Veneers

Dental veneers are thin plates that are placed on the patient’s teeth and fixed to them using special sealants. There are several types of veneers, including ceramic, zirconium, and lumineers. The main indications for installing veneers include restoration of the front row of teeth (when the teeth are small and there is a large distance between them), correction of defects and color of tooth enamel, and the desire to improve the aesthetics of the smile.

Ceramic or zirconium veneers: which to choose?

Since the material from which these overlays are made is different, the properties of the veneers will also differ. Let’s look at the main characteristics of the first and second options.

1. Material: pressed ceramics – for ceramic and zirconium dioxide – for zirconium veneers.
2. Durability: ceramic veneers are less resistant to damage and can break when biting and chewing very hard food (nuts, pits, ice, etc.). In turn, zirconium is a very durable material and overlays made of it practically do not break.
3. Thickness: ceramic veneers have a thickness of 0.3-0.7 mm, and zirconium dioxide is slightly thicker – 0.5-1.5 mm.
4. Visual effect: these two types of overlays differ in aesthetics. Ceramic crowns are more transparent and some patients note that they look more natural. Zirconium overlays are slightly denser and have less transparency, but are whiter and denser. They are often chosen by people who want that Hollywood smile.
5. Service life: the wear resistance of ceramics is slightly lower (10-20 years), but zirconium lasts from 15 to 25 years.

Thus, each patient chooses what is more relevant in his individual case. The choice also depends on the condition of the enamel and the health of the teeth. Sign up for a consultation with us to find out the readiness of your teeth for installing veneers and calculate the cost of the work.

Stages of installing veneers

Installation of zirconium and other types of veneers begins with an examination of the health of the oral cavity (teeth and gums). The therapist will examine you and, if necessary, prescribe treatment for caries, periodontal disease, or other. Overlays can only be installed on healthy teeth.

After this, the patient chooses what form of veneers he wants to receive, the color and what effect he expects. Next, a 3D projection is modeled in the program and you can already see how the veneers will look on your teeth. After the agreed visual, the process of making the wigirs begins, which takes about 10 working days. When the crowns are received, the dentist installs them in one visit.

When veneers cannot be installed

• Bruxism (grinding teeth) – strong clenching of the teeth can lead to chipping and destruction of veneers.
• Severely destroyed teeth – if most of the tooth is destroyed, there is simply nothing to attach the veneers to. In such cases, the doctor will recommend full crowns.
• Severe bite disorders – deep bite, cross bite, heavily worn teeth.
• A significant part of the enamel is missing – veneers are attached to the enamel, if there is not enough of it (very thin) – the fixation will be unreliable.
• Gum diseases (periodontosis, periodontitis) – inflammation of the tissues around the teeth reduces the stability of veneers.
• Allergy to materials – a reaction to the components of the cement or the veneer itself is rarely possible.