"Laminates" and "veneers" are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Veneers or laminates are thin porcelain shells that are bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Veneers have recently become the new fad in cosmetic dentistry by "repairing" chipped, worn, discolored, stained, and even lightly crooked teeth. You may be thinking to yourself that porcelain is a brittle material. And you may also be wondering why anyone would want to use such a weak material in the mouth where there are thousands of pounds of pressure being applied each day! To lay your worries to rest, you’re right. Porcelain is a brittle material. But if you couple that material with a strong foundation, like a foundation of enamel--the strongest substance in the body--, the porcelain will become durable and extremely strong.
There are several reasons that porcelain veneers are better candidates than some other types of cosmetic dental bondings.
First of all, porcelain is a translucent substance. This means that it will let light in and reflect that light off the non-translucent tooth structure beneath. Translucency is a defining property of natural teeth and is what makes porcelain a more life-like material than other dental bonding agents.
Secondly, because porcelain is a ceramic (meaning glass-like) it resists staining, which is an excellent cosmetic property to have.
Making a porcelain veneer utilizes several steps and two visits to the dentist’s office. The first visit is used to prepare the teeth and to take impressions for the dental laboratory. Preparing the teeth entails shaving a small amount of enamel off of your teeth in order to make adequate "space" for the veneer to be placed. Usually this means anywhere from .5-.7mm of enamel being trimmed off, which is not a significant amount of tooth structure when comparing to other, more invasive procedures. After preparing the teeth, an impression will be taken, stone casts will be made, and then sent to the dental laboratory for the making of your porcelain veneers. There is about a two week waiting period between the first and second visits. Depending on the situation, the doctor may decide to leave your teeth as is or they may decide to place a temporary veneer over your recently prepared teeth while waiting for the laboratory to fabricate your new veneers.
During this two week hiatus, you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold, but rest assured that this is completely normal. Once you have your permanent veneers in place, your teeth will return to normal and sensitivity will cease.
When you return for the final office visit, the dentist will use a cement that will attach your new veneers to your existing tooth structure.
Now, you might be wondering, "How long will these things actually last?" Realistically, they can’t last for ever, but if proper oral care is practiced (brushing and flossing at LEAST twice a day) then you should be able to keep your newly acquired smile well in excess of 10 years.
As I said earlier, porcelain is a brittle material. Because of this, you should avoid high force impacts with regard to your new teeth. This means no clenching or grinding your teeth, no nail-biting or biting of pen caps, pencils, or chewing on ice, as these activities can easily break your veneers. If one does happen to come off, put the veneer in a sealed container or plastic baggie. Then make sure to call and schedule an appointment with your dentist to have it recemented, if possible, or replaced.
If porcelain veneers are right for you, you’ll have a new smile that you can’t wait to show off!