Ceramic Veneers provide great consistent looking teeth fast

Porcelain Veneers, also referred to as dental laminates are a cost effective way of correcting misaligned, chipped and broken teeth. Placement and shaping of the veneers requires a balance of skill and artistry, so selecting a well qualified cosmetic dentist is key to successful results

Porcelain, Ceramic and Zirconia Veneers are custom-made shells made to fit precisely over the entire front (facial) surface of the tooth. They are permanently bonded to the tooth surface by special resin cements, making them extremely strong and durable.

• Very minimal drilling (preparation) on the tooth.
• Little or no discomfort to achieve an extremely esthetic result.
• Veneers are stronger, more durable, and more color stable than bonding procedure.

A porcelain, ceramic or Zirconia veneer is indicated when the entire front (facial) surface of the tooth needs a facelift. However the tooth structure must be relatively intact, because veneers only adhere to sound, natural enamel. If a tooth were fractured severely, then an all porcelain-type crown would be a better choice.

Porcelain Veneers are made by a dental laboratory from an impression (mold) taken after preparation of the tooth in the dental office in exactly the same way crowns are made. Thus veneers can be custom colorized to achieve a superior esthetic result.

With proper home care veneers can last for years with no replacement. However, it is very important to maintain good oral hygiene, and to avoid bad habits such as chewing ice or biting fingernails in order to ensure that your veneers will last you many years.

Cosmetic Ceramic Veneer Patient Example

Holly is an aspiring model, who made some good money in her early assignments. She decided that investing money in her teeth would be a worthy investment for her career, increasing her chances of getting better paying jobs.

She booked the appointment and received consultation for laminates, selecting the shape and color of each tooth until she was satisfied with the way the wax model looked.

She chooses to have the installation done all at one time, to avoid any embarrassment which may occur from half a job.

Getting her teeth fixed was the icing on the cake for Holly.

"Anyone can just get a makeover with hair and cosmetics, but my teeth are the signature of my looks."

Holly

Ceramic Veneer Overview

In the past, veneers were hand sculptured by very skilled dental technicians out of a variety of materials, to create very fine looking results. Today, the trend is rapidly building towards Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) milling machines that can take a small block of material and mill it into a tooth that is so lifelike; it's hard to tell the difference. The tooth is modeled on the computer in 3D, and saved as a computer file for later use and milling.

The materials being used today are almost as strong as a natural tooth, with the tradeoff being that they are resistant to staining. One of the more popular materials is Zirconium Dioxide, which is a white luminescent powder in which additives such as magnesium oxide (MgO), yttrium (Y2O3) calcium oxide (CaO) and cerium (III) oxide are added to create Zirconia. It is considered a ceramic, with excellent heat dissipating characteristics, scratch resistance, and is transparent to radio signals.