By contactus
December 13, 2011
Category: Uncategorized
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Veneers are a very popular cosmetic dental treatment as they can change the shade of teeth, hide minor imperfections and even straighten slightly crooked teeth by covering the front of the tooth. Conventional veneers require teeth to be prepped, and this involves being numbed by your dentist so a small amount of natural tooth material can be removed. The reason for doing this is to ensure there is enough room for the veneers as they need to be a minimum of 0.5 mm thickness to be strong enough to stand up to everyday use and for them to have the correct shade. Without first prepping the teeth, the veneers would feel and look too bulky.

While the amount of tooth material removed is relatively small, it does mean patients will also need to wear temporary veneers for a couple of weeks and may experience some sensitivity until the prepped tooth settles down. This may not seem like a major issue, but the real problem is that patients will need to have veneers for the rest of their life and cannot go back to their natural teeth as this would leave the prepped surface exposed.

Veneers generally last for around 10 years before they need renewing, and as they age they become more susceptible towards fracturing and chipping and can become leaky. This can allow bacteria to enter the tooth, causing decay as the protective layer of enamel has been removed. If this occurs then your dentist will need to grind away a little more natural tooth before replacing the veneer. The more natural tooth material is lost the more likely it is you will eventually need crowns which cover the whole of the tooth surface.

No prep veneers are much thinner than ordinary veneers at just 0.2 mm in thickness, and don't require any natural tooth material to be removed. They are made of an incredibly strong and translucent material, creating a pleasingly aesthetic effect which is very similar to natural tooth enamel. As no natural tooth material is removed there is no risk of sensitivity, and patients always have the advantage of being able to revert to their natural teeth at a later date. We always tell patients it's far better to avoid removing any healthy tooth structure, and no prep veneers allow you to have the best of both worlds, as you’re able to benefit from beautiful, long-lasting veneers while preserving your natural teeth. It's enough to make anyone smile.

 

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