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You might be familiar with dental veneers but did you know that they many of them are made from porcelain? Yes, that's the same stuff that is used to make plates, bowls and even bathroom tiles!
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-coloured shells that fit over the front of a single tooth or multiple teeth to enhance their appearance. They are typically made from high-quality materials such as porcelain or composite resin, both of which contribute to improved oral health and aesthetics.
Porcelain is a great choice for dental veneers because it is strong, durable and gives a natural-looking finish; so much so that it is often difficult to distinguish porcelain veneers from your teeth. Let's find out more about this material and how it contributes to the stunning results of your veneers.
What are porcelain veneers?
Dental veneers are thin "shells" that are custom-made to cover the front surface of your teeth. They are designed to improve your smile by creating a brighter and even smile. They help to cover dental issues such as cracks, chips, minor gaps and discolouration.
Porcelain is a type of ceramic. Porcelain and ceramics are made up of similar materials, including clay, feldspar and quartz. However, the clay used for porcelain is more refined and fired at higher temperatures than ceramics, making porcelain harder and durable.
Now that we understand the basics, let's talk about the fun part. Is the porcelain used for your teeth the same as those used for household products? Dental veneers and some household items may be made from porcelain, but they are definitely not the same.
For starters, dental porcelain does not contain one key ingredient, that is kaolin. This is because kaolin imparts opacity, which is not ideal for dental veneers. We want veneers to be translucent to mimic the natural look and texture of teeth. Additionally, dental porcelain veneers are always custom-made to fit the exact dimensions of your teeth while household porcelain is mostly mass-produced by machines.
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How are dental porcelain veneers made?
Veneers work effectively to address various cosmetic concerns, and they can also complement teeth whitening treatments for a brighter smile. Dental porcelain veneers may be fabricated in either of two ways.
1) CAD/CAM 3-D Milled Veneers
This technology involves precisely carving or milling the veneers from hardened blocks of porcelain in a milling machine. Milled veneers have high strength and durability.
Click here to read more on CAD/CAM 3-D milled veneers.
2) Pressed Veneers
These types of veneers are molded or pressed into the desired shape under high heat and pressure. One of the advantages of pressed veneers is that they can be made in thinner sections, which is ideal for preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
These veneers can be customised further by adding multiple thin layers of porcelain. This layering allows for enhancement of colour to achieve a better match with natural teeth. They are then stained and glazed by hand to match neighbouring natural teeth and give them life-like esthetics. At Dental Designs, we have our in-house dental lab where we custom create all our veneers. Check them out here!
What are the different materials for dental veneers?
Dental veneers can be made from two main materials, that is porcelain and composite. Each has its own set of benefits. Listed below are the differences between the two, but if you are interested in learning more about composite veneers specifically, do check out our article on Composite Veneers here.
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What is the process of getting dental porcelain veneers in Singapore?
1) Consultation
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After a thorough examination (to ensure that there are no underlying issues), 3D scans and x-rays are conducted to help in the creation of your new smile
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Together with your dentist, you will decide on the best type, shape and shade of veneer
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This initial consultation is very important as our dentists work to understand your preferences and concerns
2) Smile Trial
- We understand that it can be daunting to take the first step towards changing your smile, without knowing how the end result will be
- A Smile Trial is a test-drive for your new smile, to see how it will look like before treatment even begins
- This approach is non-invasive, with no drilling or permanent changes involved
- The Smile Trial will give you an idea of what your teeth could look like with veneers. As veneers at Dental Designs are fully customised, do let your doctor know if there are any requests, changes or characterisations which you would like to incorporate
3) Preparation
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Once you are ready, then only the treatment will be started. The surface layer is polished down to accommodate the thickness of the veneers (0.5mm on average) to avoid having a protruding or bulky appearance.
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Some patients may not require their teeth to be filed down as they are suitable for no-prep veneers (no-prep veneers allow for the porcelain to be bonded directly onto the teeth without having to file them down). These will tend to have a bulkier appearance on close examination.
4) Veneer Trial
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At Dental Designs Clinic, we are equipped with an in-house dental lab that makes same-day veneers possible, hence eliminating the need for temporary veneers in most cases. For extensive cases however, a set of temporary veneers will be used for a practice run to see how they align with your personal preferences and facial features
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After a few days to a week with your temporary veneers, you will provide feedback and if only minor changes are required, then we can continue with your permanent veneers
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If major changes are required, we will redesign and provide you with an additional set of temporary veneers to try on
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This process repeats until you are satisfied with your new veneers
5) Bonding of veneers
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Your permanent veneers are ready but before they are bonded, you will try them on to make sure you are satisfied
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Once you are happy, the permanent veneers are bonded to your teeth
6) Review
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After a week, we will review the bite, and stability of your veneers and check on how comfortable you are with your new veneers
Conclusion
Today, dental porcelain veneers are a proven and trusted option for improving your smile. They’ve gone beyond being just a trend and are now known for their durability and reliability. Research backs this up, with one such study showing that 98.4% of veneers still look great after 5 years without needing repairs. That said, there are always new materials and technologies coming out to make porcelain veneers even better.
Are you ready for your porcelain veneer consultation? Just drop us a message here and we will be right with you!
References
- Aristidis GA, Dimitra B. Five-year clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers. Quintessence Int. 2002 Mar;33(3):185-9. PMID: 11921765.
- Calamia, J. R., & Calamia, C. S. (2007). Porcelain laminate veneers: Reasons for 25 years of success. Dental clinics of north America, 51(2), 399-417.