What is a Dental Veneer?
Dental veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite that are placed over the visible surface of the teeth to correct imperfections. At Anjou Centre Dentaire, we can enhance the appearance of your smile significantly and long-term in one or two appointments, depending on the case.
Dental veneers are a good solution to conceal or correct certain cosmetic issues such as:
- Misaligned teeth
- Worn, chipped, or misshapen teeth
- Stained or discoloured teeth
- Gaps between teeth
Advantages of Veneers
Veneers can improve the appearance of your teeth by correcting their colour, shape, or alignment, and they are durable with proper care. Unlike a crown, a veneer only covers the visible surface of the tooth and requires minimal preparation.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory and typically require two appointments.
First Appointment
During the first appointment, little to no anesthesia will be required. Once the tooth or teeth have been prepared, a dental impression is taken to create custom veneers based on the desired shade and shape.
With our state-of-the-art equipment, our lab technicians will fabricate the porcelain shells on-site so you can achieve your ideal smile in less than a week. The process of making veneers includes mimicking the appearance of dental enamel to recreate the translucency and shine of natural teeth.
Second Appointment
The second appointment is dedicated to fitting, adjustments, and finally, the placement of the dental veneers. Before permanently bonding the veneers, a trial fitting is required to make any necessary adjustments to the shape and colour for optimal precision.
For bonding, the dentist will carefully select a dental adhesive with a shade that matches your teeth to make your veneers strong and durable. Finally, the veneers will be polished.
Composite Veneers
Composite veneers are applied directly in the clinic in a single appointment and are an affordable option.
A composite veneer involves applying a white plastic resin to the front surface of the tooth. It is available in several shades to match the colour of a natural tooth.
Your dentist will prepare the tooth surface with a mild chemical solution that makes the enamel more porous to improve adhesion of the composite. During application, the resin is malleable, so your dentist will shape it directly on the tooth to achieve the desired form and thickness.
Once this step is complete, the restoration will be set using a curing process with a polymerization light. A final polishing is required to give it a natural appearance.
Composite veneers are completed in a single visit and can only be used to correct minor tooth imperfections. They typically last about five years, depending on the patient’s oral hygiene and consumption habits.