This involves providing patients with an aesthetically pleasing smile. This may involve whitening of stained teeth, closing of gaps between teeth, repair of broken down teeth or straightening of crooked teeth. Common procedures in cosmetic dentistry are:
Ceramic Veneers :
|
CERAMIC
VENEERS/LAMINATES
|
|
What is a
Ceramic veneer restoration?
-
A veneer is a thin facing of ceramic
that is bonded to the front visible surface of a tooth.
-
It is similar to a false fingernail.
-
The appearance of a tooth can be dramatically improved by a veneer restoration.
-
It can change the colour, shape and size of a tooth.
-
Discoloured teeth can be permanently whitened with a veneer.

Ceramic Veneer Shell
|
When will I need a veneer?
|
|
|
Before |
Prepared teeth on a cast |
After |
|
Why is
Ceramic the best material for a veneer?
-
Ceramic
has a translucency and lustre that cannot be equalled by any other material. It closely resembles the enamel of a tooth.
-
Perfect colour matching to existing teeth is possible with a veneer.
-
A Ceramic
veneer is a very strong and durable tooth restoration.
-
Although a veneer is very thin, it becomes as strong as the enamel of the tooth. It is strengthened by being fused or bonded to the tooth.
-
It cannot be stained and will not discolour.
-
A
Ceramic veneer is very thin and as a result very little tooth material has to be trimmed away to accommodate it.
-
A veneer can also be made of a plastic material, but this can not match the aesthetics and durability of
Ceramic. Temporary veneers are made of acrylic.
|
What steps are taken in having a veneer made?
-
The dentist trims down the front surface of the tooth, and takes an impression of the prepared tooth.
-
The impression is sent to a dental technician who makes the
Ceramic veneer.
-
As very little tooth material is removed in the process, a temporary veneer may not be necessary.
-
If the prepared tooth is particularly sensitive a temporary acrylic veneer will sometimes be needed. This is to protect the trimmed down tooth while the
Ceramic veneer is being made.
-
Finally, the dentist will bond (cement) the attractive natural-looking
Ceramic veneer to the tooth.
|
. Is it painful to have a veneer made?
|
How careful must I be with my new veneers?
|
Why choose a veneer instead of a replacement crown?
|
Preparation difference
Veneer on left
Crown in the middle |
|
Can veneers make a big difference to my appearance?
|
|
Upper teeth veneered
Lowers to be done |
Upper veneers
Lower staining |
|
Ceramic Crowns/ Inlays/onlays :
In teeth that are more extensively damaged, state of the art all ceramic crowns
such as Procera or Empress can be used. These all-Ceramic crowns are highly
aesthetic and strong.
In posterior teeth, ugly and unsightly metal fillings can be replaced with all
ceramic inlays. These fillings are not only highly esthetics but by nature of its
strong bond to natural tooth structures, it actually strenghtens the tooth as well!
|