Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that are glued to the front surfaces of the teeth to help improve the overall appearance of teeth and the smile they create. Porcelain restoration can be done to hide unsightly stains, discoloured teeth, diastemas (open spaces between teeth) or poorly aligned teeth.
As with most cosmetic cases a thorough consultation is required and usually a wax up of the final design of the case is essential. Once the dentist and patient have approved the design of the case then treatment and delivery of the veneers occurs quickly. At the first treatment appointment the involved teeth are prepared, a mould is taken and temporary plastic veneers are cemented in place to protect the teeth. An outside lab will fabricate the veneers and at the next appointment they are cemented in place.
Patient’s find this type of work very rewarding, as beautiful smiles happen quickly and what was once a smile that patient’s tend to hide becomes a smile they are eager to show the world.
Porcelain Tooth Restorations
Years ago when you got a cavity there were limited options when it came to fixing a tooth. The standard treatment was a silver filling. It functioned well, but the tooth was discoloured and looked “fixed”. Nowadays, the public doesn’t just want their teeth restored, they also want their teeth to look pristine. This inspired enormous research, which gave birth to the field of cosmetic dentistry. Today most teeth are restored with a white coloured restoration. This may be a white (resin) filling or a porcelain crown, filling or veneer. These porcelain tooth restorations not only repair the damage done by decay, but they also attempt to return the tooth to its original appearance. For these reasons they are sometimes referred to as cosmetic restorations.
With any type of treatment there are limitations when doing white fillings. The tooth must be well isolated or the white filling won’t stick. In some cases the extent of the filling or the limitations of the patient will prevent us from being able to place a white filling. Cosmetic restorations offer patients a wonderful alternative to the old silver filling that not only functions well, but looks good.