Porcelain veneers, sometimes referred to as dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured materials.

Veneers are designed and bonded to cover the front surface of your teeth to improve their all-round appearance, including the colour, shape, size or length, creating the perfect smile.

Whether your teeth are discoloured, worn down, chipped, uneven or are simply just irregularly shaped, Veneers are the perfect solution for you.

What's the process for getting Dental Veneers?

The process of getting dental veneers usually involves around three trips to the dentist.

One trip for a consultation and then two trips in order to make and apply the porcelain veneers. If necessary, the veneering process can be simultaneously applied to more than one tooth at a time.

The first trip to the dentist involves the diagnosis and the development of a treatment plan. Our dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate for you.

If dental veneers are appropriate for you, we may take X-rays and make impressions of your mouth and teeth.

The second trip involves preparing the tooth for a veneer by removing about half a millimetre of enamel from the surface of your tooth.

Conscious Sedation or Local Anaesthetic

Before this can be conducted, both you and your dentist will need to decide whether conscious sedation or a local anaesthetic is necessary to numb the area.

Once the enamel has been removed from your tooth, an impression or model of your tooth will be made by our dentist.

This impression will be used to construct your veneer at a dental laboratory. Veneers are usually received back from a dental laboratory within two to four weeks.

During this time, temporary veneers can be fitted to your teeth to improve their appearance.

The last trip to the dentist will consist of cementing the porcelain veneer to your tooth. Before this can be done, the dentist will temporarily place it on your tooth in order to ensure the correct colour has been used and for a proper fit.

At this time, the veneer may be trimmed and adjusted.

Once your veneer is ready for fitting, your tooth will need to be cleaned, polished, and etched. This is a very important step as it ensures the veneer bonds properly.

A special cement will then be used to apply the veneer to your tooth along with a special light beam which activates certain chemicals in the cement, causing it to cure quickly. Thereafter, any excess cement will be removed from your teeth.

We may require a follow-up visit to ensure that your gums are responding well to the veneers and to ensure that the placement is still correct.

On average, veneers last between 7 and 15 years.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Veneers?

When it comes to choosing veneers in order to change the appearance of your teeth, there are a number of advantages.

Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, tolerated well by your gums and above all provide a natural look to your teeth.

Looking for a Dentist in Claremont?

Cloud 9 Dental based in Claremont, Cape Town, offers everything from routine check-ups and cleanings to root canal treatment and dental crown and dental bridge in a friendly and homely setting.

We also do treatment under conscious sedation and general anaesthesia. For more information about our dentist or to make an appointment, please contact us.