In ancient times, it was worthwhile to look at the teeth of a man – and immediately it was possible to determine how good his heredity was. Today, it is easy to deceive nature – the level of aesthetic dentistry has reached such heights that it is not always possible for a specialist to distinguish artificial from natural at first sight.
However, this is even good. According to a poll on our website, every fourth reader admits that she has a lot of problems with her teeth. Among the most common – ugly shape, unsatisfactory color and a crooked arrangement.
The most modern technology for improving the appearance of teeth is veneers. The SHE correspondent recognized this.
Reference: Veneers (from English veneer – lining) – the finest porcelain plates that replace the outer layer of teeth. Install veneers on the front teeth in those cases where the teeth are already destroyed or changed color. They allow you to achieve the desired shape and desired tooth color, while protecting your teeth.
Hollywood smile
With teeth, there is a problem – unfortunately, even if they are formally healthy, this does not guarantee that they will be formally beautiful. It is against this background that the last century has blossomed such an industry as aesthetic dentistry – designed not to eliminate the disease or pathology, but only to improve the appearance of the teeth.
According to some sources, the first experiments were conducted in Hollywood: in order to make their smile impeccable, the actors before filming attached the finest ceramic plates to the front surfaces of the front teeth of the upper and lower jaws. Externally, the teeth looked flawless, however, the effect was short-lived. But the idea has taken root, technology has improved.
Today, veneers are increasingly solving several problems at once – creating an alternative to bleaching, installing crowns and sometimes even treating the orthodontist.
Step-by-step approach
Installation of veneers involves several stages. On the first visit, the orthopedic doctor assesses the condition of the oral cavity, and if necessary – sends the patient for professional cleaning, examination of the periodontist or treatment of caries. Then special models of overlays are made, so that the client can see the result of changes close to reality. Only after this begins work.
The preparation is that the doctor prepares the tooth surface to install the plate, removing a very thin layer of tooth enamel (less than 0. 5 mm).
As explained by the head physician-orthopedist clinic “Dental-Service” Eugene Reguzov, this is several times less than necessary when installing traditional crowns, and the main goal of a professional – to affect the tooth tissue as little as possible. Then a mold is made, on the basis of which the veneers themselves will be made, – the precision must be a jewelry one. The last step is fixing the veneers to the tooth with the help of special materials. If done correctly, no one will see any signs of interference. All work usually fits into three visits and takes about a week. Unpleasant sensations, according to the doctor, also does not arise.
The main advantages of veneers in comparison with other methods are:
• Durability
The first thing that veneers are usually compared to is the art restoration of teeth (when a restorer can fix minor defects in one visit with light-curing materials). Modern materials have a wide range of shades, gloss and transparency of living teeth. But the material itself – in fact, a seal – has one significant drawback: it gets dark over time and requires polishing every six months. The main material from which veneers are made is metal-free ceramics. Due to the increased smoothness, it does not darken under the influence of food colors and lasts longer. “Veneers serve for at least 7-10 years, while restoration with composite materials may require correction after 5 years,” comments Evgeny Reguzov.
•Aesthetics
“The advantage of veneers in front of cermetsis that the metal frame always gives some grayness to the tooth and gum,” says Yevgeny Reguzov. In addition, when installing crowns, most of the tooth is grinded. Metal-free construction allows to avoid this completely. But, as Vitaly Besyakov, head of the stomatology department of the Road Clinical Hospital, says, if the patient had large restoration areas and already had crowns, and the enamel is badly damaged, the veneers might not suit him.
However, the non-metal structures are almost twice as expensive as the metal-ceramic ones. According to Vitaly Besyakov, the cost of installing a veneer from high-quality material starts from 7-8 thousand rubles.
•Safety
Whitening– Another manipulation, an alternative to which can serve as veneers. Traditionally it is believed that all problems with the color of the teeth can be solved by bleaching. This is not true. Bleaching has its contraindications (for example, increased sensitivity of the teeth) and does not always work. “Teeth can darken, for example, due to taking some groups of drugs or after depulpirovaniya,” – explains Vitaly Besyakov. In such cases, sometimes the only option is to cover up the problem literally.
The last – if the patient has large cracks between the teeth or the teeth themselves are moderately twisted, the installation of veneers can be a substitute for expensive orthodontic treatment.
However, according to doctors, the combination of both types of treatment is more common – when veneers are placed only after the alignment of the curved teeth.
Limited use
Difficulties and limitations are also present.
First, ceramics – the material is less durable than the same cermet. “The knife, fork and small pieces – that’s a recommendation for our patients,” says Vitaly Besyakov, reminding that the opportunity to bite into a chicken leg or a tough apple will most likely have to be sacrificed.
Secondly, complications can arise in patients with problem gums. The fact is that when the volume of the gum, which increases with inflammation, will return to normal after the procedure – the border of the veneer will be visible. Since every millimeter is important in this business, and the work is truly jeweled, the problem gums should be put in order before the restoration.
Third, veneers are not a case where you can save money. If the veneer is installed unprofessional, then in the gap can develop caries. And with its replacement, the loss of its tissue is inevitable, which is undesirable.
Doctors compare veneers with false nails – when they are removed, the layer of the native nail is cut off.
The last thing that can damage the result is overestimated requirements to your appearance. “We still have popular requests to make teeth the color of sanitary ware, that is, white,” complains Vitaly Besyakov, noting that such patients often remain unhappy with the result. Therefore, before taking a careful look at the small flaws in the teeth, think about how much you are willing to make sacrifices and large material costs.
