What Is a Dental Veneer?
Dental veneers are shell-like tooth covers made from ceramic material. Dental veneers are used to correct minor and major dental inconsistencies. Most people opt to get dental veneers to help slow the aging process by giving their teeth a less worn look. Others opt to get dental veneers to correct minor injuries to their teeth.
Their Use
Dental veneers are mainly used for three reasons: Wear and tear, genetics, and worn enamel.
Worn enamel---Enamel is the hard, white covering over teeth. It is there to protect the dentin (main part of the tooth's structure), which encases the pulp. Genetics, consumption of caffeinated drinks and smoking can cause the enamel to wear down or become discolored overtime.
Genetics---Some people are born with dental problems such as uneven teeth or gaps. These gaps can expand with age.
Wear and tear---As you age, your teeth naturally start to wear down. Once your enamel starts to wear down, it's more susceptible to getting cracks and chips. Wear and tear also result in your teeth becoming uneven.
Benefits
Dental veneers are used for cosmetic reasons but can also be used to correct dental problems. Cosmetically, dental veneers can give a whiter appearance to discolored teeth, correct misaligned and/or gapped teeth and give the teeth a more uniform appearance. Dental veneers are also used for people who have more serious dental problems such as major chips and cracks as well as severe discoloration that cannot be corrected with general cleaning. For smaller complaints such as minor cracks in the teeth and small chips, your dentist will often suggest a bonding procedure instead, as it's less expensive.
Composite Resin or Porcelain Veneers
The two materials used the most in manufacturing dental veneers are composite resin and porcelain. Composite dental veneers can be fabricated in your mouth at your dentist's office. Composite and porcelain veneers can be sent off to a dental lab to be manufactured by a dental technician. Any dental veneer that is manufactured in a lab has to be bonded to your teeth with different types of cement resin. Although expensive, most people want to have porcelain veneers as they are more durable and last longer.
Costs
Porcelain veneers are more costly than the less expensive composite resin veneers. As of 2009, the price range for porcelain veneers was between $900 and $2,500 per tooth. The price range for composite resin is between $250 and $1,500 per tooth. The price depends on the location of the dental office (what state it's in), the skills of your dental technician, and the number of teeth you need to have done. Ultimately, a considerable amount of the cost boils down to what type of veneer you choose. Porcelain veneers last 10 to 15 years and composite resin veneers last five to seven years.
Procedure
You will be given local anesthetic for pain management and for some dental practices; you will be offered a form of audio/visual therapy for relaxation. Next, your tooth will be reshaped with a hand-held bur (rotational cutting instrument) to ensure a good fit. A mold will be made to ensure correct shaping of the dental veneers. This mold may be sent away to the dental lab so the veneers can be professionally created.
The whole procedure is completed within two visits or in some cases a period of six weeks and requires no recovery time.
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