What You Need to Know About Ceramic Veneers

A healthy and beautiful smile is what makes a person look more beautiful, makes them more confident, and at the same time ensures oral hygiene. Nowadays, more and more people are resorting to the veneer procedure for several simple reasons – veneers resemble natural tooth enamel, last up to 10-15 years, retain their original color for a long time, and simply best correct minor defects on the teeth.

Read this blog and learn everything about ceramic veneers specifically, compare it to other types of veneers, and find out the pros and cons.

What are ceramic veneers?

Ceramic veneers, also known as porcelain veneers, are very high-quality plates that are bonded to the surface of the tooth and are 0.3-0.5 mm thick. Ceramic veneers are used to correct tooth defects – they help you adjust the shape, color, and size.

Advantages of ceramic veneers

Ceramic veneers are more natural and last longer than composite veneers. In addition, ceramic veneers can withstand chewing loads for a longer time. With proper care, you can maintain the effect for up to 10-15 years. As for maintenance, your oral care routine will not change much – it includes brushing twice a day, using an oral irrigator, and visiting a dentist every 6 months.

Ceramic veneers do not absorb food pigments and eating them does not affect the color of the veneer. Unlike composite, that is, veneers made of porcelain, ceramic veneers do not have micropores and are therefore resistant to coffee, tea, wine and other colored foods that are saturated with natural pigments.

How is the preparation for veneers done?

Tooth preparation is one of the fundamental steps before veneers are placed. During this process, an experienced dentist removes a minimal amount of enamel from your tooth. The amount of enamel removed varies from 0.3 to 1.5 mm, depending on your needs. How your tooth is prepared will depend on the alignment of your teeth, your aesthetic requirements (how much you want the veneer to cover your tooth defects), and whether you choose ceramic or composite veneers.

What steps should we take?

The procedure for attaching veneers involves several very important steps. If you are planning to get veneers in the future, then you should definitely be aware of the steps you will need to take to get the smile you want. These are:

Dental consultation – During the consultation, the dentist will assess the health of your mouth, how ready you are for veneers, whether veneers meet your needs and goals, and help you determine your budget. It would be good if you come to the consultation in advance, before you are ready for veneers. You may change your wishes and goals after the consultation.

Treatment planning – if it turns out that ceramic veneers are what you want and need, the dentist will design an individual treatment plan;

Tooth preparation – this is the most serious step. At this time, a small amount of enamel is removed from the tooth surface and its thickness is reduced. Removing the enamel is necessary so that the veneers fit tightly to the tooth and do not appear excessively bulky. Do not be afraid of this process – a professional dentist will make sure that your teeth do not lose their health!

Taking digital impressions – after taking the impressions, they are sent to a laboratory and veneers tailored to you are made with digital precision;

Bonding – Once the veneers are made, the dentist begins bonding them to the teeth.

Final adjustment – To ensure that the process remains comfortable for you, the dentist will finally adjust the veneers to achieve a natural look.

Composite veneers: a good alternative

If ceramic veneers are not suitable for you for some reason, then another alternative is composite veneers . Composite veneers are made of a tooth-colored composite resin material.

The advantages of composite veneers are that they can be attached to your teeth during the first visit, which saves you time. They are easy to remove, do not damage the tooth, are much more affordable and accessible than ceramic veneers, and in case of damage, they are much easier to restore and repair.

Will I be able to get my tooth back after ceramic veneers are removed?

The answer to this question is not clear-cut: it depends. It depends on what type of veneer you had attached, to what extent the enamel was chipped before the veneers were attached, and how you cared for the veneers. Typically, when patients remove their veneers, they may experience a sharp increase in sensitivity due to the chipped enamel. The sensitivity will decrease over time, although initial discomfort is often unavoidable.

Your teeth will also be changed in appearance. While your teeth should be healthy under the veneers, the color/contour will still be changed. However, this all depends on how much enamel is chipped.

What are the reasons why I might not be able to get veneers?

If you have a pronounced asymmetry, the dentist will most likely refer you to an orthodontist and ask you to get braces. In addition, if you have gum inflammation, you will first need to undergo a course of treatment. If you have bad habits – such as biting your nails, grinding your teeth, chewing ice, etc., then veneers are definitely not for you.

summary

Getting veneers is not an easy procedure – although the results are amazing and we may not recognize our smile, there are specific steps we need to take to get there. Our dental clinic in Tbilisi offers the highest quality materials, sterilization, personalized service, consultation, and professional, reliable advice that fits your goals and preferences.

Warning: This blog is not dental advice, on which the user should make a decision. Richter Clinic blogs are for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended to provide any dental advice to individuals. Please consult your doctor and make a decision tailored to you!