How Do Veneers Work
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Get the perfect smile with Teeth Veneers
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve appearance. They are made from porcelain or composite resin and are permanently bonded to the teeth. Whether you are only considering veneers on two front teeth or have issues that are visible on a number of teeth it is common to get a row of six veneers, more typically on the top row of teeth.
Are Veneers Painful?
Getting veneers is generally not a totally pain-free process. Local anesthesia is typically used during the procedure to minimize discomfort. After the anesthesia wears off, some patients experience mild to moderate pain, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. You may want to find out more about the process of getting veneers before opting for the treatment and we offer a no-obligation free consultation and advice we also suggest you take a look at the information contained within this site, to help you determine whether veneers are the right choice for you.
You will also find diagrams and additional guidance as to how to start your veneers treatment at our veneers home page, this enabling you to get one-to-one advice about the best solution for you alongside a time frame of availability should you be interested in progressing with your veneers and journey to that perfect smile.
The pros and cons with teeth veneers?
Advantages of getting veneers:
- Improved Appearance: Veneers can whiten teeth and correct minor cosmetic issues such as chips, cracks, and gaps.
- Stain Resistance: Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains from coffee, wine, and tobacco.
- Durability: Veneers can last between 7-15 years with proper care.
Disadvantages of veneers:
- Cost: Veneers can be expensive, varying by location and dentist experience.
- Irreversibility: The procedure is irreversible because it involves removing a small amount of enamel.
- Sensitivity: Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold.
We are also often asked about whether Lumineers can fix crooked teeth, similar to veneers this solution is more costly and the ideal solution for those with severe alignment issues would be to elect for a combination of orthodontic treatment and veneers or composite bonding, all of which Whites Dental can offer expertise and advice with some of London’s leading experts at both of our central London clinics.
How Long Does It Take to Get Veneers?
The process of getting veneers typically takes about 2-3 appointments over a few weeks. This includes the initial consultation, tooth preparation, and final placement of the veneers.
The Importance of Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for the longevity of veneers. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups are necessary to keep the underlying teeth and gums healthy. As is the case with all dental hygiene, the essential care is to brush and floss, this is to eliminate the build-up of food particles and the resultant bacteria that can form. With veneers you have to ensure a full and thorough dental check-up to assess the current state of the teeth and gums, any cavities that may exist or signs of weakness must be assessed and the proper fitting and replacement of veneers is also crucial. Having an additional layer on the teeth does make the process of cleaning your teeth more important. Issues such as bad breath with veneers may well be a sign that there is a hygiene issue and that more brushing or a more thorough cleaning routine is required.
Temporary Veneers
In most cases, your final veneer’s will be made in a dental lab. This process takes about 2 to 3 weeks to complete. Therefore, in the meantime you will most likely need to wear temporary veneers.
Because temporary veneers are usually attached to your teeth with temporary cement, they are most likely to become displaced. To avoid this, there are a few food patients should steer clear of until their final veneers are in place. Below, we will explore food that you should avoid and foods you can eat with temporary veneer’s in place.
What foods you cannot eat with temporary veneers?
- Chewy and hard meats.
- Crunching on ice.
- Biting an apple.
- Sticky, candies and toffees.
- Chips, crunchy and pretzels.
- Toast.
- Bread that is difficult to chew or bite.
- Popcorn.
- Stain-causing foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine, cold drinks, curries, berries, soy sauce and tomato sauce.
What foods can you eat with temporary veneers?
We recommend eating soft, non-staining foods while you are wearing temporary veneer’s. Some of these include:
- Soft chicken that are cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Fish
- Soft bread
- Soft canned foods.
- Soft fruits like plums and bananas.
Permanent Veneers
Unlike temporary veneers, permanent veneers are made from high-quality porcelain, which is much more resilient to staining. Because ceramic porcelain is extremely strong, veneers are also less vulnerable to breakage. Nonetheless, your final veneer’s can still become damaged by certain foods or lifestyle habits.
What foods to avoid with permanent porcelain veneers:
- Foods and beverages that are acidic such as lemons, tomato sauce and cool drinks which erode the bonding material.
- Biting into ice.
- Biting into hard foods such as hard candies and toffee apples.
- Consuming alcoholic beverages often as alcohol softens the surface of the bonding material.
- Taking stain-causing drinks often like tea, coffee and red wine. Porcelain veneer’s are highly stain-resistant while the bonding material and teeth beneath them are not at all.
- Chewing tobacco or smoking.
- Using teeth for other functions like holding heavy objects or as a pair of scissors to tear through packages and wrappings.
If you are a daily coffee or tea drinker, it is a good idea to sip these drinks through a straw. This will help decrease the amount of time the liquid comes in contact with the teeth. In addition, we recommend rinsing your mouth out with water after every meal to reduce the risk of staining. Patients who experience sensitivity should also consider avoiding extremely hot and cold food and beverages. Cutting foods into smaller pieces can also help reduce sensitivity.
Types of Veneers/Lumineers
- Porcelain Veneers: Custom-made to fit your teeth and are known for their durability and natural appearance.
Porcelain veneers, also known as dental porcelain laminates, are custom-made thin shells (typically 0.5-0.7mm) of tooth-colour materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth, enhancing their appearance. These veneers, bonded to the front of the teeth, can change their shape, size, length, or colour. They are highly versatile and used to address a variety of cosmetic issues
2. Composite Veneers: Made from resin and are generally less expensive than porcelain veneers but may not last as long.
Composite veneers are used to address discolored, worn, or crooked teeth, and can change a tooth’s shape and size. They involve a similar process to composite bonding but for more extensive reshaping. Composite veneers are less invasive, cause minimal damage to the tooth, and are more affordable than porcelain veneers.
3. Lumineers are ultra-thin, no-prep veneers, about 0.3 mm thick, designed to create a Hollywood smile. A certified dentist can fit them in one or two visits. They are often used to fix crooked teeth or close gaps without braces but are not suitable for severely stained teeth.
Celebs and Winning Smiles
Many celebrities opt for veneers to achieve a flawless smile, which can significantly enhance their appearance and confidence.
One of the things that celebrities are known for (except their good looks) is their beautiful smile. You would be struggling trying to find a mega-celebrity that has bad teeth. Countless celebrities have invested in cosmetic dentistry to get their million-dollar smiles. Few people are born with a flawless set of teeth. The same goes for celebrities. If you have always wondered how some celebrities are seemingly blessed with gorgeous smiles, well, you usually do not need to look any further than their cosmetic dentist! Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Hillary Duff, and Julia Roberts have achieved their perfect smiles through veneers. Some choose veneers because they don’t have the time to wait for other treatments to work, and some choose veneers because they have irregularly shaped teeth or because they have staining that can’t be improved by whitening.
Veneers are like covers that conceal your natural teeth. In fact, they are often referred to casually as “caps.” The teeth are ground down a bit to allow the veneers to fit over them, and the veneers bond to them and protect them. You can repair most cosmetic issues “instantly” with this procedure. You wear temporary veneers while you are waiting for the permanent ones to be made, but you don’t have to go through a lengthy treatment the way you would with braces or with getting multiple whitening procedures. Going to an experienced cosmetic dentist is essential for the success of this treatment.
Whites Dental are proud to have treated more than a few famous people, providing dental care is our passion, and all our treatments are provided with the same care and commitment – whether it be helping you to achieve a perfect smile or just helping you to maintain your dental health.
Are veneers stain resistant?
Yes, porcelain veneers do stay white , generally speaking. However, maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding stain-causing foods and beverages can help keep them looking their best.
Where in London to Get Veneers
Whites Dental is a recommended clinic in London for veneers. They offer consultations and a range of cosmetic dental services. In addition, they have specialist orthodontists, providing braces treatments for adults and also private orthodontics for children.
The offer composite bonding and veneers from two central London clinics and provide an initial free consultation to explain the treatment process and most suitable options for you as an individual.
With many years experience and some famous celebrity patients they are well worth looking up and making contact for advice or an appointment.
The cost of veneers can vary widely based on the type of veneer, the number of teeth being treated, and the dentist’s experience.
It’s important to consult with a dentist for a detailed cost estimate.
The process of getting veneers and in particular the hygiene implications of veneers makes doing the research and finding a reputable dentist with experience of total importance. You should not be tempted to scrimp or save time on the initial consultation period, as it is vital that the current state of health of your mouth and teeth is assessed and that the veneers are a perfect fit and adhered with skill to ensure the longevity of the treatment.