What are Types of Dental Veneers Options?

Veneers can hide the kinds of superficial faults that make you uncomfortable with your smile. If you are considering a facelift for your teeth, read this to learn about your options with regards to veneers.

About veneers

Veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that take the shape of a front tooth. They are easy to fit and the process of installing them is minimally invasive. Different types of dental veneers meet different needs.

Composite veneers

Composite resin is a putty-like, tooth-colored material that dentists use as a dental filling. Composite also corrects small cosmetic faults in its role as a dental filling. The cosmetic applications of composite resin are what inspire the idea of composite veneers. It then figures that composite veneers are made of composite resin.

A dentist will create a blend of composite resin that matches the exact shade of their patients’ teeth. They will then create the veneer by taking the following steps:

• First, the dentist roughens the surface of the tooth manually or with a mild acid
• They rinse the tooth, apply a thin layer of composite resin, sculpt it and apply a curing light to harden the resin
• Next, they apply and shape another thin layer of composite and apply the curing light to harden that layer as well
• The dentist will repeat the application process until they achieve the ideal thickness for a veneer 
• Finally, the dentist will polish, smooth and sculpt the complete veneer, resulting in a restoration that resembles the rest of the patient’s teeth

Composite veneers are a quick and affordable way to cover up small imperfections. However, they are not as tough and as durable as other alternatives. For a veneer that can withstand the years, dentists recommend the following alternatives:

Porcelain veneers

Like the name suggests, porcelain is the main ingredient in porcelain veneers. This type of veneer is popular because it is translucent and reflective, just like an actual tooth. Better still, ceramic veneers are tough and durable, with a lifespan of twenty years or longer.

The fabrication of porcelain veneers needs skill and precision, the magic ingredients that make them look as realistic as the real thing. That is why they take time to create. Most dentists take an impression of their patients’ teeth and send the mold to a dental lab. At the lab, a skilled technician or a milling machine skillfully makes an artist’s rendition of a white and shapely tooth.

This process takes between one and three weeks. In the meantime, the patient wears a temporary covering as they wait for the final product. It is worth mentioning that there is a way to get a same-day porcelain veneer. This is just one of the variations of porcelain veneers this article describes:

1. Chairside veneers

Chairside veneers technology that allows a dentist to create a dental restoration as the patient waits. One of the restorations that a milling machine can create is a porcelain veneer. The result is a sturdy dental restoration that is as tough as the variants that dental technicians craft by hand.

2. Brand-name veneers

Brand-name veneers bear mentioning for one reason: they are ultra-thin, ultra-strong and often require zero removal of tooth enamel. While they are at least as expensive as other kinds of porcelain veneers, they have their upsides.

Zirconia veneers

These are made with zirconia, a ceramic material that is tougher, more durable (and more expensive) than porcelain. Some brand-name veneers use zirconia instead of porcelain. Others use a blend of the two materials, where zirconia acts as a base for the porcelain.

Face life with a brilliant smile

You deserve a perfect set of teeth and veneers just might be the way you get your dream smile. Get in touch with us to learn how our dentist will use their experience to turn your smile around.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.