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.