Veneering is one of the most famous cosmetic dental procedures, but it doesn't have to give you that phosphorescent Hollywood smile. Let's talk about the more subtle uses of veneers at our dentist Soho.
Veneers have their origins in stage makeup, the first being temporary acrylic stick-ons, which were not very different from false nails. They have long since been integrated into dentistry, being very useful in some applications. These are almost exclusively cosmetic, but that does not mean it is focused on camera cosmetics; during restorative dentistry, both function and aesthetics are considered, and a naturally healthy appearance can be achieved very rapidly using well-crafted veneers.
Restorative? Veneers
Veneers are often seen as purely cosmetic and not normally part of the start of the process, but when restorations are extensive, they can be an excellent way to finish a restoration. The underlying goal of all restorative dentistry is to return your teeth to the condition they were in prior to the damage. In this context, the veneer is applied to match the surrounding teeth; it is deliberately weathered and textured by carving the veneer using a dental drill. When done with our excellent dental laboratory partners, who manufacture porcelain to a very high tolerance in both transparency and shade, the veneers would be indistinguishable from healthy teeth. When this type of veneer is done well, no one can tell whether anything was done at all.
Structurally supportive? Veneers
Modern composite veneers are an interesting mix of dental techniques; they are made from many layers of UV-cured resin, which were originally just a replacement for the dental cement used to hold the veneer to the surface of the tooth. But it became clear that by applying each layer before building the next one, a structure could be assembled on the tooth that was hardy, fast and shade-matched and could be carved by a drill; we call these structures composite veneers. Depending on how they are laid down, composite veneers can behave more like a crown or a veneer. The resin, once light-cured, is extremely strong and often adds to the structural integrity of the tooth it is built on, giving a strong, lasting result that is not entirely cosmetic.
As they are created in the patient’s mouth during the session, composite veneers don't require the use of outsourced fabrication; therefore, they can be done without delay whilst prosthetics are made.
At PS Dental Care, we have a great deal of experience with creating composite veneers with our dentist Soho, which is very important because the quality and final finish on composite veneers depend heavily on the skill and experience of the practitioner.
Purely cosmetic total control
If our patients have a complete set of veneers, this is usually for purely cosmetic reasons, and it is highly unlikely that every tooth in their mouth genuinely requires veneering. The advantage of a full set of veneers is that it gives you back control over the shade colour and shape of the teeth. There is no consideration of matching them to pre-existing tooth surfaces as all teeth will be entirely covered, and our dentist Soho can focus entirely on your aesthetic goals.