DENTAL
PROCEDURES Veneers
Porcelain veneer technique is an offshoot of the basic science of cosmetic
dental bonding. Dentists have had materials available to them for decades that
are capable of creating a tenacious bond with tooth enamel. Porcelain veneer
technique utilizes the bonding capability
of these materials to securely attach a thin shell of porcelain (the porcelain
veneer) to a tooth. Although porcelain is inherently brittle, when it is firmly
bonded to a sturdy substructure
(a tooth) it becomes very strong and durable.
What are
some of the advantages of porcelain veneers over other types of cosmetic dental
bonding procedures?
Two of
the greatest advantages of porcelain veneers over other types of cosmetic
dental bonding are:
1.
Porcelain veneers create a very life-like tooth appearance.
You
might be surprised to learn that while a large portion of every tooth is
composed of
dental enamel, teeth are not solid enamel. The enamel component of a tooth is
actually
just an outer encasement. The hard tooth tissue that lies underneath a tooth's
enamel
layer is termed "dentin."
2. Porcelain veneers
resist staining.
As a
group, cosmetic dental bonding materials have the shortcoming of being
susceptible
to staining and discoloring. This is especially true when they are used in
conjunction with individuals whose consumption habits include the use of tea,
coffee, red wine, and tobacco products.
A
significant advantage of placing porcelain veneers as opposed to cosmetic
dental bonding
is that a porcelain veneer's surface is just that, porcelain. Since porcelain
is a ceramic, and therefore glass-like, a veneer's porcelain surface will be
extremely stain resistant.
For more
information visit our FAQ
page.