Do veneers ruin your teeth?

A common question patients have when installing dental porcelain veneers is whether this smile transformation procedure will ruin their teeth. That is a valid concern since dental veneers involve removing some natural tooth enamel, a substance on our teeth that acts as a protective barrier against acid and bacteria. When enamel is lacking due to damage or decay, our teeth become more sensitive — which explains why we experience sensitivity when eating hot and/or cold food.

The answer is no, dental veneers will not ruin your natural teeth as long as they are installed properly and you upkeep proper dental hygiene. We also try to keep the amount of enamel removed as low as possible. But there are certain factors that can cause your veneers to break down, which will, in turn, affect your teeth.

Are veneers suitable for everyone?

Veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over your teeth to change the shape, size and colour of your teeth. They are commonly made from either ceramic or porcelain. You are a perfect candidate for porcelain veneers if:

Your teeth are stained to the extent that teeth whitening treatments no longer work, or you just prefer a teeth whitening option that requires less maintenance.
You have gaps in your teeth that are not more than 1-3 mm. Anything more than that, you might want to consider Invisalign instead.
Your teeth are worn down from grinding.
Your teeth are chipped or damaged due to injury or trauma.
You have slightly crooked teeth.

However, do take note that veneers only act as aesthetic cover-ups and do not carry any functional use. In other words, they do not actually straighten your teeth or close the gap in your teeth; they merely give the impression that you have straight, healthy teeth. So with that said, dental veneers like porcelain veneers are a poor option if you suffer from gum disease, have weak teeth or have other underlying dental issues. They are also not suitable if you tend to grind your teeth repeatedly.

Not sure whether to get veneers or crowns? This article on dental veneers vs. dental crowns might help.

Find out more about Dental Veneers with Dental Design today!

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Can I still get cavities with porcelain veneers?

Yes, it is possible that you can still get cavities even with porcelain veneers. There are a few reasons why.

Veneers only cover the front part of a tooth, so the tooth’s back side still remains exposed to bacteria and plaque.
You do not floss and brush properly, causing decay to form around and under the veneer. This is made worse if your diet is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
If your veneer was not bonded properly, bacteria can grow and spread around it, affecting your natural teeth.
As mentioned, porcelain veneers do not cure teeth of pre-existing problems like decay, gum disease and weakened dental enamel. Being on long-term medication with side effects like dry mouth may also greatly increase the risk of cavities in veneer-supporting teeth.

How can I prevent cavities with porcelain veneers?

The best way to take care of your teeth and veneers is to ensure excellent oral hygiene. That includes:

Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly

Ideally, you should floss or rinse your mouth after every meal to get rid of food debris stuck between your teeth. Make sure to brush for two minutes each time and do not neglect the backs or area along the gum line. A manual toothbrush is fine, but it’d be better if you can get an electric toothbrush as it’s easier to reach harder-to-reach areas with an electric toothbrush.

Avoid hard, sticky food or food that stain

These include nuts, bones, raw vegetables like carrots (hard food), candy (sticky food) and coffee, tea, wine and tomatoes (staining food). Even chewing on ice is a no-no! In the same vein, you should not use your teeth as a tool to open bottles or anything that involves biting down.

Avoid grinding your teeth

Grinding your teeth can damage porcelain veneers, leaving you susceptible to decay. Generally, it’s not advisable for those with bruxism to get this restoration, but if you must, get a night guard from your dentist.

Visit your dentist every 6 months

We encourage everyone to visit their dentist every 6 months for a thorough cleaning session; this is especially important if you have veneers. You should also get your dental veneers done by a cosmetic dentist who has a good track record. Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist for pictures, their past veneer cases and if this procedure is even suitable for you to begin with. A good dentist should be someone who cares about your oral health and appearance instead of merely trying to sell you a service.

Have more questions? Read about how dental veneers are made to match our face and teeth.

Find out more about Dental Veneers with Dental Design today!

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References

Jordan A. (2015). Clinical aspects of porcelain laminate veneers: considerations in treatment planning and preparation design. Journal of the California Dental Association, 43(4), 199–202.
Burke F. J. (2012). Survival rates for porcelain laminate veneers with special reference to the effect of preparation in dentin: a literature review. Journal of esthetic and restorative dentistry : official publication of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry ... [et al.], 24(4), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8240.2012.00517.x

What happens to your teeth under veneers?

If you are familiar with how veneers work, you should know that they are excellent choices for smile makeovers. One of the most common questions we receive at Dental Designs about veneers is what happens to teeth under porcelain veneers — will they rot, be ruined or suffer damage? The good news is when fitted properly by an experienced dentist, veneers will not harm your teeth and your teeth will stay strong and healthy — although that largely hinges on your oral hygiene.

In this article, we’ll discuss the impact of veneers on teeth, the advantages of having porcelain veneers and how to avoid tooth decay with veneers.

Do veneers compromise natural teeth?

Veneers are designed to address common cosmetic issues such as discoloured/stained teeth, broken teeth, gapped teeth and misaligned teeth, which if unaddressed might cause dental issues in future. Often, patients think veneers might harm their teeth in the long run due to how they work. In order to effectively place veneers on your teeth, some of the tooth’s surface has to be partially removed as part of the tooth preparation process. Typically, about 0.5mm of enamel is required.

At Dental Designs, we always prefer to take the most conservative option to achieve your aesthetic goals. Therefore, if your concerns are mostly about the colour of your teeth, whitening alone might be sufficient to meet your goals.

Once the preparation is done, your custom-designed porcelain veneers are bonded to the tooth’s surface with a highly adhesive material known as bonding cement, which hardens under a special type of light. The veneer then clings tightly onto your tooth, which not only covers up any existing imperfections but protects your tooth from bacteria that can cause tooth decay.

Patients do not have to worry about the adhesive material used to bond veneers to teeth as it is not harmful. Secondly, porcelain veneers are not made up of enamel-like natural teeth. This provides two advantages:

They do not stain like natural teeth, even from strong staining agents like coffee or tea
They are extremely durable, which means they are more resistant to damage than natural teeth

At Dental Designs, our veneers are made of the finest ceramics fabricated from natural high-purity feldspar found in Sweden and Norway.

What are the benefits of porcelain veneers?

Whiter and brighter teeth

Our teeth will inevitably discolour over time due to factors like ageing, smoking and our diet. While teeth whitening is an option for those who desire whiter teeth, is it not suitable for everyone and must be done regularly to prevent stains from reappearing. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are largely stain resistant and maintain their pristine colour for years.

Correct minor cosmetic dental issues

If you have slightly crooked or gapped teeth and do not wish to go through the process of undergoing braces or Invisalign, porcelain veneers can do the job. But instead of changing the position of your teeth as with orthodontics, what veneers does is to cover the front surface of teeth so your teeth appear straight.

Protect tooth enamel

Bacteria and acid from food can damage tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay over time. Excessive teeth grinding can also cause damage to the enamel and even lead to fractures or chips in the teeth. Veneers help cover damaged or weakened teeth and offer additional protection against tooth decay. However, even with veneers on, it is recommended to practice good oral hygiene and prevent grinding your teeth to preserve the longevity of your veneers.

What steps can I take to prevent tooth decay?

Firstly, practising good oral hygiene is imperative. Brush and floss at least twice everyday — many patients neglect to floss regularly, but not doing so can actually cause decay to build up between the teeth. Once this happens, the decay attacks the natural tooth enamel at the ends of the veneer and causes a cavity. As cavities under cosmetic restorations often go unnoticed, most patients do not realise they have one until they experience discomfort. At this stage, the cavity will threaten the long term health of your teeth and potentially shorten the lifespan of your veneer.

It is also recommended to see your dentist every six months for dental checkups and cleanings to ensure that your veneers are in pristine condition. Your oral hygiene habits do not change with cosmetic restorations on and should even be stepped up to ensure their longevity.

If you are considering porcelain veneers to treat any physical and/or aesthetic issues with your teeth, our experienced dentists can help.

References

Beier, U. S., Kapferer, I., Burtscher, D., & Dumfahrt, H. (2012). Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years. The International journal of prosthodontics, 25(1), 79–85.
Layton, D. M., & Clarke, M. (2013). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the survival of non-feldspathic porcelain veneers over 5 and 10 years. The International journal of prosthodontics, 26(2), 111–124. https://doi.org/10.11607/ijp.3202

CAD-CAM PORCELAIN DENTAL VENEERS IN SINGAPORE

A beautiful smile not only makes you look youthful, but it also boosts your self-confidence and enhances your personality. Unfortunately, crooked, stained or chipped can ruin your smile and facial aesthetics. However, there is no need to worry. If you have damaged teeth that are negatively affecting your smile and personality, then we have the perfect cosmetic treatment option for you; porcelain veneers designed with the contemporary CEREC system-based CAD-CAM technology.

What are CAD-CAM Porcelain Veneers?

A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is attached to the front surface of damaged teeth to restore their appearance, function and structure. However, instead of the conventional veneers, we offer the revolutionary porcelain veneers prepared by using CAD-CAM technology. CAD-CAM, an acronym for “computer-aided manufacturing and computer-aided designing”, refers to a technology in which dental prostheses are designed and manufactured using the modern computer technology. As a result, the prostheses prepared by using the CAD-CAM technology are not only much stronger and more durable, but they also possess superior aesthetics than the conventional veneers.

Who can Benefit from Dental Veneers?

At Dental Designs Clinic, we recommend CAD-CAM porcelain veneers for the management of the following problems:

Chipped and Crooked Teeth – porcelain veneers are an excellent option for restoring the structure and aesthetics of teeth which have been damaged either as a result of cavities or an accident.
Stained Teeth – Even with the advances in teeth whitening technology today, some teeth stains cannot be removed through a professional whitening procedure. Such teeth can have the tooth colour cosmetically restored by having porcelain veneers bonded to the front of them by a dental professional.
Spaces Between Teeth – anaesthetic spaces between adjacent teeth can be managed by attaching veneers over them.
Smile Makeover – if you are not happy with your smile, we can a customise and design a brand new smile with porcelain veneers prepared by using the CAD-CAM technology.

Although virtually anyone can benefit from dental veneers, extra care needs to be taken in patients who have a habit of excessively grinding their teeth.

How are Veneers Prepared using CAD-CAM Technology?

One of the best things about the CAD-CAM technology at Dental Designs Clinic is that veneers can be prepared at the dental chairside and that too in a matter of hours! At Dental Designs Clinic, we use the quality German designed and manufactured Dentsply Sirona CEREC CAD-CAM system for fabricating veneers for our esteemed patients. Here’s how we prepare CAD-CAM based veneers for your new smile:

Clinical Evaluation – first, our dentists will thoroughly examine your teeth to ascertain whether you are a suitable candidate for getting veneers. We will also prepare a detailed treatment plan which will be customized according to your dental and aesthetic needs.
Tooth Preparation – next, we will prepare the affected teeth for the attachment of the veneers by removing a very thin layer of the tooth enamel. This is done to create space for the attachment of the thin porcelain veneers.
Digital Impressions – once the damaged teeth have been prepared, we will make a digital impression using an intra-oral camera. This impression will be fed into special software which allows our dentists to design your veneers with precise dimensions and shade which matches with the neighbouring teeth.
Preparing the Veneers - after the veneers have been designed in the software, we will use the 3D milling machine to fabricate the porcelain veneers at the dental chairside. Afterwards, the ceramic is stained and glazed to achieve life-like aesthetics, for beautiful yet natural-looking teeth.
Attaching the Veneers – The dental procedure is straightforward and simple: we attach the veneers to your teeth by using adhesive cement.

Ceramic veneers prepared using conventional techniques typically require several weeks for completion, in addition to demanding multiple patient visits, whereby the teeth are covered in a temporary layer which are uncomfortable and can crack and stain before the final veneers are placed. In contrast, CAD-CAM based porcelain veneers can be fabricated in a single day. CAD-CAM based veneers allow you to enjoy the smile of your dreams in less than a day!

Pros and Cons of Ceramic Veneers Prepared from CAD-CAM Technology

In addition to requiring considerably lesser fabrication time, veneers prepared by using our latest CEREC technology offer several advantages over the conventional ones:

Accuracy and Precision – there is always room for error when any dental prosthesis is made by humans in a dental laboratory. This problem has been eliminated with the CAD-CAM technology, which allows for the fabrication veneers with precise and accurate dimensions.
Longevity – veneers prepared by using the CAD-CAM technology have few structural defects. As a result, they have better longevity than the conventional ones.
Superior Aesthetics – thanks to the CEREC system, highly aesthetically pleasing ceramic veneers can be prepared which exactly match the shade and colour of your adjacent teeth, thereby becoming virtually indistinguishable.

CAD-CAM technology is the future of cosmetic dentistry. Therefore, we have started using the state-of-the-art CEREC CAD-CAM system to prepare ceramic crowns for our patients which are not only cosmetically pleasing but also restore dental structure and function. So, what are waiting for? The smile of your dreams awaits you at Dental Designs Clinic. So, visit our dentist today and let us realize your perfect smile and personality with our milled porcelain veneers.

Dental Porcelain Veneers at Dental Designs Clinic

Click here for more information on dental veneers in Singapore!

References

Single Visit Fabrication Of a Porcelain Laminate Veneer with Cad/cam Technology: A Clinical Report
Dean Vafiadis-Gary Goldstein - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022391311001004)
Digital Dentistry: an Overview Of Recent Developments For Cad/cam Generated Restorations
F. Beuer-J. Schweiger-D. Edelhoff - (https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2008.350)
The Use Of Cad/cam Technology in Design and Manufacture Of Thin Laminate Veneers
Danimir Jevremović-Branka Trifković-Ana Lapcevic-Tatjana Puskar-Igor Budak-Djordje Vukelic-Janko Hodolic - (https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Use-of-CAD%252FCAM-Technology-in-Design-and-of-Thin-Jevremovi%C4%87-Trifkovi%C4%87/96820acce72eb6bb6235e17785aef030ba8ffd1f)
Clinical long-term results with 617 Cerec veneers: a nine-year report
(https://europepmc.org/article/med/16416936)
Evaluating Cad-cam Generated Ceramic Veneers
Liu KF; - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8340547/)
Internal adaptation, marginal accuracy and microleakage of a pressable versus a machinable ceramic laminate veneers
(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2012.04.019)

Veneers and Crowns in Cosmetic Dentistry

When we talk about cosmetic dentistry, the first things which come to mind after teeth whitening are veneers and porcelain crowns. This is because these are one of the best options at cosmetically and functionally restoring damaged teeth. However, most people are not familiar with the differences between veneers and crowns. This article offers a comparison between these restorative options.

Before we proceed, it is best that we discuss the factors that influence the aesthetics of veneers and crowns when they are used for restoring the cosmetically essential front teeth.

What Constitutes a Good Smile?

Our front teeth are almost always visible whenever we speak or smile. That is why we take great care while restoring your front teeth so that they possess excellent aesthetics and make you look youthful, charming and beautiful. Some of the factors which influence the aesthetics of the front teeth include:

Texture – the more life-like the texture of your natural or restored teeth, the more pleasant will be your smile and facial appearance. The texture of crowns or veneers is dependent upon the quality as well as the procedure involved in making the prosthesis. At Dental Designs Clinic, we have the CEREC machine to digitally design and prepare your all-porcelain crowns and veneers, that creates a customised design of your teeth based on a huge database of natural teeth that were handpicked because of their pleasing appearance.
Translucency – healthy natural teeth tend to have a translucent outer layer known as the dental enamel, which not only protects the teeth but also gives them their characteristic shine. Keeping this in view, we prepare dental veneers and porcelain crowns having similar translucency to the natural teeth. The result is digitally designed veneers or crowns which become virtually indistinguishable from your teeth.
Hue, Value and Chroma – the importance of colour and shade of a prosthesis cannot be denied. Hue, value and chroma are the parameters of colour which are essential in determining the aesthetics of front teeth and their restorations. At Dental Designs Clinic, we use digital software to determine these parameters so that the shade and colour of your prosthesis exactly match the neighbouring natural teeth.

Dental Veneers Versus Porcelain Crowns

Now, let’s look at the comparison between veneers and crowns:

What are Veneers and Crowns?

Dental Veneers – These are thin shells of usually porcelain which are attached to the front surface of the teeth to hide cosmetic defects, and to restore the shape and function of damaged teeth.
Porcelain Crowns – These are prostheses which rest over the entire visible surface of the tooth structure, and they are used for restoring the aesthetics, structure and function of severely damaged teeth.

In short, porcelain crowns are like the veneers. However, the veneers only cover the front surface of the teeth while the crowns cover the entire visible portion of the crown.

Who can Benefit from Veneers and Crowns?

Indications of Dental Veneers – dental veneers serve a more cosmetic purpose than restorative. They are used for masking permanent teeth stains, for cosmetically restoring gaps between adjacent teeth and for fixing chipped or crooked teeth. Veneers are also used providing Hollywood or celebrity smile makeovers.
Indications of Crowns – when it comes to porcelain crowns, they serve both cosmetic and restorative purposes. At Dental Designs Clinic, we use dental crowns for restoring badly damaged, chipped or fractured teeth. They are also used for the restoration of teeth with developmental defects.

Veneers and Crowns in Cosmetic Dentistry; What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros of Dental Veneers

Lesser Need for Tooth Preparation – since veneers only cover the front surface of the teeth, they require the lesser sacrifice of the natural tooth structure in comparison to the crowns. Therefore, there are lower chances of development of sensitivity and teeth cavities when dental veneers are used.
Less Trauma – as there is less reduction of your tooth structure, there is minimal chance of having root canal problems with your teeth
Durability –With proper care, you can expect your veneers to last for more than 15 years. Using our technology, we are able to use materials of high strength and translucency that allows us to extend the longevity of these restorations.
Possibility of “No Tooth Reduction” – in suitable cases, we are able to place a dental veneer on your teeth without having to trimmed any tooth structure away. In these cases, there is no damage to your teeth at all.

Cons of Dental Veneers

Less Strength compared to Dental Crowns – since veneers are thinner by nature, they do not have the same resistance to forces compared to their dental crown counterparts. Therefore, in rare circumstances, if the patient is a heavy teeth grinder, there is a chance of the veneer breaking. However, this can be managed with the use of night guards to protect your teeth from these excessive forces.

Pros of Porcelain Crowns

Strength – we prepare porcelain crowns from high-quality dental ceramics using the CEREC system. Therefore, these crowns possess excellent strength and can be used for restoring grossly damaged teeth.
Versatility – dental crowns can be used for a variety of cosmetic, restorative and functional dental purposes.
Durability – dental crowns are made with high-quality porcelains using the CEREC system. If you take proper care of your natural and crown-supported teeth, you can expect your crowns to last for more than 15 years.
Ability to change occlusion – Occlusion is how your upper and low jaws bite with each other. With dental crowns, we are able to change how you are biting so that you can function better.

Cons of Dental Crowns

Less Tooth Conservative – in comparison to the veneers, porcelain crowns require the removal of higher amounts of natural tooth structure to become sufficiently strong and durable. Therefore, they carry higher chances of development of tooth sensitivity or secondary caries.

Which Option is Best for Me?

When it comes to comparing dental veneers and porcelain crowns, each restorative option has its own merits and demerits. As discussed earlier, the veneers mainly serve a cosmetic role. On the other hand, crowns are used for improving aesthetics as well as function. Your dentist is the best person to determine which option is best for you.

Whatever the type of prosthesis our dentists use for restoring your teeth, rest assured that they will possess excellent aesthetics and clinical service life. So, if you’re planning to get your damaged teeth restored, book an appointment with our dentists and let us give you a naturally beautiful and attractive smile with dental veneers and porcelain crowns.