You may have heard that dental veneers can provide you with a flawless smile. However, they sometimes require teeth shaving, and you might be fearful that a reduction of your natural teeth may cause long-term oral health problems.
Fortunately, there are many minimally invasive or even no-prep cosmetic dentistry procedures to enhance the appearance of your teeth.
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Beware of dangerous online trends
Dentists are warning people of trends on TikTok where influencers are shaving down teeth into pegs with DIY dental hacks. Some young adults are desperately looking to achieve a perfect smile while looking to save money.
They use, horrific tools, such as nail files or sandpaper for shaving teeth, which is extremely harmful to your enamel. They may then travel to Turkey for cheap dental treatment procedures to cover the pegs.
Many mistakenly assume they are receiving veneers without knowing these influencers are actually getting full coverage crowns instead.
You would only require your teeth to be shaved down to pegs if you are getting crowns. It is not necessary at all when you get veneers.
Before attempting DIY dental hacks, talk with a cosmetic dentist to see the best options available to improve your smile.
If you have healthy teeth, it can be detrimental to your oral health to perform invasive procedures.
Types of Veneers
Although many people are becoming aware of veneers, there’s still a lot of confusion about the different types of veneers.
There are a wide array of veneers ranging from quick snap-on veneers to no-prep Lumineers.
Veneers are a quick solution to cover up cosmetic flaws such as discoloured, misaligned, chipped, or cracked teeth.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers are shells made of composite resin that are directly applied to your teeth. The procedure can be done with one visit and is considered minimally invasive.
The primary differences between composite and porcelain veneers are the cost, materials used, and application process.
Composite veneers do not need to be custom-made in the laboratory and can therefore be applied quickly.
However, the composite resin material is weaker and prone to chipping. Thus, these veneers need to be replaced more frequently than porcelain veneers.
Composite veneers can sometimes provide a more opaque appearance, which may seem less natural.
Porcelain veneers
With porcelain veneers, the cosmetic dentist will bond a thin layer of porcelain onto the patient’s tooth. The shells are custom-made to match the shape, size, and colour of the patient’s natural teeth.
Porcelain is much more durable when it is compared to composite veneers. In fact, they last about twice as long.
These porcelain veneers also look more natural due to their translucent characteristics that allow light to shine through the shells.
However, since these shells are custom-made in a dental lab, it will take multiple visits and a few weeks before the permanent veneers come in.
Lumineers
Lumineers, also called no-prep veneers, are a brand of porcelain veneers that require little or no preparation and much more advanced dental work compared to standard porcelain and composite veneers.
Lumineers are made with a special Cerinate porcelain material that is ultra-strong and patented to provide a better appearance.
What makes these veneers stand out is their shorter preparation and application process. Since the material is much thinner, the patient’s enamel may not need to be shaved, unlike other veneer procedures.
Additionally, Lumineers are more translucent than traditional veneers, making your teeth look much more natural.
However, if you’re looking to treat discolouration, you may consider less translucent options like composite veneers. That’s because the composite resin material is opaque and has a more solid colour.
The material is ultra-strong and lasts between 10 to 20 years. Since the material is thinner, of higher quality and custom-made, Lumineers are more expensive than other veneers.
Crowns vs Dental Veneers
Crowns and veneers are both dental procedures designed to provide a smile makeover. The primary difference between these two treatments is that veneers cover the front of your tooth, while crowns cover the entire tooth.
Although they both can achieve similar results, the purposes of each are different. Their procedure also differs drastically.
Your oral health will be an important factor in determining which dental treatment is right for you. Each treatment has its purpose, and understanding the use cases for each can help you decide whether you should get crowns or veneers.
What are crowns used for?
Dental crowns are mainly used as a restorative procedure to protect, support, or cover your tooth.
Your dentist may recommend crowns for people with broken teeth. That’s because a crown is a cap that protects a weak tooth from decay or holds the cracked tooth in place.
The crown is placed over the filling to cover up and support the damaged tooth. It can also be used to cover a dental implant or hold a dental bridge as well.
Sometimes if the tooth has been infected or fractured, the dentist will perform a root canal treatment to remove the nerve and pulp of the tooth.
The dentist will then add the crown to protect and save what’s left of the tooth.
What are veneers used for?
Veneers are primarily used for cosmetic purposes to achieve a new smile. They typically cover up the front surface of your tooth.
Veneers can be used to cover up:
- crooked teeth
- chipped or broken teeth
- small teeth
- gaps in teeth
- unusually shaped or pointed teeth
Procedure
Both veneers and crowns generally require tooth preparation before applying the treatment.
A local anaesthetic may be needed during the procedure to numb the pain.
Generally, both procedures may take multiple visits and a few weeks until the permanent crowns or veneers are applied.
Crown procedure
Your dentist may start by taking an X-ray of your existing teeth. They may also take an impression of your teeth and mouth.
Next, they will remove and file down the outer layer of the tooth while trying to keep most of the tooth structure intact.
A temporary crown will be placed over the tooth to keep it protected. The impression taken will be sent to a lab to create a permanent crown that fits your teeth.
Once the permanent crown arrives, your dentist will cement it onto your teeth.
Veneers procedure
Your cosmetic dentist will have a preliminary appointment with you to discuss your goals and explain the veneer process.
They may perform X-rays to assess if you have healthy teeth. If they notice signs of root canals, gum disease, or tooth decay, they may recommend a crown procedure or another treatment that is more suitable for them.
Next, your dentist will trim a thin layer of your tooth enamel using a special grinding tool. The amount of enamel trimmed will depend on the type of veneers you choose.
They will then take a mould or impression of your teeth and send the mould off to a lab, where the custom veneers will be made.
In the meantime, you would usually wear temporary veneers until the permanent ones are completed. After one to two weeks, the permanent veneers should be ready.
Your dentist will check that the veneers are the right shape, size, and colour to match your teeth. They will then clean your teeth to prevent bacteria from being trapped underneath the veneer. Next, the dentist will etch your front tooth and then apply dental cement to it.
The cosmetic dentist will bond the veneer to your teeth using ultraviolet light to harden the cement.
Which solution is best for me?
You may have seen people with perfectly straight and white teeth and desired the perfect “Hollywood smile” yourself. Fortunately, there are many options to enhance your teeth’ appearance through various types of veneers or crowns.
These dental treatments are designed to provide a smile makeover to conceal gaps, stains, discolouration, misshapen, cracked, or chipped teeth.
Your smile goals and oral health will determine which solution is right for you. If your tooth is cracked or worn or has a large filling, a crown is likely the best solution. However, if your teeth are largely intact or only have minor flaws, veneers are ideal for minor shape corrections.
At Bespoke Smile, we offer a range of dental treatment plans to fit your needs. We preserve your natural teeth while enhancing your smile or repairing your existing damaged tooth, our expert cosmetic dentists can help.
Book a free consultation today to discuss whether one of our treatments is right for you.
