Veneers will help restore the beauty of a smile: technique, care, dentist advice

Many consider Hollywood stars to be the standard of beauty, and an integral part of any image is a snow-white smile in all 32 teeth. It’s no secret that such smiles are not nature and luck, but the skilled work of a dentist and some techniques for creating a dream smile, for example, veneers. What are veneers, what methods are used to make them, what results can be achieved and, most importantly, what are the features of caring for veneers. All questions will be answered by MedAboutMe.

The beauty of a smile: criteria

Beauty is a complex concept, it necessarily includes a snow-white smile and even teeth. But not all patients can be proud of such teeth by nature. The dentist will help correct the situation, for example, using veneers.

Veneers are thin plates, their thickness is not more than 0.5 mm. They cover the outer surface of the teeth. Their main purpose is aesthetic, they change the shape of the teeth, color, sometimes they are used to close small defects in the dentition, for example, when it comes to diastema.

The technology of their manufacture is not new. The first veneers were installed already in the 30s of the last century in the USA. Their author, Charles Pinkus, made temporary veneers for Hollywood stars of that time. Why temporary? The manufacturing technology required significant changes and refinement, they could not withstand chewing pressure, and they were enough for several shooting days.

Methods for making veneers have undergone significant changes. Today, such plates for teeth are perfect, withstand chewing pressure and can preserve the beauty of a smile for many years.

Direct veneers

Therapeutic, they are also ceramic or direct veneers, the dentist makes directly in the patient’s oral cavity in one visit. In fact, this is a cosmetic restoration. For their manufacture, composite materials are used, from which seals are made.

The dentist grinds the tooth to the desired length of 0.3-0.7 mm, and then restores the lost tissues in layers, the main thing here is to improve the color of the tooth while maintaining the transparency of the tissues. After restoration, the tooth is carefully polished.

The advantages of this technique will be the price, and also, in comparison with other techniques, these veneers are less durable. There are many more cons. Firstly, composite materials mimic the natural tissues of the tooth worse. Also, composite materials are most susceptible to staining, and the restorations themselves can chip off.

Dentists say that maintaining the beauty created with composite veneers is more difficult, as it requires more thorough care and constant monitoring by the doctor.

Orthopedic

Orthopedic veneers are made by an indirect method, when one of the stages takes place in a dental laboratory. Most often, dentists use ceramics, porcelain, and zirconium.

The main difference between these veneers and therapeutic veneers is the manufacturing method: this is a more complex procedure that requires several visits to the doctor. On the first visit, the dentist grinds the tooth to the desired length, then takes an impression, which is sent to the laboratory.

Computer technology allows you to create veneers with jewelry precision, clearly adjusting the color and size of the future restoration. It usually takes 3-10 days, each clinic is different. During this time, the dentist suggests that patients use temporary crowns that can prevent increased sensitivity of the teeth and preserve the aesthetics of the smile.

On the second visit, if the patient is satisfied with the restoration, the veneers are placed in the oral cavity.

The advantages of ceramic veneers cannot be overestimated. Unlike composite materials, they completely repeat natural fabrics, are translucent and refract light like natural enamel.

Question to the dentist: which is better?

It is difficult to answer which veneers will be better, since each patient has his own requirements and goals. Modern composite materials, equipment and the skill of dentists make it possible to create excellent compositions that meet all, even the most demanding requirements. In addition, such veneers are a less expensive option. Therefore, if the patient is limited in finances, then composite veneers will be an acceptable option that meets the “price-quality” principle.

But beauty requires sacrifice, including financial ones. If patients want to get an ideal result in terms of aesthetics, then their choice should be stopped on ceramic veneers. The material itself perfectly conveys the natural color and texture of natural teeth, it is strong enough to withstand the chewing load.

Many dentists note that composite restorations can give themselves away, because the tooth itself loses its natural shape and becomes like a barrel. In the manufacture of veneers by the indirect method, there is no such minus.

Care rules

Veneers will require special oral care. First of all, we are talking about the rules of brushing your teeth. The border where natural tissues pass into the veneer is a risk zone, a place where plaque can accumulate and caries can develop over time. Therefore, hygienic care of teeth and gums should be at the highest level.

Dentists say that such a thing as «caring for veneers» also implies nutritional correction. In order not to spoil the composite restoration, patients are advised to limit coloring foods in their diet, give up bad habits: smoking, coffee, red wine, some foods with bright colors.

If ceramic veneers are installed on the teeth, dentists recommend limiting acidic foods and citrus fruits in your diet. Excessive chewing load on teeth with veneers installed is prohibited. This can cause chipping, both composite and ceramic restorations.

Previously, the installation of veneers for patients with bruxism was banned, now this is not a contraindication. But! Patients should wear a special mouth guard, and it should be installed in the oral cavity at night to reduce the negative manifestation of nightly grinding of teeth and prevent chipping and breakage of the restoration.

And, of course, regular visits to dentists, a set of preventive measures will allow you to identify errors and breakdowns in a timely manner, eliminate them, preventing serious complications.