our services
Tooth Repair
- Amalgam or Silver Fillings
- Composite or White Fillings
- Crowns
- Porcelain Crowns
- Porcelain Fused Metal Crowns
- Gold Crowns
- Inlays Outlays
- Veneers
Tooth Replacement
Dental Cleaning and Treatment of Gum Diseases
Treatment of Dental Infections
dental services
Tooth repair
Veneers
Dental veneers are categorized as cosmetic dentistry, but although they give you a great smile featuring well-aligned teeth, veneers also act as a protective shield for the surface of damaged teeth, reducing the need for later treatment for other dental conditions.
Dental veneers are thin customized tooth coloured shells, that are bonded to the front surface of teeth. They are usually fabricated from porcelain, but can also be made from composite resin materials. Porcelain veneers tend to be more stain resistant and also more natural looking, although the resin variety require less tooth removal before fitting, compared to how much of the natural tooth is lost when placing a crown, for example. Your dentist will be able to determine which type of veneer is best suited to your unique dental requirements.
Veneers are designed to correct a number of dental conditions. Teeth and their enamel naturally become worn down over the years as we age. Older teeth are more prone to chips, cracks or an uneven appearance. General wear and tear can also result in misaligned teeth, as can habitual tooth grinding. In addition, over time, your teeth can become discoloured, as a result of consuming certain beverages such as red wine, tea, coffee and some soft drinks, as well from tobacco use. Veneers can help to fix some of these issues and improve the appearance of your teeth. Some people are also born with unusual spacing between certain teeth and this gap widens as the person ages. Veneers can help to close the gap and give you a nicer smile.
Veneers have a very natural appearance, don’t need the extensive work on your existing teeth required for the fitting of crowns, plus porcelain veneers are both stain resistant and generally well tolerated by the gum tissue. However, it should be pointed out that the fitting of veneers is unable to be reversed. Veneers usually last for between five and ten years, after which they need to be replaced, but should they chip or crack in the meantime, they cannot be repaired. Once enamel has been removed in order to apply the veneer, you may also experience increased sensitivity to heat and cold with food and drinks. Although veneers do indeed look natural, they may still not exactly match the colour of your teeth. If you intend to use tooth whiteners later, these will not affect the colour of the veneer.
Veneers can be quite costly when compared to the alternatives and are not usually covered by dental insurance companies. Consultation with your dentist and your insurance provider will help to determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental veneers.