Dental Veneers Procedure

A Dental Veneer is a wafer-thin layer of porcelain that is made to permanently bond to the front surface of a tooth.

The Purpose of Veneers

The purpose of veneers is to improve the colour, size and/or shape of the teeth. For example:

• Veneers can improve the appearance of a single discoloured or stained tooth,
• They can brighten the front teeth, particularly the upper ones.
• A veneer can make a chipped tooth look intact.
• They can be used to close small gaps when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable.
• They can also be used to bring a tooth that is slightly out of position into alignment with the others.

Dental Veneers Procedure

The dental veneers procedure is a 3-step process as follows:

1. 1. Initial Consultation & Photography – The initial consultation involves a detailed discussion with the patient to ascertain their requirements. The dentist will ascertain and advise if veneers are the appropriate procedure to achieve the desired result. Once this is complete, a type of photography called ‘Digital Smile Design’ (DSD) will predict how the final veneers will look on the patient.
   2. Preparation for Veneers – A wafer-thin layer of the outer enamel of the tooth may be removed, to ensure that the veneer can be bonded permanently in place. The amount of enamel removed will be the same as the thickness of the veneer to be fitted. A local anaesthetic (injection) may be used to minimise discomfort, but often this is not necessary. Once the tooth has been prepared, the dentist takes an ‘impression’, which is given to the dental laboratory, along with any other information required to make the veneer(s). ‘Temporaries’ may be placed on the tooth/teeth and will be assessed after a week.
   3. Bonding of the new veneer(s) – After 2-3 weeks, the final veneers are placed in-situ using adhesive dentistry. The tooth/teeth are firstly cleaned, polished and etched (to ensure proper adhesion). The veneer(s) will then be temporarily placed on the teeth to examine their fit and colour. The dentist may need to trim and shape the veneer to get the final desired look. They are then permanently bonded onto the teeth using a special adhesive.

It is very important to maintain your veneers by visiting the dental hygienist every couple of months to prevent decay and gum issues.

Dental Veneers at Shields Dental & Orthodontic Clinic Limerick