A dental veneer is a tooth-colored finish professionally applied to the outer visible portion of a tooth to make it aesthetically pleasing. It can be used to correct dental erosion, discolored teeth or the circumstances that cause misaligned teeth. There are two types of aesthetic veneers; partially and completely. Partial veneers are applied when the tooth defect is minimal, whereas complete porcelain veneers are applied when the dental defect covers the main visible portion of the tooth surface. At Aqua Dental Centre, we feel happy to help our patients achieve the smile of their dreams, and our team at our North Vancouver clinic offers many treatments to do just that.
How are veneers applied?
Veneers are prepared from porcelain or composite resins, which are tailored to the requirements of each patient. Porcelain veneers are thin and resemble artificial nails. They are applied with a dentist’s care and bonded perfectly on the tooth’s most visible outer portion. Composite resin veneers are layer-wise applied, and the dentist perfectly curates each layer to give a natural tooth-like appearance.
Direct partial veneer
These veneers are applied for localized dental defects. They cover a small portion of the tooth surface. Direct veneers can easily cover defects caused due to enamel hypoplasia, specifically in the anterior teeth’ visible portion. The steps involved in the application of direct partial veneers include:
- Proper cleaning of the tooth surface
- Veneer shade selection under natural light
- Isolating the dental site with cotton rolls to prevent contamination of saliva
- Local anesthesia according to the extent of tooth damage
After completing the above steps, the tooth is prepared so that the partial veneer can stick properly in the desired location. After tooth preparation, engraving is performed. Finally, the partial veneer is placed to cover the enamel defect.
Direct full veneers
Dental defects, like widespread enamel hypoplasia, which usually involves the upper jaw’s anterior teeth, are treated with direct full veneers. A difference between two teeth can also be corrected with the help of the direct full veneer technique. If more than two teeth are involved, then this procedure can be completed in two stages. The steps involved in placing direct full veneers are listed below:
- Mask selection
- Selection of the position, preparation of the enamel is done by isolating the site operated with cotton rolls or with retraction cables
- Post tooth preparation, other procedures like embossing, rinsing, and drying are performed
- The final procedure involves applying the bonding agent to fix the composite veneer.
- In case multiple teeth are involved, the dentist usually finishes the first tooth and then moves on to the second tooth for veneer placement.
Placing a direct composite veneer requires patience from the dentist and the patient. This procedure involves placing the layer-wise veneer. If multiple teeth are involved, then it may require several seats to complete the procedure.