Author-Dr Aparna Pandya (Mrs India Vivacious 2019)

Often patients visit dental clinic with a hope of achieving the super model like teeth-perfect and flawless. That can be very well achieved by a dental veneer. A dental veneer/porcelain veneer/dental porcelain laminates are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured material designed to cover the labial surface of the teeth inorder to improve your overall appearance by changing the color, shape, size, or length of your teeth.

Dental veneers can be made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers. They also better mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth.

Let’s discuss the indications of dental veneers-

• Discolored teeth
• Teeth that are chipped or broken
• Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped
• Diastema

Dental Veneer Procedure

To prepare a tooth for a veneer, first the teeth has to be reshaped to an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. Next, an impression is taken and a model is made. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which makes your veneer. It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the veneers to come back from the laboratory.

Once the proper fir of the veneer is achieved, it is then cemented onto the tooth surface permanently after the tooth is cleaned, polished, and etched. Etching roughens the tooth to allow for a strong bonding process. Cement is applied to the veneer and it is then placed on your tooth. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, checking the bite and making any needed adjustments.

Veneers offer these advantages:

• They provide a natural tooth appearance.
• Porcelain veneers are stain resistant.
• More aesthetic appearance

Dental veneers disadvantages:

• The process cannot be undone.
• Veneers usually cannot be repaired if they chip or crack.
• Because enamel has been removed, tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks.
• Expensive

Veneers generally last between 7 and 15 years. After this time, the veneers would need to be replaced. Although, dental veneers do not require any special care, it is important that the patient is informed to follow good oral hygiene practices.