Jan 23, 2010

Porcelain Veneers Good and Bad

Advantages and Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers, thin pieces of ceramic bonded to the front of your teeth, are commonly used to hide discoloration, brighten teeth, and generally improve your smile. Veneers are a wonderful smile-makeover option providing dramatic and long-lasting results. As with any medical procedure however, there are advantages and disadvantages to porcelain veneer bonding.
Dr. Sands, a well-known Hollywood cosmetic dentist, helps distinguish the pros and cons of this procedure:
Porcelain veneers are such a great option for anyone who wants to better their smile. The best feature of porcelain veneers is that your smile looks natural with them in place. I have performed veneer adhesions for countless celebrities, and even when you look close at those folks, you can’t tell they have undergone any cosmetic dentistry procedures. Porcelain veneers are also very hard to stain, so no one has to give up their favorite wine or cigarette”
“Veneers are a little more expensive than other types of procedures that give similar results, but the quality you get is unmatched and well worth the cost.”
Advantages of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers have two main advantages over other dental-bonding procedures:
§ Extremely natural looking
Porcelain and tooth enamel are both white and translucent. So they react to light in similar ways. Light enters them both and is reflected back off the layer beneath them. In the case of porcelain, that’s the dental cement that attaches them. In the case of tooth enamel, it’s the yellowish dentin layer below the enamel. The result is a completely natural looking smile.
§ Exceptionally stain-resistant
Since porcelain is a ceramic, stain-producing products roll right off the surface, just like glass. Veneers made of porcelain are naturally stain resistant, even for those who can’t give up their daily trip to Starbucks or their daily glass of red wine with dinner.
Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers
While porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for most people, there are some disadvantages that should be considered:
§ Porcelain veneers have a potential to break or come off
While porcelain veneers are extremely strong and generally last for years, they can break or come off. If a veneer comes off, your cosmetic dentist will probably just reattach it. But if the veneer breaks, it cannot be repaired and you will have to undergo the time and expense of having a new veneer made. However, you can guard against them either breaking or coming off by taking good care of them and not using them as bottle openers.
§ Porcelain veneer application is not a reversible process
Before porcelain veneers can be placed, a small amount of enamel must be removed from the front of your teeth. This changes the look of your natural teeth. So once you have undergone the process, your teeth without the veneers will not look aesthetically pleasing.
§ The porcelain veneer procedure is more expensive than composite dental veneers
While the exact price will vary depending on your unique needs, porcelain veneers are more expensive than composite dental veneers.
§ Increased tooth-sensitivity
Because a small amount of enamel has is removed from your natural tooth before placing the veneer, you may find you are more sensitive to hot and cold beverages and foods. This varies from person to person and may be temporary.
For most people, the benefits of porcelain veneer dental bonding far outweigh any negative aspects of the procedure. Porcelain veneers can drastically change the way you look, and most likely will change the way you feel about yourself. They offer a long-lasting, natural finish to give you a beautiful, natural looking smile for years.

Jan 5, 2010

Perfect Teeth With Porcelain Veneers

Perfect Teeth With Porcelain Veneers

Want a perfect smile without braces or tooth whitening? It sounds like a dream but with porcelain veneers it can be a reality. Porcelain veneers are a thin layer of material cemented to the front of a tooth to correct problems such as a crooked tooth, stained tooth, chipped tooth or even to fill in gaps between teeth.
There are two types of dental veneers. The first is a direct composite. This is done by placing a thin layer of composite material (the tooth colored material dentists use for fillings) directly on the tooth and curing it.
This can be a good option but the results are very dependent on the skills of the dentist. He/she has to be able to choose the color perfectly to match the teeth surrounding it and also mold the material so it looks just right, which can be difficult. Also, the composite material over time is susceptible to staining, which would require the procedure to be redone.
The second type is an indirect or porcelain option. This type of is made by taking an impression of the teeth and sending it to a dental technician who then makes the veneer out of porcelain to match them perfectly. It is then cemented to the natural tooth, covering any defects it may have. A pleasing aesthetic result is easier obtained through this method. This type is also more durable than the composite option and less likely to stain.
Veneers can also close gaps in teeth that orthodontics can't fix. Sometimes the shape of a tooth will prevent orthodontics from contacting the teeth next to it, giving it an unpleasing appearance. This technique will reshape the tooth and close the gaps.
Generally veneers require very little anesthetic, or even none at all, so you don't have to deal with the needle injections in your mouth very much. They are done with very little drilling. Normally only about half a millimeter of tooth structure is removed.
In fact they can even be placed without drilling at all. They are put right over the teeth without any preparation. This is an advantage because it is less time consuming and less invasive. There are however, limits to the uses of these types of treatments that should be discussed with your dentist.
They can be used to resurface teeth and make them appear straighter. Veneers are also a long-lasting cosmetic dental treatment. When properly placed and cared for, they can last up to 30 years. As with everything, there are also drawbacks that need to be taken into account. For one thing, this treatment is not cheap. Depending on the dentist, it can cost 1000 dollars per tooth. It can also be difficult to match to the color of surrounding teeth.
For this reason your dentist may recommend placing them on multiple teeth. However, placing multiple veneers may allow the dentist to make the teeth whiter than they were. If too much biting force is placed on a veneer it can chip or grind away on the opposing tooth. For this reason the dentist has to be careful of what comes into contact with them during regular chewing motions. Porcelain veneers are a perfect option for many who want to improve their smile.
Cary porcelain veneers are less time consuming and less invasive. However, you must discuss this with your dentist. Meet a professional Lane and Associates who will give you that perfect smile. For more information, contact http://www.laneandassociatesdental.net.