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Want to change your smile in one day. Composite veneers are best way to give you beautiful smile in single appointment. No anesthesia, no pain, instant result
You must have heard about getting a beautiful smile in a single day from your friends, relatives or through newspapers.
Yes, it is possible through Composite veneers. Composite veneers are also known as ‘same day veneers’ as the dentist shapes your teeth using a specialized material to give you a better smile only in one appointment.
The procedure of composite veneers is more conservative than porcelain veneers. If you have worn, chipped or damaged teeth, composite resin can be sculpted directly onto the teeth to obtain lifelike results.
What is composite resin veneers?
Dental composite resin is a special material developed for various treatment procedures in dentistry. It is a tooth colored material that is applied to the tooth and sculpted like putty.
Once the desired shape has been achieved, it is hardened with special light and polished using polishing tools to get as natural results as possible.
Composite resins are continuously being improved to produce more lifelike, translucent and better results for aesthetic needs of the patients.
Who can get veneers?
Dental veneers are designed to cover up the abnormalities or imperfections of shape, size or color of the teeth to give you a better smile.
These abnormalities can be in the form of crooked, chipped, stained or discolored teeth. Teeth with eroded enamel can also be corrected with composite veneers.
Worn out front teeth make a person look much older, composite veneers can restore the worn out part of the teeth and improve the looks as well as the function of these teeth.
How are veneers different from crowns?
Veneers are totally different from crowns. Veneers cover only that part of the tooth that is esthetically important (front surface) whereas a dental crown covers an entire tooth from all surfaces.
Teeth need more amount of trimming for crowns as compared to veneers that make crowns thicker than veneers. Dental Crowns are usually only used for teeth that are more damaged.
For example, if you have a broken tooth or need a root canal, a crown may be a better option.
Types of composite veneers
A dentist may offer you a choice between 2 types of composite veneers
- Direct composite veneers
- Indirect composite veneers.
Direct composite veneers
Direct composite veneers are made by sculpting composite resin material directly on the teeth. The dentist first prepares the teeth in a minimally invasive manner before the designing of veneer. Most of dentist will prefer direct composite method as it is convenient for dentist as well as patient.
Indirect composite veneers
The main difference between direct and indirect composite veneers is the application process and not the actual material used.
Teeth are prepared in a similar manner as for direct composite veneers, but the veneers are fabricated indirectly, outside the patient’s mouth in a dental office or a dental laboratory.
You’ll receive a set of temporary veneers until the indirect veneers are made. At the next appointment, the indirect composite veneers are applied on your teeth with a layer of adhesive.
Composite veneers procedure
The process of composite veneers starts with the professional cleaning of teeth to eliminate the plaque or tartar deposits that you may have on the teeth or below the gum line.
Now dentist will starts the procedure for composite veneers by preparing the teeth. This requires removal of a very thin layer of enamel to correct shape or elimination of stained enamel layer.
In some cases, removal of enamel may not be necessary at all. Until this step the process is same for direct and indirect veneers.
For direct veneers, the dentist now etches the enamel of the prepared tooth to help increase the adhesion of veneer to the tooth. Next step is to apply the adhesive glue to the tooth so that composite resin can bond well.
Following this, thin layers of composite resin are added to the prepared tooth. The dentist picks a desired shade of the composite resin to match the color of your other teeth.
Different colors of composite resin can be mixed to make the veneers look more natural. Composite resin in then hardened using a curing light.
For indirect composite veneers, after the preparation of teeth, the dentist makes a model of the prepared teeth. The indirect veneers are now custom-made on this model outside the mouth. Once they are made, the dentist will etch the teeth and apply an adhesive material before placement of the veneer.
This is done to enable the veneer stay in place. After this, the veneers are placed on the teeth and a curing light is used to harden the adhesive and glue the veneers to the teeth.
Dentist cleans up the excess and performs polishing. Most people do not require the numbing of teeth during the entire process. But if needed, teeth are first anaesthetized before the process starts.
Composite veneers vs Porcelain
Longevity– The longevity of composite veneers is around 5 years which is less than that of porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are more durable and strong because of the material used. So, composite veneers need to be replaced more frequently than porcelain veneers.
Cost -The cost of getting composite veneers is less than porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are more expensive because it requires a skilled ceramist to make a porcelain veneer in a dental laboratory.
Stained – Composite veneers can get stained from smoking and beverages like tea, coffee, wine, spices and other foods which are dark colored unlike porcelain veneers. However, the staining with composite veneers happens over a long period of time.
Reparability- If porcelain veneers break or chip it is not possible to repair them; they have to be replaced, whereas composite veneers can be repaired in a single appointment.
Appointment– Since porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory, the procedure requires 2-3 appointments to get completed. Composite veneers can be made in a single day by the dentist.
Aesthetics- Porcelain has a translucent quality that is similar to tooth enamel, that is why some believe that porcelain veneers offer more natural and tooth-like aesthetics.
How long do composite veneers last?
Composite veneers are strong, durable and can last for 5-7 years on an average if good post-operative care is taken. If stained or damaged over a period of time, replacement of veneers will be needed.
However, the life of composite veneers can be extended beyond 7 years if good care is taken and regular dental visits are made to evaluate the status of veneers.
It is important to adopt a routine of regular brushing using non-abrasive toothpaste and avoid biting on hard objects. Composite veneers can be kept from staining if beverages like tea, coffee and wine are avoided.
Frequently ask questions
How do I maintain composite veneers?
There is no such extra special care needed to maintain composite veneers except regular brushing and flossing twice a day to extend the longevity of veneers.
Visiting your dentist once every 6 months is recommended for evaluation of veneers. Avoid chewing on hard food and foods that cause staining of veneers. Avoid smoking.
Can I whiten composite veneers?
Teeth whitening products and procedures can’t change the color of composite veneers. They do change the color of natural teeth that do not have veneers on them. So, it is advisable to get your teeth whitened before the procedure of veneers to maintain uniformity in the color of all teeth.
How can I keep composite veneers white?
To make composite veneers look new and white remember to brush your teeth after eating staining foods. Avoid using toothpaste that contains abrasive materials like baking soda, rather use polishing toothpaste.
Get your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist once or twice every year, as and when needed. Quit smoking and refrain from using any kind of tobacco products.
Are composite veneers permanent?
Composite veneers will last for about 5-7 years but they do require timely removal of stains and polishing done by your dentist. This helps maintain the esthetics of the veneers and prolongs its life.
What happens to composite veneers over time?
Composite veneers are subjected to a variety of foods and beverages that we consume every day. Apart from that, it is also subjected to the components of toothpaste on a regular basis.
This eventually causes the veneer to lose its gloss and may not appear as attractive as it was before. Hence, composite veneers need to be re-polished from time to time by your dentist.
Is it painful to get composite veneers?
In most cases numbing of the teeth is not required for the preparation of teeth for veneers, since the procedure is not painful.
However some may need anesthesia. The procedure per say isn’t.
Can I get veneers if I have cavities?
If you have decayed teeth or are fighting gum disease, you need to first get treated for these problems before getting composite veneers.
Initial stages of decay can be treated by filling but if the decay is deep, a root canal treatment is advised.
Can you put veneers over fillings?
Composite veneers stay best on healthy tooth structure where no previous dental treatment has been done.
However, a small filling on the front or back surface of the tooth doesn’t affect the bonding of the veneer to the tooth. In cases where the filling is extensive, crowns are a better option than veneers.
Are electric toothbrushes safe for veneers?
Electric tooth brushes can be safely used on veneers. It is important to avoid using harsh whitening toothpastes that have abrasives on the surface of veneers.
Also, using alcohol based mouthwashes can weaken the bonding of the veneer to the tooth.
How much do composite veneers cost?
At sanjivani dental clinic average cost of composite veneer per tooth is 1200-2500 depending on case.
