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Beautiful, even, snow-white teeth are a dream of each of us. However, childhood dental negligence, diet or smoking make our teeth far from ideal. Due to the fact that in the case of curvature, defects, diastema and discoloration of the teeth, classic whitening methods will not help much, it is worth considering the use of veneers. How much does it cost and is it worth it?
What is teeth whitening with veneers?
Teeth whitening with veneers is the most popular way to improve the appearance of teeth among celebrities. No wonder it has been hailed as the best way to get a “Hollywood smile”. Leonardo DiCaprio, Victoria Beckham and Tom Cruise are just some of the stars who have benefited from this method of whitening their teeth.
Veneers are nothing more than thin porcelain flakes – their thickness ranges from 0,2 to 1 mm. Their corrective effect is to stick one veneer to each subsequent tooth. In this way, we obtain a beautiful and even smile. They are most often used porcelain veneers. Not without reason – they are the most durable and the most resistant to any mechanical damage. The material from which they are made means that the veneers do not deposit tartar, and thus they are discolored to a very small extent.
How to prepare for the application of veneers?
Before applying veneers, all our natural teeth must be healed. It is not possible to put veneers on teeth with caries or cavities. A few months before the planned veneers treatment, you should start brushing your teeth with the whitening toothpaste – the greater the contrast between the color of your natural teeth and the veneers, the more artificial the effect will seem.
In order for the effect to be as natural as possible, it is usually used before the treatment teeth grinding. They are made to even out the surface of the teeth, and to make the transition between the veneer and the natural tooth as little visible as possible. Grinding is performed under local anesthesia, and the so-called temporary veneersthe purpose of which is to protect the teeth against the imposition of target veneers.
The process of installing veneers
At the first visit, the specialist will carefully examine the condition of the teeth and determine whether the application of veneers is possible. If so, he or she will interview the patient about their expectations and wishes regarding the appearance of their teeth. The next step will be for the dentist to make a cast of our teeth. It is worth knowing that we do not have to decide to put veneers on all teeth, but only those that are visible during a wide smile.
After the dentist makes an imprint of the teeth, he usually performs a computer simulation of what our teeth will look like after applying veneers. He will take into account their color, thickness and width to make them look as natural as possible. At the second visit, temporary veneers are applied to the teeth – the patient has a few days to get used to the appearance of the new teeth, and to report any corrections to the dentist.
After the patient accepts the appearance of the veneers, the dentist performs the appropriate ones, in order to grind the surface of the teeth at the next visit and glue the veneers with a special glue, called dental cement. The very act of sticking veneers is often compared to gluing artificial nails. Finally, the teeth are polished and the patient can function normally, as long as he or she does not report any discomfort.
The price of installing veneers
Properly made and attached veneers can serve the patient for several years, and if the patient takes special care of them – this period may be extended. However, it must be remembered that once we decide to use veneers, we must reckon with wearing them for the rest of our lives. This is important because before placing the veneers, approx. 0,5 mm of enamel is ground, which is a natural protection of the teeth against external factors. Our body will not be able to recreate such an amount of enamel, and thus – the teeth will no longer have any protective barrier.
It is worth paying special attention to caring for veneers, considering their price. Depending on the clinic and city in which we decide to make veneers, it ranges from PLN 800 to PLN 3. PLN for one tooth.
Check out other methods of teeth whitening:
- laser whitening
- overlay whitening
- regenerative whitening
- home or dentist whitening
Recommendations after applying veneers
You can return to normal life immediately after the veneers have been applied. For 2 weeks after the procedure, however, it is worth it avoid coloring productssuch as coffee, wine, blueberries or beets and use the so-called white diet. Avoid chewing on hard fruit and vegetables during this time, so as not to break a piece of the freshly applied veneer.
The recommendations for the care of veneers are practically the same as for natural teeth. Twice a day you should wash them with a soft brush and a toothpaste with fluoride as well use mouthwash. It is also worth remembering to clean the spaces between the veneers with floss. You should come to dental check-ups twice a week.
Indications and contraindications for applying veneers
Applying veneers is a whitening method ideal for people who cannot afford other whitening methods due to diseases or defects in their teeth. This applies to patients suffering from gum disease, tooth bleeding or pulp necrosis. Veneers are also recommended in cases of diastema, to rebuild a chipped tooth or to cover front tooth fillings. The decision to improve the appearance of the teeth with veneers is also taken by those who do not want to remember to whiten their teeth every few months with the use of chemical whitening agents, which may lead to irritation of the gums and tooth sensitivity.
Due to the low invasiveness of the procedure of placing veneers, but also the subsequent wearing of veneers, there are not many contraindications to their use. Belong to them:
- bruxism, i.e. involuntary clenching of the jaws, as a result of which the teeth wear;
- bad habits, i.e. nail biting;
- smoking;
- lack of self-discipline in taking care of dental hygiene;
- gum disease;
- short teeth.
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