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Once reserved for the A-listers of Hollywood, dental veneers have been around for far longer than you might think. If you’re considering getting veneers, here’s everything you need to know to help you decide if they’re the right choice for you.

What Veneers Are

Invented in 1928 by a California dentist, veneers were first used to temporarily change the look of actors’ teeth. Unlike modern veneers, these were fixed in place using dental adhesive, meaning that they could only be worn temporarily. Nowadays, both composite and porcelain veneers are a permanent solution that last for many years with proper care and maintenance. Aside from improving the colour of your teeth, veneers can also be used to fix chipped or crooked teeth, and close any gaps between them.

Choosing Composite or Porcelain

If you’re looking to get veneers you have two choices: composite resin or porcelain.

Composite resin is mainly used to fix a chipped tooth and offers a more affordable alternative to porcelain veneers. However, they are prone to staining and will need to be refreshed more frequently as the composite material isn’t as strong as porcelain.

Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are like false nails for your teeth. The thin porcelain shells are individually shaped to perfectly match your teeth and give a natural-looking result. Unlike composite resin, porcelain veneers won’t be stained by smoking, coffee, red wine, or any other food that normally leads to enamel discolouration.

How Long Veneers Last for

With proper care and maintenance, your veneers will last you for years to come. Porcelain veneers will need to be replaced every 10-20 years, whilst composite resin will need refreshing every few years. Although porcelain is a durable choice for veneers, like real teeth, they are prone to cracking if you  grind your teeth or often bite into hard items like ice.

The Process of Getting Porcelain Veneers Fitted

To start with, you will have an initial consultation to assess the number of veneers you will need as well as the result you are expecting from the finished look. Your dentist will then take a mold of your teeth to ensure that your veneers will be a perfect fit.

Before you get fitted with your final set of veneers, your dentist will ask you to wear a trial set for a week to check that you are happy with the final look and feel of them. After the trial period, your dentist will then fit you with your porcelain veneers using s special bonding agent.

It’s common to develop a sensitivity to this bonding agent, but the pain should subside several hours after the local anaesthetic has worn off. However, if any discomfort continues, you can book in for a checkup where your dentist will make any necessary adjustments to the veneers.

Contact us today to find out more about our dental veneers service, or book a consultation.