dental veneers, also called veneers, are extremely thin plates, with a thickness between 0.5 and 0.7 mm, which are applied on the external surface of the teeth. They are usually made of composite or ceramic. Their function is to improve the aesthetics, and not only, of the patient. Both the upper arch and the lower arch. This type of solution is characterized by simplicity and effectiveness, and allows you to intervene on:
- Color and shape of the teeth
- Positional defects
- Teeth length
These are tooth reconstructions that are characterized by their small size and by being non-invasive. Furthermore, as will be detailed further, they allow the patient to validly recover chewing, maintaining an absolutely natural effect.
When are dental veneers needed?
The application of dental veneers can be carried out in cases of:
- Chipped teeth, aesthetically annoying and at risk of breakage or tooth decay
- Extremely small teeth, which can cause difficult chewing. It is also possible to intervene on oversized teeth, reducing them before application
- Crooked teeth. In this case it is possible to obtain an alignment of the teeth without resorting to traditional orthodontics
- Yellowed teeth or stained teeth, if teeth whitening was not sufficient. Teeth can become stained or yellow due to factors such as smoking, drinking colored drinks, or natural aging
- Teeth damaged or worn due to bruxism. If the patient suffers from this problem, they are still required to deal with it, because dental veneers do not solve it
- Teeth with old fillings, or residues
- Diastema, or excessive tooth space. More generally, veneers can be chosen to close spaces and gaps between the front teeth
Materials used for aesthetic veneers
There are two main materials with which aesthetic veneers are made:
Ceramic, with tailor-made creation in the laboratory. The cost is higher due to the work required. The advantage is a much more natural result in terms of color and brightness. Maintenance is easy and the duration is consistent.
Composite, material obtained with a malleable paste and capable of adhering to the tooth spontaneously. An acid and then an adhesive are spread on the affected tooth. Then we proceed to recreate the shape of the tooth, through subsequent stratifications of material. It ends with finishing and polishing.
This second procedure is relatively quicker and simpler, and the cost of composite veneers is lower, averaging around $800 a tooth, whereas porcelain veneers can cost between $900 and $2,500 per tooth.
The factors that affect the cost of veneers are:
- the total number of teeth on which action is taken.
- the choice of material to make the plates.
- the problems that may arise during the dentist's work.
Ceramic veneers have a higher cost than composite veneers. While it may seem that the cheaper choice is the best choice, we caution you that choosing good quality products is advisable over the cheaper choice. Ceramics, and more generally quality materials, ensure better performance over time and can last much longer-an average of 15 or more years, avoiding the costs to replace your veneers every 5-8 years.
