Dental veneers are medical procedures that aim to improve the appearance of a person's teeth by attaching veneers to the front of the teeth. Veneers can cover defects in teeth, such as the shape, color, and size of the teeth that are not according to the patient's wishes.
Veneers are generally made of resin or porcelain, and will permanently adhere to the teeth. In contrast to dental implants or crown teeth, veneers only cover the front of the teeth. Meanwhile, dental implants replace teeth by their roots and crown The tooth covers the entire crown of the tooth.
Dental Veneer Indications
Dental veneers are commonly requested by patients for cosmetic reasons or to improve appearance. With veneers, the color of teeth can be brighter and can even make a person's smile more symmetrical. Dental veneers can also be used to correct the following conditions:
- Broken or damaged teeth
- Non-uniform interdental cavities
- Pointy or abnormally shaped teeth
- Teeth that are smaller than the surrounding teeth
- Discoloration of the teeth that cannot be removed by teeth whitening
Dental Veneer Warning
Keep in mind that the dental veneer procedure is a procedure irreversible. This means, if during the veneer procedure it is necessary to change the shape of the tooth, then the change cannot be reversed.
In addition, veneer can not be arbitrarily installed on each person. Some people who should not have dental veneers are:
- People with unhealthy teeth, such as people with gum disease
- People whose tooth enamel has been eroded, so they can't be put on veneers
- People whose teeth are brittle due to decay, fracture, or the presence of fillings that are large enough
- People who have a habit of grinding their upper and lower teeth (bruxism)
Veneers can also suffer damage, such as cracking or breaking, and cannot be repaired if damaged.
If you want to whiten your teeth, it is recommended to do it before the dental veneer procedure. The color of veneers cannot be changed once they are placed on a tooth, so it is important to make sure the veneer color matches the color of the other teeth before placing it.
Although rare, there is still a risk of veneers falling off the teeth. Therefore, it is best not to bite on hard objects, such as pencils and ice cubes, or bite your nails when using veneers.
Before Dental Veneers
Before dental veneers are performed, the dentist will evaluate the condition of the patient's teeth and mouth to ensure there are no signs of dental or gum disease, such as cavities, gingivitis, bleeding gums, or root disease. The doctor will also perform a panoramic X-ray of the teeth to ensure dental health.
If the patient's teeth are not neat, then the doctor will install temporary braces. This is so that the veneer that will be installed will be compatible with other teeth.
After the condition of the teeth is examined, the patient's teeth will be ground first to remove the tooth enamel layer. This grinding process can use local anesthesia or without anesthesia, depending on the type of dental veneer that the patient chooses.
There are two types of dental veneers, namely: prep and no-prep. Here is the explanation:
Prep Veneers
In the installation of dental veneers prepFirst, the part of the tooth to be placed on the veneer is ground until it reaches the bottom layer of the tooth enamel. This grinding of teeth means that the veneer is attached properly.
Grinding teeth will permanently deform and often this procedure is quite painful, requiring the help of local anesthesia or anaesthesia.
No-Prepa Veneers
The process of installing dental veneers no-prep or minimum prep generally faster than prep veneers. This is because the installation of veneers requires only minor changes to the natural teeth.
In the process, the doctor only needs to change the tooth enamel a little and not to erode the bottom of the tooth enamel. Installation of dental veneers no-prep also does not require a local anesthetic.
The patient's teeth to be veneered are measured using a special impression tool. This mold will be the basis for making veneers that will be placed on the patient. The time for making dental veneers in the laboratory is about 2–4 weeks.
Dental Veneer Procedure
The first step in installing dental veneers is to match the size, shape, and color of the teeth with the dental veneers to be installed. After being matched, the doctor will clean the surface of the tooth that will be fitted with veneers.
Next, the doctor will grind the tooth enamel again, so that the tooth surface becomes rough, making it easier for the veneer to stick to the tooth surface and stick for longer.
The veneer is then attached to the tooth using a special cement substance to make it stick firmly. Ultraviolet light can be used to accelerate the drying of the cementitious substance. Generally, this veneer installation process takes about 30 minutes.
If it feels like it is sticking well, the doctor will do a final veneer adjustment to make sure the veneer sticks well and removes any remaining cementitious substance.
The doctor will also test the patient's biting ability after the veneers are placed. After that, the doctor will arrange a check-up schedule to make sure the veneer is properly attached.
After Dental Veneers
Compared to other dental procedures, the recovery period after a dental veneer procedure tends to be faster. Patients who have undergone dental veneers can usually eat or drink normally.
However, in some cases, teeth that have just been veneered will feel strange and rough. This generally comes from the remnants of cement that sticks and dries on the tooth surface.
The remaining cement will disappear by itself. However, if it is still there after days, the patient can ask the dentist to remove the remaining cement.
Porcelain veneers generally last up to 10-15 years, while composite veneers can last up to 5-7 years. To maintain the life of the veneer, patients can apply maintenance measures, such as:
- Do not use your teeth to open the package.
- Do not chew on hard objects, such as ice cubes.
- Do not chew food using your front teeth.
- Get rid of the bad habit of biting your nails.
- Take care of your teeth while exercising by wearing a mouth guard.
Dental Veneer Complications
If the dental veneers are not placed properly, this can cause damage to the teeth under the veneers. In addition, the thin enamel due to erosion during preparation for dental veneers often causes the teeth to be attached to the veneers to be more sensitive than other teeth.