Porcelain dental veneers
A dental veneer is a thin layer of tooth-colored material that is glued to the outer surface of a tooth. Veneers are usually made of porcelain or composite resin.
Composite veneers can be built directly on the tooth, while porcelain ones are made in a laboratory and then fixed (glued) to the tooth.
How is a veneer placed?
To place a veneer, Dr. Popescu must remove a very small amount of enamel from the tooth's surface. This is generally done without pain.
A digital scan (no more uncomfortable traditional impressions!) is performed to create a precise image of the tooth.
Dr. Popescu will also note the tooth's shade so that the veneer matches the neighboring teeth perfectly.
All this information is sent to a dental laboratory, which will fabricate the custom veneer.
While waiting for the definitive veneer, the tooth may become more sensitive to hot and cold. In that case, a temporary veneer is usually placed.
In which cases are veneers used?
Dr. Popescu recommends veneers in many situations, including:
- In case of tooth discoloration that cannot be treated by cleaning
- In presence of abnormal tooth shape or texture: worn, chipped, cracked, or eroded teeth
- To help close gaps between front teeth
- To create the illusion of straight teeth, with the desired color and shape, when there is slight overlapping
- To camouflage anterior teeth with several small visible and unaesthetic fillings
Contraindications and precautions
There is no absolute contraindication for veneers. However, certain conditions increase the risk of failure:
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Excessively worn teeth or with very large fillings
- Occlusion problems (poor jaw alignment)
- Frequent vomiting (due to bulimia, chronic alcoholism, or acid reflux)
- Very heavily stained teeth
- Poor basic oral hygiene
In these cases, Dr. Popescu carefully evaluates alternatives before recommending a veneer.
Advantages of veneers compared to crowns
Unlike a crown, veneers require less preparation (less tooth to shave).
They are relatively quick and simple to place, but require meticulous planning, just like any other serious aesthetic treatment.
Porcelain veneers – Potential risks
- Discoloration of the veneer edge over time
- Possibility that the veneer comes off; re-gluing is possible, but the new bond will be less resistant than the original
- Difficulty matching colors if only one front tooth is involved
Good habits to adopt
- Do not bite nails, chew pens, or very hard foods
- Wear a soft night guard or during contact sports
- Maintain rigorous hygiene: soft or medium toothbrush, dental floss or interdental brushes
- Electric toothbrush allowed
- Mild, low-abrasive toothpaste
- Follow regular check-up visits with Dr. Popescu
What to do in case of fracture?
Broken veneers can sometimes be repaired, but the result will often be less aesthetic.
If the piece is kept, it can be re-glued. Otherwise, composite resin can be used temporarily.
However, the best solution remains to make a new veneer, even if the adhesion may be slightly less good than during the first placement.
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