Veneers

The veneers make teeth look natural and healthy and because they are very thin and are held in place by a special strong bond very little preparation of the tooth is needed.

Veneers can improve the color, shape and position of teeth. A precise shade of ceramic can be chosen to give the right color to improve a single discoloured or stained tooth or to lighten front teeth in cases of beautifying smiles.

A veneer can make a chipped tooth look intact again. The ceramic covers the whole of the front surface of the tooth with a thicker section replacing the broken part. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable.

If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometime be fitted to bring the tooth in line with others.

A natural colored filling material can be used for minor repairs of front teeth. This is excellent where the tooth supports the filling, but may not work so well for broken tooth corners. There will always be a join between the tooth and the filling material. Crowns are used for teeth that need to be strengthened – either because they have broken, have been weakened by a very large filling, or have had root canal treatment.

Veneers should last for many years, but they can chip or break, just as your own teeth can, your dentist will tell you how long each individual veneer should last. Small chips can be repaired, or a new veneer fitted if necessary.

Some of the shiny outer enamel surface of the tooth may be removed, to make sure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place later. The amount of enamel removed is tiny and will be the same as the thickness of of the veneer to be fitted, so that the tooth stays the same size.

A local anesthetic (injection) may be used to make sure that there is no discomfort, but often this is not necessary. Once the tooth has been prepared the dentist will take an ‘impression’. This will be given to the dental technician, along with any other information needed to make the veneer. The color of the surrounding teeth is matched on a shade guide to make sure that the veneer will look entirely natural.

The veneer takes atleast two visits; the first to prepare the tooth and to match the shade, and the second to fit it. Before bonding it in place, dentist will show you the veneer on your tooth to make sure you are happy with it. Bonding a veneer in place is done with a special adhesive, which holds it firmly on the tooth.

Because the preparation of the tooth is so slight you will probably not need a temperory veneer. The tooth will look very much the same after preparation.

Only minor adjustments can be made to the veneer after it is fitted. It is usually best to wait a little while to get used to it before any changes are made. Dentist will probably want to check and polish it a week or so after it is fitted, and to make sure that you are happy.

A diastema is a space or ‘gap’ between teeth very often your front teeth. This is very common in children and is part of their normal dental development. Most of these spaces close naturally as the mouth and teeth develop. In some cases this gap does not close naturally and a dentist advice is sought.

There are many factors that can contribute to the development of a diastema. Some of them include: Abnormal bone structure – sometimes the bone between the incisors will have a W-shaped defect – which can be seen on an X-ray. Such a defect will prevent the teeth from touching. Occasionally, there may be some extra tissue between the teeth which prevents them from touching. There are many factors which may contribute towards the spacing between teeth. Dentist will explain the various factors accordingly.

A gap between children’s teeth often causes concern. It can have an effect on speech – making ‘S’, sounds difficult to pronounce, aesthetics, balance and social behaviour.

There are many innovative treatments available – restorative, surgery and orthodontic treatment. Treatment choices vary, and can only be offered after the correct diagnosis has been made. A dentist will need to look closely at the patients medical and dental history, take X-Rays and clinical examinations and in some cases even do a tooth size evaluation.