What are veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shells made of ceramic or composite resin that bond to the front surface of the tooth to improve its appearance by changing its shape, colour, or smoothing its surface.
Veneers are a form of aesthetic treatment. They are very durable. They boast a high, long-term success rate. Their longevity depends on proper dental preparation, correct application, and the health of the oral tissues.
When can they be used?
Veneers can be used in cases of dental trauma, structural irregularities, to close gaps between teeth, or to change the colour or shape of a tooth.
What are the stages of treatment?
In the initial stage, an assessment of the patient's dentition is carried out.
Next, a visualisation of the expected results is created (the colour and shape of the teeth are selected). This allows the patient to see what they will look like once the treatment is finished. Once the patient has accepted the visualisation and the costs (the price of a single porcelain veneer is PLN 2,500), the dentist gently prepares the teeth for the veneers (sometimes merely etching the enamel is sufficient). The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. Afterwards, the dentist takes impressions of the prepared teeth and sends them to a dental laboratory, where a dental technician crafts the porcelain veneers based on the model. During the time required to make them, the patient's teeth are protected with temporary veneers.
After 10–15 days, the dentist removes the temporary protection and carries out a preliminary fitting of the veneers. The shade of cement is also selected, which is then used to bond the porcelain overlays. The cement is cured using a specialised curing light, any excess is trimmed away, and the teeth are polished to ensure they are perfectly smooth.
