Veneer installation is a common cosmetic procedure that improves the smile and protects your teeth against damage. A veneer refers to a thin shell of translucent, strong material that resembles your natural teeth. Dentists place dental veneers over the front area of your teeth mainly to correct the following dental conditions:
- Minor gaps between the teeth
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Uneven teeth
- Discolored teeth that conventional tooth-whitening procedures can’t whiten
The veneers attach to your teeth and gradually help change your teeth’ size, shape, length, position, and color.
Additionally, dentists can use Veneers UK in dental treatment that involve procedures such as dental crowns, implants, and bridges. If you’re considering veneer installation, you need to understand the various options available. Here are the main types of veneers you can choose.
Porcelain Veneers
Dental experts make porcelain veneers from hardened ceramic that’s stain resistant. Porcelain veneers are common and look like natural teeth. These veneers can last for years and are customizable to match your teeth.
The aim of creating porcelain veneers was to introduce a minimally invasive procedure that corrects dental problems. During porcelain veneer installation, your dentist will shape the healthy tooth part, add a bonding agent and place the porcelain shell on the tooth. Porcelain veneers also offer color variety to correct various extents of discoloration. For instance, opaque porcelain veneers are ideal if your teeth have extremely dark coloration.
Palatal Veneers or Onlays
These veneers are different from other veneer types since dentists install them at the backside of the teeth instead of the front surface. Ideally, the veneers restore anterior teeth, which get damaged due to erosion, bruxism, and deep bite. Severe acid reflux and bulimia are major causes of dental erosion.
Fortunately, palatal veneers can restore the damaged part of the anterior teeth while leaving the healthy part intact. The veneers are available in various materials, including gold, porcelain, and composite. Each material has a unique price and appearance, and you should pick an ideal option. For instance, gold veneers don’t resemble natural teeth and are noticeable and ideal if you like looking flashy. For this reason, gold palatal veneers will probably cost less than porcelain onlays which look natural.
Composite/Composite Resin Veneers
Veneer manufacturers usually make composite veneers from plastic or resin. The veneers are affordable, and installation is straightforward than crowns. That means that dentists can complete composite veneer installation in one appointment. Additionally, composite resin veneers can last for years. However, the veneers are prone to damage, including chipping and breakage, but veneer repair professionals can easily fix the damage.
The installation process of composite veneers entails applying layers of composite on your teeth. The dentist then molds the layers to fit the length and shape of your teeth. Then, the dentist cures the layers to harden the molds.
Removable Veneers
Removable or press on veneers are non-permanent and custom-made to fit your teeth. These veneers don’t require tooth reduction, unlike permanent veneers whose installation is irreversible since a dentist has to remove a part of your enable. You can easily place or remove the veneers whenever you want, which makes cleaning easier.
However, removable veneers may cause discomfort. To avoid this problem, ensure that you get the perfect fit for your teeth. Also, ensure that you install the veneers correctly. Further, get the correct veneer color to blend with your natural teeth.
Lumineer Veneers
Lumineer veneers are extremely thin and translucent and match the shape and color of your natural teeth more than porcelain veneers. They’re easy to install as tooth filing or thinning isn’t required. Lumineers can last for about two decades. While these dental installations are convenient, they’re prone to chipping and potentially have a shorter lifespan than expected. Ideally, lumineer veneers cover tinting and gaps between the teeth.
These veneers are ideal since the installation process isn’t painless though you may feel a little bit of discomfort. Additionally, no needles, drilling, and invasive procedures are involved. Hence, a dentist can complete lumineer veneer installation in a few appointments.
The common dental veneer types include porcelain, composite, lumineers, palatal, and removable veneers. Consider these options if you want to correct dental problems such as gapping, chipping, discoloration, and misalignment problems.
