Porcelain veneers are strong, tooth-coloured pieces of porcelain that are made by a dental laboratory to cover your natural teeth. This allows us to greatly improve the cosmetic appearance of your teeth. Porcelain veneers can correct a number of different dental issues, including worn, discoloured, misaligned teeth or gaps between teeth.
Continue below to find out more about porcelain veneers.
If you have any questions that are not covered below, or to enquire about booking in for treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Porcelain veneers are a brilliant way to completely transform your smile in only a couple appointments. The cosmetic finish of porcelain veneers is excellent giving you an almost perfect smile. Porcelain veneers are very resistant to staining and, in the abscence of clenching or grinding, will rarely chip or break. Generally, porcelain veneers show very impressive longevity.
To place a porcelain veneer, some of the natural tooth tissue usually has to be drilled away to create space for the porcelain veneer. Whilst this is destructive to the natural tooth, it is less destructive than some other treatment options. In some cases we may be able to do little to no drilling, however the extent of drilling has to be assessed case by case. In some cases where previous dental treatment or trauma is present, a full coverage crown may be required instead of veneers. Crowns are more destructive, but they may be the only option in some circumstances.
Whilst porcelain veneers can last a long time, the can be difficult to repair adequately, should there be any chipping or breaking of the veneer. Often any damage to the veneer will require the remaininly veneer to be removed and replaced at a further cost.
Porcelain veneers show very impressive longevity, with many studies showing success rates of over 90% after 20 years. However, this is highly dependent on how well you look after your teeth. If you brush well and floss meticulously, as well as ensuring that you attend the dentist for regular check ups and hygiene appointments, then your veneers should last very well. However, if you clench or grind your teeth or don't look after your mouth well, then they will not last as long. For any patients who clench or grind their teeth, there is a greatly increased risk of the veneers chipping or breaking over time. It is recommended that a nightguard is worn every single night after treatment to protect the veneers. However, as with all things in dentistry, veneers are not permanent and may require repair or replacement at some point in the future.
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