Veneers are wafer-thin laminates or covers of tooth coloured material such as porcelain, ceramic or composite bonding material. They are cemented into place at the front of the teeth to improve cosmetic appearance. There are many reasons why patients opt for treatment with dental veneers such as: badly stained teeth, damaged teeth, gaps or crooked teeth.
The most popular type of veneers is porcelain, because it offers a durable and stronger alternative to other materials used for veneers. Other advantages to Porcelain veneers are they provide a more natural looking appearance.
The steps to obtaining veneers are as follows: you will have a consultation with your dentist to discuss options etc. After agreeing to fit veneers your dentist will then need to reshape and prepare your teeth so your mouth can accommodate the new veneers. Next, a mould copy is taken of the teeth using special dental putty, the putty is used to make an accurate model of your teeth so the veneers can be made to fit perfectly over your teeth. Your teeth will then be thoroughly cleaned and the front etched with an acid gel so that the dental cement can stick the veneers to your teeth. Then the veneers are attached using a curing light that activates the dental cement and the process is usually complete within around three weeks depending on your practitioner.