How Do Veneers Work?

How Do Veneers Work?

If you’ve ever admired a flawless celebrity smile, it’s likely thanks to dental veneers. These versatile and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments can transform your teeth, boosting both your confidence and oral health. But how exactly do veneers work? Let’s dive into the details.

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth. Made from either porcelain or a composite resin, veneers are bonded to your teeth to improve their appearance. They’re an excellent solution for a variety of cosmetic concerns, such as discolouration, chips, gaps, and minor misalignments. By mimicking the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth, veneers provide a natural-looking enhancement to your smile.

What types of veneers are there?

When it comes to veneers, there are two main types to consider: composite and porcelain veneers. Each type has its unique benefits and considerations:

Composite Veneers

• Material: Made from composite resin, which is applied directly to the teeth.
• Procedure: Typically completed in a single visit as the material is sculpted and hardened directly on the tooth.
• Cost: Generally, less expensive than porcelain veneers.
• Longevity: Lasts around 5-7 years with proper care.
• Aesthetics: While they look natural, they may not be as translucent or durable as porcelain.

Porcelain Veneers

• Material: Crafted from high-quality dental porcelain.
• Procedure: Requires two visits. The first for tooth preparation and impressions, the second for bonding the custom-made veneers.
• Cost: More expensive than composite veneers due to the material and lab work involved.
• Longeivity: Can last 10-15 years or more with proper care.
• Aesthetics: Offers superior translucency and a very natural appearance, closely resembling natural enamel.

To learn more about these differences, you can refer to our detailed guide on the types of dental veneers here.

What the procedure is like

Although the process of getting veneers involves several steps, it is a relatively straightforward process. The initial visit to your dentist will involve a consultation to confirm the overall health of your teeth is suitable for veneers. Determining whether there are any underlying oral health problems is crucial, as simply covering them up without treatment will lead to potentially harmful results in the future. All issues requiring treatment need adequately fixing before veneer treatment can go ahead.

After your consultation, your dentist will colour match your veneers to your teeth. This ensures a realistic and natural finish. Some teeth may need to be slightly sanded down for better adhesion, however with the majority of cases the veneer procedure is as non-invasive as possible. With some veneers such as porcelain veneers, it may be more necessary to have some of the natural tooth shaved or removed to place the new material.

The dentist will apply the veneer material carefully before hardening the solution with a special light.

The benefits of veneers

Veneers offer a wide range of benefits, which makes them a popular choice for patients with a wide range of cosmetic dental concerns.

• Whiter teeth – For those looking for an instant uplift, veneers will offer a whitening impact – given that your dentist has upped your natural tooth’s colour by a couple of shades before applying the veneers. Do consider that if you have surrounding natural teeth, this may dim their natural shade.
  
• Straighter teeth – veneers are an excellent option to achieve straighter teeth, as they can cover and be shaped to form the silhouette you’re looking for. They also last longer than some of the other options out there.
  
• Addressing chips and cracks – in teeth, chips and cracks can be more than just a cosmetic concern. Veneers can help to protect the teeth against such structural issues, whilst making them appear entirely healthy.
  
• Stronger teeth – As mentioned above, veneers don’t just cover – they also protect the underlying teeth. If you are using veneers to cover up cracked teeth, the additional layer of veneer will protect the natural tooth from further damage by offering a shield against potential wear and tear.
  
• Confidence boost – Many people seek veneers as they’re unhappy with the way their smiles look. Having veneers fitted can offer the transformative impact you’re looking for, as well as an immediate confidence boost!

Are veneers for you?

It may be tempting to ‘go all in’ and get veneers without considering the alternative options out there. However, it’s important you consider other treatments or procedures that could serve you better in the long run – in terms of both time and money.

Veneers are a great option if you have chipped or cracked teeth that can’t be fixed via composite bonding.

Composite bonding involves applying a resin mixture to the teeth, where it is then sculpted into place and set using a special light. Composite bonding is different in that unlike veneers, it doesn’t cover the entire tooth – so it is less likely to last as long, and cannot be used to cover more obvious cosmetic issues.

Veneers are ideal if you have severe discolouration that cannot be addressed by whitening the teeth. Once other preliminary options have been considered during a consultation with your chosen cosmetic dentist, it may turn out that veneers are the best option! They can be transformative, and we’re yet to have a patient that has returned unhappy with the changes made to their smile.

READ MORE: Are Veneers Right for You?

Veneers by Ringway Dental

Although we recognise veneers are the best choice for many patients, we also swear by the fact they aren’t the most suitable cosmetic procedure for all. Whether veneers are ideal for you or not depends on so many factors, it’s impossible to give a one size fits all answer without seeing you for a consultation.

If your teeth are in relatively good health and all you’re looking for is a whitening, straightening boost – our Invisalign offer is worth looking at. As dental professionals, we’d always recommend it’s best to stick with what you’ve got for a natural yet impressive smile uplift!

If you would like to discuss getting veneers with us at Ringway Dental, contact us online or call our team on 0161 437 2029.

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