Specialties

Cosmetic dentistry

Veneers or facets

Dental veneers are sheets made of different materials that allow us to correct small tooth defects, both in form and size and color. It partially covers the tooth that must be previously prepared.
With them we can achieve excellent aesthetic results getting significant aesthetic changes to the patient.
Each case requires a previous analysis where the smile line, tooth position, lips, gums and all tissues of the face in general are evaluated. The gums have the same or more importance as teeth. The gingiva is the frame where the tooth is the picture.
Once the case is analyzed, a personalized treatment is performed. We must remember that there are never 2 identical mouths and that not everything is for everyone.

What type of veneers are the best?

The choice of the type of veneers and materials is made by the dentist based on the individual needs and characteristics of each patient.
Many people think that porcelain veneers are better than composite veneers and opt for using them, and other people nevertheless opt for composite veneers because they are cheaper.
Each type of veneer has its indications.

Resin veneers or composite veneers

They are made of resin that adhere to the surface of the tooth to improve its appearance. They can be done directly (they are molded directly in the mouth) or indirectly (they are done outside the mouth or in the laboratory).

When are composite veneers used?

In the case of composite veneers, for example, they may be indicated after finishing an orthodontic treatment, in which it is required to make small adjustments to the size of the teeth, or to close small spaces, or to achieve a greater length of the tooth. tooth, especially in the incisors.
In cases of children or teenagers, composite veneers are indicated, since it is considered to be a reversible treatment and can be removed more easily than ceramic veneers. Thus, once the patient finishes their growing age, they can decide to replace their composite veneers with ceramic in case it is necessary to achieve a better aesthetic.

Advantages of composite veneers:

  • Cost: The price of composite veneers is usually lower than ceramic veneers.
  • Reversibility: Composite veneers can be removed in a simple way.
  • Repair: In case they wear out or fracture, they can be easily repaired.

Disadvantages of composite veneers:

  • Color and shine: Over time composite veneers lose their color and shine.
  • Durability: It is estimated that composite veneers have an average duration of 5-7 years. It is important to go to the appropriate check-ups to keep them in good condition and carry out the appropriate polishing.
  • Tints: Certain foods or drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine etc can stain and darken composite veneers.
  • Whitening: If a patient with dental veneers wants to undergo teeth whitening, the veneers must first be removed, since the composite does not bleach, and replace them with others at the end of the whitening.

Ceramic veneers:

They are made of materials such as porcelain, zirconia or lithium disilicate, and have excellent aesthetic properties.
The main indication is to improve aesthetics (improve the shape, restore fractures, correct abnormal intrinsic colors of the teeth -stainings-), although they can also correct bad dental positions and therefore improve the possibilities of hygiene and thus the preservation of the stomatognathic apparatus. .
These types of veneers are made in the laboratory, creating thin sheets that are later cemented in the tooth or teeth.

  • Emax: They are thin sheets created from lithium disilicate glass.
  • Contact lenses or lumineers without dental preparation: They allow a non-invasive restoration without the need to grind downs the tooth, in the indicated cases. They have a very thin thickness of around 0.3mm.

How is the process of a ceramic veneer treatment?

The most important thing is a previous diagnosis, which will include X-rays, photographs and an intraoral scan, among other tests.
With these data, a virtual wax-up is carried out, which is a computer simulation of how the shape and size of the veneers would be according to the patient's teeth.
Subsequently, a test or Mock up is made in the patient's mouth, with a provisional material to evaluate the aesthetics and that the patient can see how the final result would be. It will also serve to assess the function of the veneers in relation to the shape of the patient's bite.
Once all the parameters are correct, the final impressions are made from which the final veneers will be manufactured.
Once the veneers have been fabricated, the provisional veneers are removed, and the definitive veneers attached to the teeth are placed.

Advantages of ceramic veneers

  • Aesthetics: They do not suffer changes in color and brightness over time.
  • Tints: They are not affected by food or drinks that can stain the teeth.
  • Duration: With proper care, the average duration of ceramic veneers is estimated at 15 years.
  • Resistance: Ceramic is a very hard material, which makes it more difficult for them to break.

Disadvantages of ceramic veneers:

  • Fragility: Ceramic, despite being a very hard material, is also fragile, so if you are not careful enough and bite on objects or food such as seaflower seed, shellfish etc, you can fracture some of the veneers, which would need to be replaced with a new one.
  • Repair: in case of suffering some kind of fracture, it may be necessary to repeat the veneer making a new one. These porcelain sheets cannot be removed from the teeth once cemented, and if they are, similar ones must be placed to regain the tooth size, reduced with the grinding or wear that is needed to place them the first time. Therefore, it constitutes an irreversible treatment.
  • Cost: The price of ceramic veneers is usually higher than that of composite veneers.
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