Customers who have broken, chipped, or discolored teeth and are looking for a cosmetic solution to a considerable problem — limiting speech and eating capabilities — have the option of dental whitening veneers. Teeth whitening veneers are ceramic plates fitted into the front of teeth to cover up imperfections associated with size, color, shape, positioning, or uniformity. Unlike simple laser or gel whitening, dental veneers are permanent and cannot be removed, so they are only recommended for customers with serious deformities or issues with their dental capabilities. Veneers must be applied by a professional orthodontist, and are a considerably difficult operation, requiring a steady hand over the course of several hours, so patients looking for cosmetic repair should discuss the option and agree with their dentist if both believe whitening porcelain veneers are the ideal option.
Someone looking at a simple porcelain veneer would think it similar to a fake fingernail; it is similar in size, color, and texture to a laminate fingernail. At less than one millimeter thick, it is comparable in size to two or three sheets of paper. It is so light and thin that you cannot feel any weight when holding it, and light comes through the porcelain.
The operation is not reversible because part of the front of the tooth must be removed surgically by an orthodontist before applying the whitening veneers onto the surface. As the front of anyone’s tooth is not constant and smooth due to a lifetime of chewing and eating, the tooth must be “paved” and all the irregularities removed for a solid fit. By trimming about a quarter of a millimeter away from the front of the tooth, an orthodontist has the proper face necessary to apply the veneer to. A patient cannot feel this happen as it is much too shallow to hit a nerve, but the mouth is numbed during the operation anyway, as some find the grinding away to be somewhat uncomfortable. On very rare occasions, the orthodontist must go deeper for a better fit, resulting in breaching the area of sensitivity.
The veneers are solid and uniform in size and color, but are weaker than human teeth. As a result, whiten veneers must be replaced several times. Depending on a patient’s oral hygiene and diet, they may not need to do so more than once a decade, but most often, the operation must be done every two to three years. Unlike a dental crown, which sheers away even more tooth material to apply a cap, the veneer is not a permanent fix, but is also much less intensive.
For some customers, a veneer may not be the best option; simple tooth whitening procedures can give them the radiant smile they have been looking for. Laser tooth whitening can be about the same cost, is painless, and does not require extensive surgical procedures. Laser whitening, however, requires even more maintenance for ideal teeth color, and customers may have to go back to their dentist once or twice a year for continuation of the whitening procedure. If tooth discoloration is not too severe, simple home treatment with gels and strips can be used in lieu of surgical operations. By the same token, a crown may be the better solution than a veneer if practical use is more important that the aesthetic look. In either case, a dentist will have the best solution for patients.
If your smile is not what you want it to be, porcelain veneers are an option for repair and rebuilding a great tooth line. Check out the specific positives and negatives, and consult with your family dentist for their input on the procedure.
Sun, Jun 27, 2010
Teeth Whitening