your budget and expectations. Initially an appointment is made so there can be a discussion about any concerns and the outcome you would like to achieve. It is at this appointment, we will advise you on which option is the best fit for you.

Unlike many other cosmetic and restorative treatments, veneers are considered a non-surgical option, meaning there is generally a smaller criterion for treatment. However, an acceptable level of general oral health is still expected before undergoing treatment.

Porcelain veneers

Due to their durable, long-lasting natural appearance, porcelain veneers are the preferred treatment of choice for patients. Porcelain veneers transmit light better and as a result, have a more translucent appearance, affording them a very natural, aesthetic look.

Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers won’t stain over time and are more durable. Porcelain veneers take several appointments and require a dental technician for fabrication, whereas composite veneers have an advantage of being able to improve your smile in fewer appointments.
Porcelain veneers consist of a thin layer of extremely strong ceramic shells designed and customised especially by a dental technician.  In the application of the veneer, a minimal amount of your tooth’s existing enamel is removed from the side and front of the tooth. This is done to make room for the new veneer surface blend in with your existing teeth and prevent the restored tooth from looking unnaturally raised or bulky.

An impression of the modified teeth and surroundings is then done, so an exact replica of your mouth can be made and sent to our dental laboratory and the personalised veneer process can begin by a professionally trained dental technician. It is at this stage in the process where we will look for a shade to compliment you and your surrounding teeth.

In the final stage of the process we impose your newly created veneers over your teeth to ensure the fit, contours and shape are correct. It is only when we are completely satisfied with the the new dental profile that we perform a final clean and bond the ceramic veneers to the teeth.

Things to keep in mind with Porcelain Veneers

If you are considering having veneers, be aware that a small percentage may become unstuck or will break over time. In which case, an occasional replacement or repair may be required.

Ceramic veneers are generally more expensive than composite veneers as they involve custom impressions in the dental chair, more dental visits and custom fabrication by a dental laboratory technician.

A porcelain veneer is considered an ireversible procedure. As a portion of your natural enamel is removed to adhere the veneer to the teeth,  if the veneer ever breaks, comes off or you just don’t like them, the tooth underneath will no longer look or be the same.

Some patients experience sensitivity to hot and cold after their porcelain veneers are placed. The reason for this relates to several factors including; how much of the enamel remains on your tooth after preparation and the location of the veneer in proximity to the nerve. Sensitivity is completely normal and will traditionally dissipate within one to two weeks from placement. If sensitivity continues for longer than this period, or if you questions or concerns, please be in-touch with us.

Porcelain veneers are composed of glass and possesses the strength of glass, but also it’s brittle nature. Activitiessuch as opening things with your teeth or chewing on objects such as the end of a pencil that stress a veneer, should be avoided. As with most things, common sense should prevail.

The time required to create a porcelain veneer will vary on an individual case-by-case basis, though in general terms, the time required by a dental laboratory to create a veneer is approximately one to two weeks.

A local anesthetic is sometimes not always to prepare teeth for a porcelain veneer. For patients who experience anxiety or who experience sensitivity, local anesthetic is a good option and advised.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers are added directly to your tooth using a resin filling material. They are the most affordable option but require more maintenance than porcelain veneers and generally last three to five years.

In creating composite veneers, a soft, putty-like substance called resin is placed directly on top of your existing teeth, primed and bonded. It is then carefully shaped and polished to leave you with thin coating, approximately the thickness of a fingernail over the front to the tooth. Once the colour, shape and texture of the tooth is configured, the resin material is set with a curing light, to harden the composite. The veneer is smoothed and polished to give you a beautiful, natural-looking tooth.

Most of the time no tooth structure needs to be removed, making composite veneers reversible and the most conservative option in comparison to porcelain veneers.  Composite veneers are a quick and inexpensive option in comparison to porcelain veneers but are more likely to need replacing sooner due to staining or chips.

Advantages of Composite Veneers

• The main advantage of direct composite resin veneers over composite veneers is the fact that they are less expensive. This is because they require impressions, laboratory work and they can be completed in most cases in one visit.
• No or minimal tooth preparation, meaning that this process is reversible if need be.
• In most cases no anesthetic nor needles are required

Things to consider with Composite Veneers

• Composite resin is susceptible to staining does not polish to the same degree as porcelain, nor do they it have it’s translucent natural tooth quality.
• They are generally not as strong or wear-resistant as ceramic veneers, as such they need to be replaced more frequently; but should they fracture, composite veneers can be quickly and easily repaired.

Care and maintenance tips for your veneers

The maintenance of your veneers is relatively simple. No special maintenance is needed other than good oral hygiene.  We do like to make a few suggestions, to help you: -

Daily cleaning – Please brush and floss as you normally would to prevent oral hygiene problems. Do not be afraid of damaging your veneers by either flossing or brushing. Any good toothpaste is acceptable. A good home care regime will ensure the aesthetic success of your veneer restorations for years to come.

Eating Habits – Avoid impact and high stress (i.e. absolutely no biting finger nails or cutting string or tape with your front teeth). Do not bite onto things such as ice or the top of pencils. Don’t place chocolate in the fridge and cut stone fruit up – sudden impact with a stone can break a veneer. If in doubt - don’t bite it. A normal diet should pose no problem at all. Please avoid anything that will tend to bend or twist the veneers.

Grinding your teeth – If you grind your teeth it is advisable that you invest in a night guard, as it is nearly inevitable that you will sustain some type of damage to your veneers because of the grinding action of your teeth, and this can be very expensive. If you are known to grind your teeth or clench your jaw, please let us know. We may recommend and create a soft night time guard for you to wear to minimise the stresses placed upon your teeth while you sleep. Although this is an additional expense it is highly recommended.

The Dental Veneer Process

The process of having porcelain veneers involves the following stages:

1. Examination and assessment to decipher which type of veneer will work best for you or whether an alternative treatment would be better suited.
2. Depending on the type of veneer and the objectives of your treatment the dentist will design the treatment plan for your new smile.
3. Records and diagnostics are then taken and sent to the laboratory - this step is not necessary for immediate and prefabricated veneers.
4. The veneers are hand crafted using a vast range of colours, textures, translucencies and strengths in the laboratory by a professional ceramist
5. The dentist then uses adhesives to bond the dental veneers to your teeth

Approximately one to two weeks after the placement of your veneers you will be asked to return to the office for a treatment evaluation. This visit is extremely important. It gives us the opportunity to evaluate the placement of the veneers, the tissue response and to answer any questions you might have regarding your new smile.

As with all dental care, please discuss your expectations and treatment options with us. Regular dental visits are essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Things to keep in mind before you have veneers

• Your teeth and gums must be healthy before you get veneers, we can treat any disease such as active periodontal disease or decay before your veneers are placed. We can treat these conditions before a veneer is made.
• Patients who bring of clench their teeth at night, or who chew their nails are not good candidates for veneers, because the thin veneer shell may chip of break. If you grind or clench, we may suggest a plastic dental night guard to be worn while sleeping, which can help minimise the stress on the teeth.
• Although our dentists removed as little tooth enamel as possible for veneers and typically less than crowns, the process is not reversible once the enamel is removed.
• Patients with severe malocculusions  – a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close, are best treated with orthodontics first.
• For both veneer types, there may be a period of adjustment, a few days to a week to become accustomed to the feel of your restored teeth.