Veneers
Are veneers right for you? these articles may just answer that question!
How Porcelain Dental Veneers Can Rebuild Your Smile
by Donna Pleis via colgate.com
original article and page source here.
People with healthy smiles like to show them off, but for people with chipped, discolored or crooked teeth, smiling can be a painful experience, emotionally and physically. Thankfully, there are lots of options to help fix dental problems, and one of the most popular for older patients is porcelain dental veneers. Here's what they are and what they can do for you.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers, as described by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry , are thin pieces of porcelain shaped to fit over the front side of your teeth. Veneers are strong, look natural and are made to match the shape and color of your own teeth.
To prepare your teeth for veneers, the dentist will remove about one millimeter of enamel from each tooth's surface, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. Next, your dentist will take an impression of the inside of your mouth, form a mold, and send it to a dental laboratory where your veneers are custom made by a dental technician.
When finally ready, your dentist will bond the product to your teeth with a special cement.
Are Veneers a Good Option for Me?
Teeth that are discolored, chipped, decayed or poorly shaped are good candidates for veneers. They're also beneficial in situations involving a slight gap between two teeth, as well as for minor crowding and bite-related problems.
Discuss porcelain veneers with your dentist. If they can work for you, be part of the design process. Let your dentist know what you want corrected and what you're looking for in your new smile. With cosmetic imaging, you may even be able to see a preview of the new you.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Aside from having the best teeth in the house, one of the greatest values in porcelain veneers is that very little tooth structure is lost, and you may need little to no anesthesia for some treatments. The materials used to make them also provide resistance to stains from coffee, tea and other foods that natural teeth don't protect against as easily.
Because some enamel is removed, however, the procedure is irreversible. Also keep in mind that once cemented, the color cannot be corrected. You may have some temperature sensitivity for a few days, as well. Veneers are strong, but they can be damaged by chewing ice and biting your fingernails, so you'll need to kick those habits, should you have them.
How to Take Care of Them
You'll want to treat your new porcelain veneers just as carefully as you do your own teeth. Keep your normal oral hygiene routine, but use nonabrasive fluoride toothpaste such as Colgate® Cavity Protection, which keeps you free of decay without aggravating the veneers themselves. Your dentist or dental hygienist should also use a nonabrasive polish during regular cleaning appointments. If you clench or grind your teeth, your dentist may also suggest a night-guard to protect your veneers from damage while you sleep.
Even those who are the most self-conscious about their teeth can see a big change from porcelain veneers. As author and spiritualist Thich Nhat Hanh said, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." Find out if the source of your joy is in a new set of porcelain dental veneers.
New Veneers Can Offer Minimally-Invasive Smile Repair
by colgate.com
original article and page source here.
Gaps in your teeth, stained teeth, badly shaped teeth, crooked teeth — all are nature's mistakes or the results of injury, and they are relatively simple to correct.
Veneers, for example, are a great option for many dental patients. Custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials and placed on the front of the teeth, veneers are crafted in a dental laboratory by a dental technician following a model provided by your dentist.
However it's usually necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from the teeth to accommodate the shell, so veneers have historically been an irreversible procedure.
But these days a new type of veneer is being used — the minimally invasive porcelain veneer. These veneers are very thin and designed to cover the surface of the teeth to which they are applied. Tooth structure is left intact and only altered when necessary.
"Minimally invasive veneers help patients conserve their enamel, which is a big attraction," Dr. Eugene L. Antenucci of the Academy of General Dentistry said in the November 2007 issue of General Dentistry. "Both traditional and minimally invasive porcelain veneers are highly esthetic, and can be expected to offer years of wear."
Masking mild to moderate tooth discolorations, correcting minor misalignments and rotation of anterior teeth, and re-shaping peg-shaped and undersized teeth are just a few of the improvements minimally invasive porcelain veneers can provide, according to the AGD.
No one dental treatment is perfect for everyone, so patients considering veneers should talk to their dentist about the available options and undergo a comprehensive clinical examination that includes an esthetic evaluation.
Restorations Offer A Second Chance At Winning Smile
by colgate.com
original article and page source here.
It’s an established fact that genetics have an impact on a person’s overall health. But did you know they can also determine how teeth develop?
Characterized by very small teeth, microdontia is a common oral health problem that often runs in families. Adults affected by microdontia may have small teeth with gaps between them, making them look like primary (baby) teeth. Teeth that are too small may not fit together or chew properly, which can cause excessive wear and tear.
But there’s good news for people with microdontia: modern dentistry offers many techniques that can help restore teeth and improve smiles.
Dr. Charles W. Wakefield, professor and director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, says that depending on the severity of microdontia, patients can choose composite bonding, veneers or crowns that can change both the size and shape of the teeth to provide a more “adult” appearance.
“Composite or porcelain veneers don’t remove excessive tooth structure and are very conservative restorations,” said Dr. Wakefield. “Composite bonding is used most commonly for younger patients whose teeth haven’t fully erupted or for patients on a tight budget, but it doesn’t last as long as porcelain veneers. Restorations made from porcelain often have superior durability and appearance.”
If you’ve decided that you’d like to improve your smile, the American Dental Association recommends you first visit a dentist. Some of the more popular treatment options include:
Composites: Composites are tooth-colored fillings that are designed to match the color of your teeth. They are a mixture of glass or quartz filler that provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small- to mid-size restorations that need to withstand moderate pressure from chewing. They are generally used on either front or back teeth.
Composites are “bonded” or adhered in a cavity. This can allow your dentist to make a more conservative repair to your tooth, meaning less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth. This may result in a smaller filling than that of a metal (amalgam) filling. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than it does for a metal filling because composite fillings require the tooth be kept clean and dry while the cavity is being filled.
Veneers: Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth. Veneers are made by a dental technician, usually in a dental lab, working from a model provided by your dentist. Placing veneers is usually an irreversible process, because it's necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell.
Your dentist may recommend that you avoid some foods and beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine. Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture.
Crowns: To help restore a tooth to its normal shape and size, you may need a crown to cover it. A crown can make your tooth stronger and improve its appearance.
A crown can help strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth remaining to hold the filling. Crowns can also be used to attach bridges, protect a weak tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discolored or badly shaped. It’s also used to cover a dental implant. If your dentist recommends a crown, it is probably to correct one of these conditions.
For more information on these and other restorative treatment options, visit MouthHealthy.org.
© 2019 American Dental Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or republication is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission from the American Dental Association.
© 2019 American Dental Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or republication is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission from the American Dental Association.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.