Types of Porcelain Veneers, Explained by Preston Cosmetic Dentist

Natural beauty and aesthetics that we see in nature is achievable through bonding technology of dental veneers to natural teeth. The process of bonding a veneer to a tooth allows light to transmit through the veneer and pick up the optics of the tooth.

 A veneer is a thin shell made out of different tooth-colored materials such as porcelain and composite. They are custom made and bonded to the front surface of the tooth. A veneer can be used to treat dental conditions such as a slightly crooked tooth, discolored teeth, chipped teeth or they can even be used to cover spaces in between the teeth.

Veneers are one of the many cosmetic dental treatments that have grown in popularity due to their ease in application, and for the amazing results they can produce. With just a few dental visits, the application of veneers can give you healthier looking teeth that will benefit your overall appearance and lifestyle.

Tooth Veneers are very thin mouldings that are specially made for your condition. The veneers themselves are made from materials designed to replicate your own teeth and give a natural, bright smile. The mouldings used can vary in material and size and there may be some minimal reshaping of the teeth.

We all like to have some variety when making decisions. When it comes to dental veneers, the variety is currently  five different types of materials. One of the biggest differences between veneering systems is how much the tooth is to be reshaped before the veneer is placed. Each Veneer system has different requirements. As most individuals are unaware of the differences, I chose to write this overview of the different types of dental veneers available at Preston Dental Care. As a passionate cosmetic dentist in Preston dedicated to giving each of my patients the best possible solution for their individual needs, our Dental Practice Preston office provides all types of veneer treatments dependent on each patients’ unique situation and desires.

1.  Composite Material Veneers

The major advantage of composite veneers is the treatment time .as veneers are mostly hand made by the dentist in the patient’s mouth in one appointment. The dentist will actually make the veneers directly on the prepared teeth. The veneers are then smoothed and polished to look like your natural teeth. Since it takes only one visit, you can leave our dental practice with a brand new smile. Evidently the result of this procedure dependent is on the skill and artistic ability of the dentist.

One of the disadvantages of composite is that they tend to be slightly weaker than porcelain veneers and on average can chip and stain more easily. However, if a fracture does occur, they can be easily repaired because the same material that was used initially to make the veneers can be added in the same manner to fix it.

2.  Pressed Ceramic Veneers (Porcelain)

Pressed ceramics were introduced t in the early 90's and are a popular method of creating porcelain veneers. The veneer design is first created in wax and the lost wax technique is used to create the restoration.  

This type of porcelain veneer is stronger than feldspathic veneers but requires more thickness and therefore more tooth reshaping. It is only one color but can be modified by a skilled ceramist to create a beautiful veneer.

3.  Feldspathic (stacked) Ceramic Veneers (Porcelain)

Feldspathic veneers are made using a quartz type of porcelain on a platinum foil . A wet brush is used along with porcelain powder. A ceramicist then paints layers onto a model. It is then baked it in a porcelain oven. The porcelain layers are thin and will shrink when heated.  For this reason, the process is done repeatedly until the contour is just right. The ceramicist will place different colors during each state to get the look that best fits you. 

Advantages of stacked veneers include the ability to mask out darker areas and less tooth structure removal.

4.  Heat pressed Leucite reinforced pressed ceramic Veneers

This porcelain veneer is stronger than the other options hence can be made thinner, As it is only a monochromatic type of porcelain veneer, its aesthetic result depends on optic bonding properties to pick up the color of the tooth in order to be more polychromatic. It is intended for minimal reshaping of the teeth tissues. 

Lumineers- is  a commercially available Leucite reinforced pressed ceramic system designed for the minimal or no reshaping technique. The benefit is that it a reversible procedure requiring no needles or temporaries. It can be made to a thickness of only 2 mm, like a contact lens.

5.  Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramic Veneers

Significant developments in all-ceramic materials have created wonderful opportunities for the fabrication of lifelike restorations that provide reliable, long-term results. This is the latest type of porcelain veneers capable of being bonded to a tooth and is much stronger the other porcelains, the veneers are approximately twice as strong, therefore more resistant to chipping.

 While either Veneering technique can be a viable solution for most patient cases, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both techniques.  Ceramics is art work; the greater the artistic gifts of the ceramist the more that can be done. Each veneer is like a sculpture, the result is certainly dependent on the artistic skill of the maker. Bear in mind that a new smile will make you feel great, but your new veneers will only be as good as your cosmetic dentist. So, do your research and then look forward to your new healthy and amazing smile.