Sunday, May 26, 2013

What's that Word? Dental Jargon from A to Z: V is for Veneer

Dental veneers are composite or porcelain layers that are overlain onto a tooth in order to improve the tooth's appearance.  They can lengthen and whiten teeth, making them appear straight, young, and healthy.  Veneers can result in dramatic dental transformations or the correction of the appearance of dark spaces following gum recession or the changes that result from a fractured or misaligned tooth.



Dentist Charles Pincus created the first veneers, which were used by actors to temporarily enhanced the appearance of their teeth.  They were secured using denture adhesive.  Now, they last for years and are more permanently attached to the enamel.



Now, both porcelain and composite materials are used to create veneers.  In choosing which compound to use, patients should evaluate the life of the material, the whiteness they wish to achieve, and how much dentition is lost by bonding the veneer.  Composite veneers can be fitted in a single visit to the dentist.  Porcelain veneers are more durable than composite veneers although they require the removal of less natural enamel.  They can last 10-15 years.  They also create a more natural look and are more stain-resistant.  Unfortunately, porcelain veneers can only be created in a dental lab, requiring multiple visits to the dentist.  They are more expensive because porcelain is a more expensive material and the process of putting porcelain veneers into the mouth is more time-consuming.



The use of veneers can result in the destruction of a significant amount of enamel so they are not recommended for young patients or patients with minor aesthetic concerns.


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