Dental veneers are individually designed and manufactured shells, or covers, that fit over teeth in order to hide crooked, uneven, discoloured or worn down teeth. Cosmetic dental veneers are added to the defective teeth as masks rather than as a repair. They can be made from porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material.
What are lumineers?
Lumineers are an ultra thin type of veneer with little or no preparation time at all. They require little or no preparation because the teeth do not require filing down with a drill prior to fitting the veneer. The lumineer fits straight on top of the cracked, broken or discoloured tooth and is even more durable than standard porcelain veneers. They are as thin as contact lenses with a life span of up to 20 years. Lumineer veneers are manufactured by the Cerinate Smile Design Studio in California.
Why use dental veneers?
The saying “smile and the world smiles with you”, may not be so applicable if one smiles and reveals a mouth full of broken bone like structures. Smiling has been reported as being the most successful social ice breaker, causing others to relax and be comfortable. It is no wonder that people want the perfect smile for social and business reasons. A firm handshake and a great smile has always been seen as the preserve of successful salesmen and women the world over. Dental veneers have the ability to straighten, whiten and perfect aged and abused teeth with the minimal amount of effort and preparation.
What alternatives are there to veneers?
Fillers that are tooth coloured can be used to repair small cracks or gaps in front teeth. However, the use of fillers is less effective when the teeth corners are broken because there must always be a join between the filler and the teeth which would be difficult to secure.
How are dental veneers fitted?
The cosmetic dental veneer procedure has two stages. The first reshapes the tooth in preparation for the veneer and a tooth impression is made by the patient biting on dental wax. The dental wax imprint of the teeth is sent to a dental lab for processing and design of the veneer, which is then manufactured. This process takes around two weeks. On the next visit the veneers are fitted, trimmed and polished.
How long will a veneer last?
The life of a dental veneer will depend upon the material used to make it. Porcelain veneers last much longer than composite ones. They can last up to 10 years or 20 years for lumineer veneers. Minor repairs can be performed or the veneer can always be replaced easily.