Nowadays in dentistry, the options for improving your teeth are close to limitless. Whether it’s fixing a chipped tooth or adjusting the length of your gums, it can be done. In this article, I will talk about dental veneers since they are gaining in popularity.
Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells bonded onto the surface of your teeth. These shells improve the colour, shape, size and length of your teeth. They are designed to cover cosmetic imperfections such as chipped teeth, discoloured teeth and misaligned teeth are permanently bonded to the prepared teeth using dental cement, providing a brand-new smile. They are commonly used to fix dental issues including:
There are various kinds of veneers in the market including:
There are several types of porcelain veneers but generally, they are known for being strong and more expensive compared to other types. They are highly regarded for their durability and their close resemblance to natural teeth. At our clinic, we prefer porcelain veneers that look natural and hence, we carefully select ceramics from Norway and Sweden. We choose these ceramics because they closely mimic the appearance of youthful teeth, featuring a natural fluorescence and inner glow!
Composite veneers are usually used for small chips or gaps between the teeth. They are made from composite resin, a similar material as cavity fillings. They tend to discolour over time and have a dull appearance. As they usually last between 5-7 years, dentists tend to use them as a semi-permanent treatment before having porcelain veneers done.
These are “instant veneers” that are premade. However, as they are not custom-made, these veneers tend to be ill-fitting which may lead to tooth decay and gum problems in the future. Furthermore, they can look artificial due to the lack of ideal proportions and monochromatic tone.
No-prep veneers are essentially porcelain veneers that are custom-fitted to your teeth. As the name suggests, it is a non-invasive procedure that does not require any removal of tooth structure. They can only be used in selected cases such as in teeth with a lot of spaces in between them.
In a smile makeover situation, veneers are a viable option for improving one’s smile. Here are some of my favourite benefits of veneers–
Aesthetics and realistic appearance: One of the features that contribute to veneers’ popularity is their optic properties. This is especially so for porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural tooth enamel. For example, enamel possesses a property called translucency, where light can enter and reflect out. Porcelain has this same characteristic and can be adjusted accordingly by the ceramist to blend in with surrounding teeth.
Most dental clinics in Singapore order their veneers from a lab, but, we have an in-house lab with our very own ceramist. No two veneers are the same; we design, hand stain and polish them individually before inserting them on patients.
Stain resistance: The surface of porcelain is extremely smooth and impervious, which makes it resistant to stains. This means, unlike natural teeth, your veneers won’t change colour from staining agents like coffee, wine and tobacco.
Durability: Veneers are bonded to your underlying tooth structure, which makes them relatively long-lasting. On average, they last about 15 years with good care. I’ve seen some patients maintain their veneers even longer than that!
Now, you may ask how is it possible for veneers to be so strong and durable if they are so small. Well, this is because veneers, when bonded onto enamel take on the mechanical properties of enamel and dentin. When you combine them, your tooth now has the toughness to withstand forces from biting.
Versatility and ease of creating: Compared to crowns, veneers are much easier on your teeth because they don’t require extensive shaving of the tooth structure. Some ultra-thin veneers might not even need any tooth shaving at all! At our clinic, we’re all about precision—we use a specialised Carl Zeiss microscope that magnifies up to 15 times. Plus, we can customise the colour of your veneers to make stained teeth look whiter. The whole process is less invasive than getting crowns, so it helps preserve more of your natural tooth structure.
Nothing in dentistry is perfect — that includes veneers. Here are some drawbacks of veneers.
High cost: Veneers —especially porcelain ones— are expensive. Each veneer can range from $1000-$1500. It will be a costly investment if you have a few teeth that require veneering. The process involves removing a thin layer of natural tooth enamel, making it irreversible.
Not stronger than enamel: As strong and durable veneers are, they will never be able to replicate the strength of enamel. So anything that could break or chip a natural tooth will do the same for veneers. To protect your veneers, we recommend wearing a nightguard especially if you tend to grind your teeth when you sleep.
Teeth sensitivity: Those with active gum disease or poor oral health may not be suitable candidates for veneers. Some patients might experience added sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages since veneers require the removal of enamel.
Maintenance: While durable, veneers are not immune to damage. Veneers require proper care and good oral hygiene habits to ensure their longevity. Over time, veneers may need to be replaced due to wear and tear.
There you have it — dental veneers offer a viable solution for improving the appearance of your teeth, providing benefits such as enhanced aesthetics and durability. However, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons, including the cost and the irreversible nature of the procedure.
If you still have questions or doubts regarding Dental Veneers, feel free to drop our team a message and we’ll be right with you!