Porcelain Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the front surface of the teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance. Many dentists use the analogy that dental veneers are for your teeth what false fingernails are for your nails.

There has been a lot said about porcelain veneers in the past; some amazingly successful stories as well as some terrible horror stories. So what is the truth?

They are certainly a fantastic treatment as they can produce tremendous results. They can often be done without local anaesthetic. Personally, I would always prefer the ultra-thin veneers as they are so thin that very little removal of tooth structure is required, as opposed to veneers that wrap around most of the tooth and require considerable preparation of the teeth. Other advantages of the ultra-thin veneers are that as you are bonding onto the outer enamel layer of the tooth, the bond is much stronger and there is no sensitivity after they are fitted.
The reason one sometimes hears some horror stories about veneers is that not everybody is a suitable candidate for them. It is important that you have a proper examination by a dentist who is comfortable with placing veneers so that the correct diagnosis can be made. If your teeth meet in a manner that will cause the opposing teeth to fracture the veneers, then they will not work. The same applies to people who have a habit of grinding their teeth. It is also important to be aware that porcelain veneers are not reversible. If a dentist tells you that they can be drilled away leaving your tooth in its original state, be extremely wary.

What treatments or problems are veneers used for?

There are a variety of reasons why patients opt for treatment with Porcelain Veneers:

Stained teeth - Badly stained teeth that cannot be improved by teeth whitening.
Damaged teeth – Chipped or broken teeth, as well as those that have become badly worn through excessive grinding or by carbonated drinks, can benefit from veneers. A small chip on a tooth can quickly be repaired with a composite filling, but where the damage is too great, a veneer will offer a better looking and longer-lasting solution.
Gaps - Spaces between your teeth can easily be closed using dental veneers, giving you a more uniform-looking smile.
Crooked teeth - Veneers are not the ideal treatment for crooked teeth, and from the point of view of preserving your natural teeth structure, orthodontics (braces) would probably be a better solution. However, such treatments can take up to a year or longer. For teeth that are not severely crooked, veneers placed over their front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned-looking smile. For this type of treatment, many people refer to veneers as "instant orthodontics", as you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time.

Once a careful examination and diagnosis has been made, two visits are required with the dentist. At the first visit, the teeth are prepared and impressions are taken which are then forwarded to the dental laboratory. After roughly seven to fourteen days, the patient returns to the dentist to have the veneers fitted and their beautiful smile is complete.

In the right circumstances porcelain veneers can completely transform your smile and your self-confidence in a very short time with minimum tooth structure removal, discomfort or stress, and they will continue to look good for many years.

For more information about any aspect of dental health, contact Dr George Antoniades, Dental Surgeon, +357 24648447 or Email: george@oroklinidentalcare.com