What are veneers?
Dental veneers are veneers that are usually used in the anterior region. The dentist attaches them to the damaged tooth using the so-called adhesive technique, a special bonding technique.
Today, glass ceramics or feldspar ceramics, which are quite similar in hardness to natural tooth enamel, are generally used to make veneers. However, there are also veneers made of composite, a tooth-colored material that is also used for dental fillings.
A distinction is made between conventional veneers and so-called non-prep veneers:
- conventional veneers: they require grinding of the teeth before bonding, costs as natural tooth substance. For this purpose, the patient receives a local anesthetic injection.
Veneers: Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage of conventional veneers is the necessary removal of healthy tooth substance, which cannot be recreated. This means that without a veneer, the tooth loses its natural appearance, and the patient will always need a veneer afterwards if they value a beautiful tooth appearance.
The non-prep veneers are significantly more expensive and require a particularly experienced dentist due to their complex production. Due to their low layer thickness, teeth with particularly dark discoloration can show through and disturb the esthetic result.
Since the provision of veneers is usually a cosmetic and medically unnecessary treatment, the patient usually bears the costs for the veneers alone. Health insurance or accident insurance may cover part of it.
When do you need veneers?
- Discolorations
- Tooth damage due to caries
- Fractures of the front teeth
- Underdevelopment or degradation of the enamel
What is done during treatment with veneers?
Teeth and oral cavity are carefully examined by the dentist in advance. First, he uses special instruments to measure the sliding movements of the jaw and the force exerted on the individual parts of the jaw. To get a detailed impression of the tooth position, the dentist takes an impression. To do this, the patient bites into a wax plate, for example. From this impression, the dentist makes a plaster cast, after which the veneers are handmade in a dental laboratory.
Restoration with conventional ceramic veneers
To attach the custom-made veneers, the dentist dries the tooth surface carefully and cleans the adhesive surface. He then attaches the veneers to the teeth using a special bonding technique (adhesive technique).
Temporarily, i.e. until the final veneers are completed, the patient is given temporary veneers.
Treatment with non-prep veneers
Treatment with non-prep veneers does not require local anesthesia or removal of tooth substance. The dentist attaches the wafer-thin adhesive shells to the dry tooth surface after careful cleaning.
Treatment with composite veneers
What are the risks of veneers?
In particular, the necessary grinding of the teeth with conventional veneers can lead to complications. For example, the tooth can become particularly sensitive to heat and cold due to the removal of enamel and therefore cause a stabbing pain when eating hot or cold food and drinks. With non-prep veneers (which do not require grinding), there is no risk to temperature-sensitive teeth.
Veneers can come loose or break in rare cases. In this case, a new dental treatment and possibly the fabrication of a new veneer is necessary.
In the case of veneers that have not been carefully bonded and fitted, bacteria can colonize the contact points between the tooth and the veneer. This can lead to caries and other germ-related dental diseases.
What do you have to watch out for with veneers?
Visit your dentist for a check-up at six-monthly intervals. The dentist will check the fit of the veneers and can detect and treat caries at an early stage.
Veneers: Durability
Thanks to modern ceramics and very durable adhesive bonds, ceramic veneers are particularly long-lasting. Many patients have been wearing veneers for over 15 years. Careful oral hygiene can further extend the durability of high-quality veneers. Avoid biting on anything particularly hard to prevent damage to your veneers.
