The elaboration of the veneers will depend on the material chosen between you and your dentist. For porcelain veneers, they have to be custom made in a dental lab, whereas composite veneers can be done directly on your teeth in one visit. However, as this is a highly individualised treatment, the details are better to be discussed with your dentist, they might advise what would be best for your case in particular.

For porcelain veneers, the process takes approximately 2 appointments, with waiting times that may vary between 1 or 2 weeks between each appointment in order to give the lab enough time to make your custom veneers.

As opposed to porcelain, composite veneers usually take a single visit to get them done. Of course this will depend on every patient’s features and the number of veneers to be done. You can discuss all these matters with your dentist at the time of your consultation. They will answer all your questions and concerns.

Porcelain veneers are usually very strong and less likely to fracture or discolour compared to composite. If they are well maintained, these veneers may last between 10-25 years or more, and rarely require maintenance. It is the most natural looking enamel replacement material. Although porcelain veneers are usually more resistant than composite, they also require extra care when chewing or biting onto hard foods. Our dentists will explain all the postoperative care you should be giving to your new and improved teeth.

Because they are made of composite filling material bonded to the tooth structure, composite veneers are less resistant to biting forces and require more regular maintenance. As composite is more likely to suffer wear and tear, chipping or discolouration, you might need to set future visits every 6 – 12 months for polishing and smoothen them and give their brilliance back.

Like any dental treatment, this procedure may also provide a small amount of discomfort. This is usually at the stage when the dentist is removing some enamel from your teeth. However, at Maxcare Dental our dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb your tooth and to make your experience as pain-free as possible. After the final placement of veneer, you might feel a mild sensitivity which gradually goes away in a few weeks.

You will be on the hands of highly qualified dentists with a vast level of experience in cosmetic treatments such as veneers. If porcelain veneers is what you are going for, we work with the best quality of dental technicians supporting our dentist’s work.

The porcelain veneers have a failure rate below 10%, which stays as long as natural teeth. Although veneers are stronger and durable, they may require replacement for the following reasons,

• Cracks or damages due to facial injury or biting on hard objects.
• If decay occurs to the underlying tooth structure and it cannot be treated without having to drill into the veneer material. The veneer needs to be removed in order to treat the underlying damage.
• Gum can recede over time exposing the margin between the veneer and the tooth root thus creating a fine brown line which needs to be treated.
• Loose veneers due to the gap between the tooth and the bonded veneer can cause damage to the underlying tooth by allowing the bacteria and plaque leakage. Eventually leading to the underlying tooth decay which needs replacement.
• Veneers are highly worn due to use and will need a replacement.
• Veneers may break if the bite changes significantly through tooth loss, acid erosion or decay in teeth. The broken veneer will need to be removed and replaced.

Here are some useful tips to take care of your veneers,

• Visit your hygienist or dentist regularly for check-ups and cleaning.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Try to avoid gum recession and exposing of veneer margins, which can increase the lifespan of veneers.
• Use a non abrasive toothpaste and soft bristled toothbrush to protect the polished surface.
• Avoiding hard, sticky and crunchy foods
• Reduce the amount of coffee intake or any other food or beverage that can stain your teeth
• It is advised to wear a mouth guard if you play contact sport.
• Reduce the Acid intake like soft drinks, vinegar diets as they can dissolve the teeth that support veneers and can cause some damage to composite over time.
• Do not use your teeth as a tool for habits like nail biting, opening the bottles which can cause damage to veneers.