It’ll be all white on the night!- Veneers

Posted: 16 February 2012

Originally created for Hollywood stars in the 1920s, veneers used be a temporary solution to hide discoloured or defective teeth. Today you can achieve natural looking teeth with the latest technology.

Our dental veneers Liverpool are custom-made, thin laminates that fit over the surface of the natural teeth, enhancing their cosmetic appearance. They are generally used to rectify defects such as closing gaps, realigning crowded and protruding teeth and whitening discoloured teeth when conventional whitening isn’t appropriate. The most usual treatment options are either the front four teeth or the ten or twelve teeth that show on smiling.

Decades ago, when veneers were once held on by denture adhesive they would fall off after a short time making them a very temporary cosmetic solution.

Technology has moved on beyond comparison and now porcelain veneers typically last 10 to 15 years, with good maintenance. The state-of-the-art cosmetic treatment that was once simply a professional requirement for film stars and celebrities is now widely available to anyone who wants it.

The most common type of material used to create veneers is porcelain, handcrafted for each tooth. A composite material (synthetic resins) also exists but is less regularly used due to a shorter life expectancy.

Are veneers right for me?

Veneers are suitable for almost everyone, with the exception of people with very bad gum disease, severe dental erosion or bite problems. However the work needed varies greatly depending on the quality of the patient’s existing teeth.

Most of my patients want to correct dental problems such as gaps, overcrowding, protruding teeth and discolouration. Other people have less severe concerns, but feel that a perfect smile will make them appear younger and give them added confidence. This is often true on both counts.

Teeth show their age through wear and tear and as we get older they can become less symmetrical and increasingly discoloured. I see quite a few patients considering having rejuvenating facial surgery, but when they see what a difference veneers achieve – installing a look of youth and vitality and restoring cheek support – they almost always feel there is no immediate need for surgery.

What is the process?

There’s a photo-imaging process or a diagnostic wax-up before the work begins so patients can see what they will look like after the treatment: this increases their confidence. Before treatment begins, any necessary work is carried out to prepare for the veneers, such as tooth whitening or pretreatment alignment – for example with an Inman aligner, which reduces the amount of necessary tooth reduction.

After tooth preparation a set of temporary veneers are applied to precisely confirm the colour, size and fit of the final versions, which are fitted a few weeks later. They are handmade, bespoke for each individual and the patient can choose the colour depending on whether a natural or a glamorous result is desired.

Composite veneers or porcelain:

Which should I choose?

Composite veneers have essentially been superseded by porcelain veneers. There are occasions where they are used to improve minor discrepancies such as closing small gaps or covering tooth discolouration. They are also often used on children under the age of 16 as a ‘long-term temporary’ option before they are old enough to have a porcelain veneer applied.

Unlike porcelain veneers, composite veneers are prone to staining and last a maximum of five years. They can be easily polished or repaired. In comparison, ceramic veneers can last for 10 to 15 years but replacement rather than repair would be necessary.

Here at Apollonia Rodney Streets award-winning dental and cosmetic centre in the heart of Liverpool’s city centre we would love to give you the opportunity to attend a FREE no obligation consultation with our female dentist Dr Melissa Goddard to discuss veneers or any other dental implants Liverpool based treatment you may be interested in during an informal chat at the practice.

If you would like to make an appointment or would just like some more information please contact us… we would love to hear from you….

Apollonia Dental and cosmetic centre
37 Rodney Street
Liverpool
L1 9EN

0151 709 9146
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