It’s an increasing challenge these days to tell who has veneer and who hasn’t. But what are veneers, and what is their purpose? Do they have any effect on your own natural teeth and can they be subjected to whitening?
What are veneers?
Veneer is a thin piece of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while providing strength comparable to natural tooth enamel.
Akin to a layer of material that covers the area of the tooth to improve smile aesthetics and protect the tooth’s surface from damage. Veneers are considered an irreversible treatment. Custom-made shells that fit the contour of your teeth are bonded to the tooth’s original enamel under a dentist’s procedure. Veneers mostly cover the front of the tooth.
What are veneers for?
Veneers are used primarily for improving the appearance of our teeth when we smile by correcting a wide range of dental issues that are not limited to discolouration from stains, excessive fluoride, root canal treatment; chipped or broken tooth, crooked teeth or uneven spaces between upper and lower teeth. It is mostly considered a cosmetic procedure and thus, not claimable through any personal insurance although you can still check with your agent.
For this cosmetic reason, veneers are popular solutions for many celebrities.
Veneer Procedure
During the process, a thin layer of enamel is removed from the tooth surface to make space for the veneer placement, sometimes the dentist may shave off partial of your teeth enamel to allow a better bond – the reason why the process is considered irreversible, as once you have gone ahead for the procedure, you will have to follow through.
With the moulded veneers done, the dentist will clean your teeth and prepare the veneer for fit, placement and contouring, the veneer will then be bonded or light-cured on the surface of the tooth to be attached to your natural tooth, depending on your choice of veneer.
Veneers procedures usually take 1-3 visits and a follow-up will usually be scheduled after the procedure.
What are the types of veneers in the market?
There are two types of veneers in the market: Porcelain and Resin-based composite veneers.
In a nutshell, porcelain is a more costly option to resin-based composite. It is long-lasting and is less likely to chip, break or fracture and usually involves enamel removal with its effect lasting up to close to 7 – 15 years. Resin-based composite, on the other hand, has a shelf-life of about 5 years, is less expensive and is more subjected to wear and tear. While resin-based are easier to fix up and may or may not require enamel removal, you will want to consider if this is a long-term solution for you.
Veneers aftercare
You might want to rest for about an hour to let your mouth settle for a little after all that action earlier before your next big meal. There is no need to avoid any kind of food or beverages following the appointment however do note that veneers may still stain over time so go slow on food and drinks such as coffee, tea or curry!
The lifespan of a veneer, depending on its type, typically last between 5 – 20 years. This is highly dependable on how you maintain and look after them on a daily basis! Cavities can still develop when you’re wearing veneers, so do floss and brush them as you would do for natural teeth.
Do and Don’ts when wearing a veneer
As mentioned, veneers are still subjected to staining so that aside, treat it like you would treat your natural teeth and do not use your teeth to bite on hard objects, fingernails or hard food that may cause breakage. If you have bruxism or teeth grinding, you might want to highlight that to your dentist and deem if a mouth guard is necessary during sleep time.
Will Mooi Teeth Whitening Kit work on veneers?
Unfortunately, our teeth whitening kits are only effective on natural teeth. Veneers are artificial materials which are already processed to give you your desired shade of teeth so Mooi teeth whitening kit does not work on them.
In summary, regardless of the dental choices you make, it is important to do ample research and discuss your options thoroughly with your dentist before jumping into any session immediately.
References: Webmd