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What Are Porcelain Veneers Or Laminates?
Porcelain Veneers, sometimes called laminates, are thin
shells of porcelain placed over the front surfaces of
teeth.
How Can I Change The Shape Of My Teeth?
Porcelain Veneers are ideal for making changes to the shape
and/or color of your teeth. Generally, a more aesthetic
effect can be achieved by placing multiple veneers/ laminates
rather than a single one. If you have existing dental
work or very misaligned teeth, you may require more extensive
cosmetic treatment. Porcelain
crowns or orthodontics may
be required to give you the best result.
What's The Procedure?
Patients generally need three appointments to complete
the procedure, start to finish. The appointments can
be summarized as 1. diagnosis and treatment planning,
2. preparation, and 3. final cementation. Diagnosis and
treatment planning: Your dentist should discuss with
you all of the treatment options available; if you're
a candidate for veneers, make sure you understand their
limitations. It's critical that you take an active role
in the decision making process - it's your smile. It's
ok to have more than one consultation; what's important
is that your dentist understands your objectives and
needs.
Tooth preparation: This appointment usually takes between
one to two hours. In preparation for veneer placement,
the teeth to receive the veneers are recontoured (on the
outside surface, lip side) to allow for the added thickness
of the veneers. Usually, between 0.3 - 0.5 mm of tooth
surface is removed, which may require a local anesthetic.
Once the teeth have been prepared, an impression is taken
of the teeth, which is sent to the laboratory for veneer
fabrication. Depending on the lab and your location, they're
usually back to your dentist within 1 - 2 weeks.
Veneer cementation: The final appointment will take between
one to two hours. Your dentist will place the veneers with
water or glycerine on your teeth to check their fit and
evaluate their color match. While the veneers are temporarily
resting on your teeth, make sure you get a good look, pay
particular attention to the color. At this point, the color
of the veneers can still be adjusted through the shade
of the cement your dentist uses. Once the veneers have
been cemented, the color cannot be altered. The tooth is
then cleansed with specific chemicals to prepare it for
cementation. Once a special cement is sandwiched between
the veneer and tooth, a light beam is used to initiate
the release of a chemical catalyst used to harden the cement.
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