A Guide To Porcelain Veneers

What benefits can our Canterbury patients expect from this treatment?

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, there is one treatment that is more popular than others and that is the teeth whitening procedure. There are many reasons for this; it is non-invasive, can be performed to make you look great for a one off social event or to maintain white teeth over a longer period of time time.

It is also safe to use and the treatment can be repeated whenever it is required. For these reasons, and its affordability, it is an especially popular choice with many of our younger patients.

It is not the only treatment that we have available at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic though that can help our patients have a beautiful white smile, and indeed, not everyone can benefit fully from a teeth whitening procedure if they are not a suitable candidate. Examples of this might be where heavier staining has occurred, or perhaps where surface discolouration has been caused by eroded enamel surfaces that may also increase your risk of other issues such as overly sensitive teeth. For patients with these issues, porcelain dental veneers are likely to be a more beneficial option.

What are veneers?

Porcelain veneers are sometimes described as being similar to a false fingernail. This is a fairly rough analogy but they do have some similarities in that the veneers are attached to a tooth in a similar manner to a false fingernail being attached to a real one, but there the similarities end. In many cases, fitting of dental veneers will require minor dental surgery which will result in a permanent change to your teeth. This is because a very fine surface layer of the affected tooth will need to be ‘shaved’ away using a dental burr. To replace the removed enamel, a porcelain veneer will have been prepared, following x-rays and scans, and this will be then attached to the prepared tooth using a special adhesive. Finally, the veneer will be shaped and polished to leave a natural looking appearance.

What are porcelain veneers used for?

Although widely used for cosmetic purposes, porcelain veneers actually offer benefits for a number of problems which include:

Correcting badly stained or discoloured teeth

While a teeth whitening procedure can be very effective, it is likely to be less so where heavy staining has occurred. We will be able to offer advice on this when we see you for your consultation.

Chipped or cracked teeth

A whitening procedure will do nothing for these other than to highlight them. Veneers are an excellent way to restore the appearance of teeth that have become damaged in this way.

Sensitive teeth

Teeth that have been ground together or have been exposed to excessive acidic foods and drinks can soon lose some of their enamel. Not only can this take away the ‘shine’ from your teeth but can make them very sensitive too. Veneers are a great way to not only restore the appearance but to protect your teeth from the discomfort of tooth sensitivity as well.

Minor orthodontic issues

Orthodontic systems such as Invisalign or Cfast are the most effective way to correct the position of your teeth in most cases, but veneers can sometimes be used for cosmetic corrections to your teeth such as a diastema (a gap between the front two teeth). It is worth remembering though that veneers will not actually straighten your teeth, just give the appearance that they have been, and any actual correction will require orthodontic treatment.

Tooth reshaping

If your teeth have been worn down or if you have, for example, small or pointed teeth due to genetics, veneers can be used to build these up to give you a more natural looking smile.

As you can see, veneers can be used to offer a variety of benefits for our Canterbury patients and we are happy to discuss any issues such as these with you to see if veneers are the most appropriate solution to use.

Looking after your new veneers

When your new veneers have been fitted, we are sure that you will be delighted with the results. Not only will they look great but they are long lasting too, generally lasting around ten years before they need to be replaced. There is a caveat here though. While veneers are made from an artificial material and won’t therefore decay, the tooth that it is attached to can, and it is important that you look after your natural teeth well. You should make sure to brush and floss and also see your dentist and hygienist regularly. Failure to do so could cause issues such as tooth decay which requires treatment and this could mean that the veneers no longer fit as they should and you may need to have new ones produced.

Porcelain veneers could be the answer to your dental issues, and if they aren’t, we have a wide range of other treatments available at our Canterbury clinic to help you with either general or cosmetic issues. If you would like to discuss this with us, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with one of our dentists by calling Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic today on 01227 463529.