Veneers at Samaritan Dental
What are Veneers?
One of the most popular and effective developments in cosmetic dentistry, veneers are thin, custom made casings that cover the front side of your teeth. Veneers are used to correct uneven teeth, worn enamel, discoloration, chipped teeth and irregular spacing, and can last over 20 years. In some cases, veneers can serve a restorative purpose and can protect a damaged tooth from further harm.
What Does the Procedure Involve at the Tijuana dentist?
After a thorough examination of your teeth at Samaritan Dental, which may include X-rays and taking impressions of your teeth, your Tijuana dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel from your teeth. Then he or she will create an impression and send it off to a laboratory to create the veneer. While the mold is being created, your dentist may provide you with temporary veneers. Finally, the veneer’s size and color are given one last adjustment before they are cemented to your tooth on your second visit.
What Are the Advantages of Veneers at Samaritan Dental? We can give you a whole new smile!
Veneers can give your teeth a more natural, aesthetically pleasing appearance and are stain resistant and soft on gums. Veneers are the best option for cosmetic work, and to give a great new smile, when your teeth are healthy, but just aren’t as pretty as you would like them to be. Veneers can fill in the gaps, and giving your teeth a nice shape. With veneers, the teeth are not shaved down as much as with crowns. The dentist will need to do minimal shaving of the part of the teeth that contacts the veneer, in order to create a good bond and seal. The dentist will shave a little off front of the tooth, on the sides and top. It is basically making a new layer for cosmetic appearance. Veneers that are properly prepped, can last for 15 or more years. You will have to be more careful with a veneer, especially with an all porcelain e.max type veneer, as you could chip the veneer if you bite into hard things. In other words, don’t do like one patient who cracked pinon nuts with his front teeth!
There is a type of veneer that is called “no prep veneers” or lumineers, but we don’t recommend them. Since no shaving is done, they simply do not bond well, it is only cement that holds them on, with no retention. They will get knocked off easily, and the patients get frustrated that they have to come back to have it recemented or replaced.
Not all patients are candidates for veneers. If a patient has a closed bite, where their upper front teeth don’t have clearance over the bottom teeth, or if they have a lot of decay or fillings, or already have crowns, a veneer can’t be placed. But nice cosmetic work can be done with crowns, and our dentists have done some miraculous work with very poor teeth, to give the patient a great smile with crowns. Crowns will hold on to the tooth better and seal the tooth more. The main advantage of veneers, if a patient is a candidate for them is simply that the teeth aren’t shaved down as much, and therefor they give you more life expectancy for the tooth.
Types of Veneers
Porcelain E.Max
This is an all-ceramic veneer with an appealing translucent color which is combined with extra strength and durability. Considered to be one of the best matches with your own natural teeth, the transparent color and lifelike shape ensures that it will blend in very well.
Zirconium
The non-porous design of Zirconium is incredibly strong and resistant to chipping, cracking and staining. It is made with computer precision, and is laser cut. This means it will seal better and last longer. The fact that the material is biocompatible means that it is safe to stay within your mouth for a long time, alleviating any worries about adverse reactions.
BruxZir® Solid Zirconia
BruxZir is a monolithic zirconia material with no porcelain overlay. Though it was first launched as being “More Brawn Than Beauty,” thanks to the new BruxZir Shaded formulation, it now exhibits improved translucency and color similar to natural dentition, making it an excellent choice for veneers. In fact, BruxZir is so resilient that it’s backed by a seven-year free replacement warranty.
A custom-made set of E.Max, Zirconium, or BruxZir veneers can be installed in 2-3 visits and is proven to last over 20 years, when properly maintained.
* Note: Lumineers are a particularly popular type of porcelain veneers, mainly due to marketing efforts. However, they are not the best veneer; just the most expensive. Although the Lumineers brand tries to promote that they do not require your teeth to be shaved, the truth is, as with all veneers, the surface must be prepared or you will not get a good seal. In our experience, we have also found that this brand is the most likely to fail. For this reason, we no longer offer Lumineers.
What Are the Risks of Veneers?
In rare instances, veneers can chip or crack, in which case they would have to be replaced. Since enamel is removed in the procedure, the process is not reversible, and you may become more sensitive to hot and cold foods for the same reason. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you may be asked to wear a mouthguard when you go to bed. Many people who grind their teeth in their sleep don’t even know it, but your Tijuana dentist will be able to tell you if you are one of those people from the wear on your teeth.
How Much Do Veneers Cost?
Depending on the experience of your dentist and the material or brand being used, veneers can cost from $1100 to $2000 a tooth in the USA. At Samaritan Dental in Tijuana, we charge only from $425 for porcelain veneers.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the counsel and expertise of a medical professional. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your dentist.