Tag: dental veneers

Are you feeling self-conscious because of stained or chipped teeth? Do you wish to enjoy a beautiful and lasting smile? If the answer to these questions is a yes, then the solution to all your problems lies in cosmetic dentistry. 

But, what would be the best cosmetic dentistry solution for fixing your damaged teeth? you may ask. The two most commonly used aesthetic dentistry options are dental veneers and teeth bonding. While these options are used for the same purpose, they differ from each other in many ways. So, how to choose between dental veneers and cosmetic bonding? This blog will help you decide! This blog explains everything you need to know about dental bonding and veneers, so that you can make an informed decision regarding your treatment. So, read on!

Should I Get Dental Veneers Or Dental Bonding?

To decide whether to go for dental bonding or veneers, one must first understand what these restorative options are. Dental bonding refers to a process of using a tooth-coloured, resin-based filling material to restore the structure, and aesthetics of damaged teeth. Bonded fillings are also called direct restorations, meaning that they are applied directly to teeth at the dental chairside. On the other hand, a veneer is a wafer-thin shell made of porcelain or composite resins that is fabricated in the dental laboratory and then bonded to the prepared teeth using adhesive. 

So, now we answer the question about whether to choose veneers or bonding for restoring your teeth. The answer is simple: since dental veneers are prepared in the laboratory, they possess fewer structural and aesthetic defects than composite fillings. Hence, veneers possess superior aesthetics and are longer lasting. However, they are more expensive than bonded fillings. 

Are Veneers Better Than Teeth Bonding?

Yes, veneers are better the bonded fillings in many aspects. First, veneers possess superior stain-resistance than composites. Therefore, they retain their aesthetics for a longer duration. Similarly, veneers, especially porcelain veneers are much stronger and durable than bonded restorations. So, if you are looking for excellent aesthetics and durability, veneers should be your choice over composites. 

Can Dental Bonding Be Whitened?

Despite the good aesthetics of bonded restorations, one of their drawbacks is that they cannot be whitened through conventional teeth whitening procedures. This is because unlike a tooth surface that is porous, and is amenable to whitening with a bleaching agent, the surface of bonded restorations is not affected by the bleaching agents. Hence, the only solution to whiten a bonded filling is to repair it or replace it entirely. 

Can Dental Veneers Be Whitened?

Like bonded fillings, composite- or porcelain-based veneers cannot be whitened, as the bleaching formula is ineffective on them. So, the only option to restore the aesthetics is to replace them. 

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Dental Bonding?

Here are some of the pros and cons of dental bonding:

Pros of Dental Bonding 

• Natural aesthetics – the shade and colour of bonded restorations can be precisely matched with the adjacent natural teeth. 
• Cost-effective – composite bonded fillings are more cost-effective than veneers. 
• Safety – composite restorations are safe and do not cause any untoward reaction in the oral cavity. 

Cons of Dental Bonding 

• Composite fillings get stained pretty easily 
• Less durable than veneers 

Can Dental Composite Bonding Cover Severe Fluorosis?

Fluorosis is when the dental enamel is damaged due to excessive fluoride intake during tooth development. Teeth affected with fluorosis typically have a mottled appearance and brownish shade. Unfortunately, such staining is very hard to remove with conventional teeth whitening. Therefore, the only solution for the aesthetic restoration of fluorosis-affected teeth is to composite fillings or veneers over them. 

Is Tooth Bonding Safe And Permanent?

Like all dental restorations and prostheses, bonding is not permanent. The restoration starts to degrade mechanically and stains over time. As a result, they should either be repaired or replaced when needed. Typically, bonded restorations last for about 5 years, longer if they are looked after properly through oral hygiene maintenance and regular dental checkups. 

Do Composite Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?

It is a common misconception that composite veneers damage the teeth. This is not correct; the fact is that, although a thin layer of the enamel is removed from the teeth to accommodate the veneers, this layer is so thin that it does not weaken the teeth or make them sensitive or cavity-prone. Hence, composite veneers do not damage one’s teeth if designed and bonded by an experienced cosmetic dentist. 

What Are The Reasons Why Dental Bonding Is Worth It?

If you are thinking of getting your crooked or damaged teeth restored with dental bonding, here are some benefits of this procedure that will help you decide in their favour:

1. Cost-effective – compared with veneers and dental crowns, dental bonding is cost-effective. 
2. Aesthetics – your dentist can easily match the shade and colour of your bonded restoration with your natural teeth. As a result, your bonded restorations will become virtually indistinguishable from your teeth. So, bonded restorations improve one’s smile and boost self-confidence. 
3. Repairability – even if bonded restorations get chipped or stained, they can be easily repaired in most cases. Alternatively, restorations can be replaced without damaging the underlying tooth structure. 

Dental bondings are an excellent restorative option provided they are placed by an experienced and qualified cosmetic dentist. If you live in Hornchurch, Essex, or the suburbs, your best option is to visit Harrow Dental Practice, where we provide all dental services at affordable rates under one roof. So, contact us today to book your appointment and let us give you a smile that you genuinely deserve. 

So you’re thinking about getting dental veneers? Or perhaps you have just had dental veneers and want to know useful information about how long they are going to last?

We will answer a series of questions that people commonly ask about dental veneers, each of them taking a different viewpoint on the overall question of how long do veneers last.

Is it a bad idea to veneer healthy teeth?

This is a good place to start our journey into looking at dental veneers, should you have them in the first place and should they be used over healthy teeth?

There is always a balance in dentistry, balancing the health of your teeth and gums with how you look. Ideally most dentists would want to maintain as much natural healthy tooth structure as possible, however in some circumstances teeth can be very dark (such as with tetracycline staining), and ugly shape or broken down.

Generally speaking dental veneers require 0.5 mm of reduction of 2 separate in order to accept the new custom-made veneer. This is a very small amount but if your natural teeth have already begun to wear this may go all the way through the enamel and into the softer dentine underneath.

A veneer will have a border all the way around the edge where it meets the natural tooth and it is often this border which causes any problems. If any small amount of bacteria gets in underneath the veneer then they can cause decay in the underlying tooth.

Dental veneers may also fracture, if this happens the veneer will need to be completely removed and manufactured again.

For these reasons it is best to err on the side of caution and leave natural teeth as they are… Unless they cause you concern due to the way they look.

This is when the balance tips the other way, if the benefits of having a new, bright and fresh smile outweigh any of the downsides of having natural tooth surface removed.

Veneers are then absolutely the right thing to do.

Can you get veneers with gum disease

Gum disease typically means that the oral health isn’t quite as good as it could be. If the oral health isn’t as good as it could be for veneers, then  it is indicative that it will not be as good after veneers, and veneers need to be looked after as well as natural teeth do.

Gum disease  can include swollen, puffy and bleeding gums, this can make the process of having veneers difficult in the first place, plus the margin between the veneer and the tooth could irritate these already irritated gums and therefore make the gum disease worse.

Prior to getting veneers any dentist will want to ensure that the oral health is in good condition, with a good oral health care routine with daily brushing. Then, and only then should veneers be considered.

Are veneers permanent

Because veneers are a thin layer which is applied over the surface of the natural teeth many people consider them to be temporary. However, your tooth is likely to have been trimmed down slightly by the dentist to accept a veneer, for this reason, dental veneers should always be considered a permanent treatment.

In some circumstances a dentist may be able to apply a thin layer of composite resin to the surface of the tooth without reducing the tooth. If this is what the dentist does then it may be possible to remove the raising and therefore remove the veneer.

What is life like with veneers?

living with dental veneers should be virtually the same as living with natural teeth. Daily cleaning with a brush, floss and mouthwash is still advised and is in some ways more important with restorations.

One of the biggest problems with veneers they can chip and crack, particularly porcelain veneers. The highest incidence of these happens when people accidentally banged their teeth on a glass or mug, this porcelain on porcelain contact often can chip the veneers.

All that is required for living with dental veneers is to remember that dental veneers are fitted, be careful with the foods that are eaten to ensure that the front teeth on used an extremely hard foods… And be careful with those drinks!

How long does tooth bonding last?

Tooth bonding is the process of applying a thin layer of composite resin the outer layer of the, often known as composite veneers or immediate veneers. the advantage of this type of veneer is that they are quick to do, often being done in a single appointment with no injection. They do however have a tendency to pick up stains including red wine, coffee and tea.

A typical tooth bonding veneer will last between 5 and 7 years before it needs replacing. This time can be dramatically reduced is particularly strong coloured foods are ingested and/or the veneers are put under too much stress and they break.

How long do veneers last?

It depends on which type of veneer you have, with proper care and attention:

• composite bonding veneers typically last 5-7 years
• porcelain veneers typically last 10-15 years

Veneers may last slightly less time if you grind your teeth, although this will be spotted by your dentist prior to having veneers in the 1st place.

Summary

Taking the average lifespan of the dental veneer to be around 10 years puts the typical cost of a porcelain veneer to about £85 per year,  if you care for your veneers  with good quality dental care than they could last even longer.

If you follow the dental procedures outlined above and take good care of your teeth then your veneers should give you long and excellent service.

More information can be found here.

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Dental veneers have been around for many years now and still a common treatment option for a variety of cosmetic dental problems. In this blog post we take a detailed look at some of the common questions and answers about this popular treatment choice.

What are teeth veneers?

Teeth or dental veneers are usually made of one of 2 materials, either composite resin or ceramic. They are an extremely thin layer which sits over the front surface of your natural tooth and is custom designed to fit your tooth perfectly.

Veneers can be used to straighten, whiten and correct problems such as chips and pits in teeth . They can also be used to change the shape of teeth which is a common reason for using a veneer. The best veneers shape will be discussed with you prior to treatment so that you can be sure to have the results you are looking for.

Sometimes the natural tooth needs to be trimmed down slightly to accept the new veneer although this is not always necessary, depending upon your clinical situation.

Even though veneers look extremely natural you still need to maintain good oral hygiene to ensure your new veneers last as long as possible.

Do veneers make teeth look bigger?

Veneers do not necessarily make teeth look bigger. Sometimes veneers are used because teeth are too small in this case a big are looking to is desirable.

If veneers are used to fill spaces between teeth then they can also make the teeth look slightly bigger but this should be taken into account during the diagnostic phase of your treatment, so it should not come as any surprise.

if a veneer is going to be used to change the shape, colour or position of the tooth and it is dealt that it might make your teeth look to make them very often a small amount of natural tooth will be removed. This then allows the dental technician and dentist to rebuild this tooth in the correct alignment, position or colour without making the tooth look too big.

One area that many people overlook is their face shape. Your face shape whether it be round, square or triangular will be reflected in the shape of your teeth and it’s important to make sure that your teeth fit with your overall features.

Can a teeth gap be hidden by veneers?

Yes. Spaces between teeth can easily be closed with dental veneers, sometimes these veneers are manufactured by a dental technician and other times  will be instant veneers placed directly by your dentist.

Should I get dental veneers or dental bonding?

Sometimes dental bonding is thought of as a less permanent option than dental veneers, if the dental bonding is additive only, by that we mean no natural tooth has been removed and the composite has been added to the surface of the tooth exclusively then you may be able to have the composite bonding removed. However you should not rely on this and you should always consider any form of veneer to be a permanent restoration.

One of the advantages of bonding is its immediate results, your dentist will apply the bonding composite directly to your tooth surface whilst you are in the dental chair, this will be to the correct colour and tooth shape that you require. Ceramic veneers on the other hand can take up to 2 weeks to be made by a dental technician.

The advantage of ceramic veneers  is that they are far more hard wearing and won’t collect stain as can sometimes happen with composite bonding.

What are porcelain veneers? What are their pros and cons?
What options are available to change the shape of teeth?

Is it a bad idea to veneer healthy teeth?

The mantra of a good dentist will always be to maintain as much natural and healthy tooth structure as possible and to keep your teeth as fit and healthy as we can. However this guiding principle needs to be balanced with the desire to have a confident smile, your perfect smile is not always something you’re born with..

Your dentist will always look for as many alternatives is possible to achieve your cosmetic result with out damaging the teeth in any way, however if extensive cosmetic alterations to your smile, such as crooked teeth or dark teeth are required then it is inevitable that the teeth may require some trimming down in order to accept the new dental veneer.

Is there any way to remove the veneers from my teeth?

Veneers can be removed however it is an extremely difficult and time-consuming procedure to undertake. The question then also needs to be asked, what will go on in their place?

If the veneers were only added onto the surface of your natural teeth without any reduction of trimming of the underlying teeth then it may be possible to remove them, however if the underlying tooth has had enamel removed, as is normal, then it will not be possible to remove the veneers as you will need a permanent covering over the surface of the teeth.

How to get rid of ugly yellow teeth?

There are a few options to get rid of ugly teeth:

1. Teeth whitening. Even if you have a single yellow tooth then teeth whitening can still be undertaken on that tooth alone. Teeth whitening can also whiten all of your teeth if they are all too yellow.
2. Dental bonding. Sometimes teeth whitening is not able to whiten teeth enough on its own and additional treatments such as bonding are required. Dental bonding will then use a lighter coloured bonding material which is placed on the outside of your teeth to cover up the ugly yellow tooth underneath.
3. Dental veneers. In the event of exceptionally dark yellow teeth and dental and maybe the only option. It is possible to make ceramic dental veneers with a small amount of opacity to them which will cover up the ugly yellow teeth underneath.

How much do dental veneers cost?

The cost of dental veneers varies enormously depending on:

• the type of veneer you have
• the skills and experience of the dentist

It takes many years to train to understand all the nuances of being a cosmetic dentist and to have the necessary experience to be able to provide natural dental veneers which last many years. It’s also worth noting that you will be using your new dental veneers all of the time and are therefore a definite investment in yourself.

Many people will happily pay many thousands of pounds for a new car and yet that car begins to devalue immediately and will probably only last a few years. Dental veneers will last considerably longer, up to 20 years and are often much cheaper than a car!

Porcelain veneers are available for around £850 per tooth wear as composite bonding is available from around £250 per tooth.

For the front 6 teeth you are therefore looking at just over £5000 for the top 6 teeth to be redesigned with dental veneers. Compare this to the price of a car and how long that car will last and veneers suddenly are far more affordable.

Many practices also offer interest-free finance or interest-bearing finance, in this example above dental veneers would cost £107.11 per month over 60 months. *

Certainly a much more affordable way of having a brighter and more attractive smile.

Subject to status. Conditions apply. Representative example. Cash price of goods/amount of credit £5100; 60 monthly payments of £107.11; Total amount repayable £6426.57; Representative 9.9% APR variable.