Dental Veneers

We’ve talked before about the increasing importance placed on veneers, and the explosive demand for veneers in recent years.

A patient today isn’t just looking for a healthy and functional restorative solution: They also want an aesthetically pleasing result. All-ceramic veneers, being both biocompatible and aesthetically pleasing, are rapidly growing in popularity.

IPS e.max allows you to offer patients exceptionally beautiful restorations which also demonstrate high mechanical strength. The wide range of possibilities of this innovative all-ceramic system opens up increased opportunities for patient care options.

For single teeth in the anterior and posterior regions, Lithium disilicate (LS2) is the material of choice, exhibiting exceptional aesthetic properties.

IPS e.max ZirCAD, zirconium oxide ceramic, is the material for larger restorations such as posterior bridges that are exposed to high masticatory forces.

As you may know, the system comprises a single veneering ceramic and, irrespective of the framework material used, all IPS e.max restorations demonstrate the same wear properties and surface gloss.

Therefore, the same aesthetic appearance is achieved throughout the different parts of the restoration. In addition, IPS e.max crowns and bridges can be placed using not only adhesive but also self-adhesive and conventional methods.

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Cosmetic dentistry’s rise to public awareness carries a delicate question about ‘selling.’

As we established ealier, the private dentist must operate as a business, and will often use aesthetic dissatisfaction as the genesis of a treatment plan.

We also established that this is acceptable behaviour in today’s age of demand for aesthetic treatments.

However, we must be very wary of letting this situation, where the aesthetic is nearly considered a necessity for treatment, get in the way of patient care.

Asking if selling aesthetics lessens the emphasis on oral health is compounded by the fact that clinicians have an obligation to treat the whole person, not just their teeth.

This holistic approach, as it is known, may not always involve treating what has traditionally been defined as a physical problem or disease.

Recently, for example, Inside Dentistry reported cosmetic dentistry had reached an all-time high value among both mainstream consumers and regular dental patients.

This trend now suggests that the growth, profits, and attention that dentistry is experiencing will continue their upward climb. It must also be recognized that increased media and television attention to cosmetic dentistry exerts a great influence on these trends.

It must be remembered that what the inclusion or exclusion criteria are for the treatments being shown on television may not be properly understood by the average patient.

Patients can certainly push clinicians to offer certain services, but it is the clinician who has the knowledge as to what is safe and appropriate and what might do harm rather than good.

It is imperative that clinicians —remembering not to do no harm— should always regard the patient as a human being and a patient, never as a customer.

The ‘selling’ of a particular treatment should not ever take the place of sound clinical judgment and responsibility for the welfare of the patient.

A short-term smile design should never be made at the expense of the patient’s long-term health and well-being.

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We all know what a veneer is, and many reading this will be well versed in how to apply them to a patient. However, do we all know where the veneer came from, from its humble roots to its explosion in celebrity?

I’ll explore this history, in case a patient or partner ever asks.

Dental veneers were invented in the 1930s by Charles Pincus, founder of the American Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, and were introduced in Building mouth personality, a paper presented to the California State Dental Association at its1937 meeting in San Jose, California.

Despite the fact that these early veneers quite often, and quite quickly fell off, they were just as quickly embraced by movie actors, earning Pincus the soubriquet Dentist to the Stars.

For more than fifty years after the first veneer enhanced smile appeared on the screen their use remained almost exclusively confined to the movie industry.

That changed in the 1980s primarily due to research by R.J. Simonsen and John R. Calamia (see “Tensile Bond Strengths of Etched Porcelain”, Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 62, March 1983, Abstract #1099) which showed that porcelain could be etched with hydrofluoric acid and bond strengths could be achieved between composite resins and porcelain that were predicted to be able to hold porcelain veneers on to the surface of a tooth permanently.

This research, along with numerous other investigations, showed the strength of the etched porcelain bonded to composite resin and also the clinical success of this porcelain to be used as laminated veneers and etched inlays and onlays.

This new modality of treatment ushered in the modern era of aesthetic dentistry, giving you more options with which to provide your patients healthy and functional restorative solutions.

If you’ve got anything to add to the discussion about the history of veneers, then feel free to leave a comment here or contact us on our social media outlets:

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It doesn’t matter if it is called aesthetic dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, or even elective dentistry, in the past few years the talk about, and demand for this type of service has exploded.

Television talk-shows, Internet pop-ups, advertising for over-the-counter products in every media have raised the awareness of the general public to this very achievable method for improving the appearance of their smiles.

With this greater awareness has come greater consumer demand, and for the dental practitioner the greater possibility for professional satisfaction and financial reward. The downside is that all elective procedures have built-in risk factors.

These risks must be part of the dentist/patient dialogue and play a significant role in the patient assessment process. The fact that failures occasionally occur must not be ignored, but neither should this mean that they should be acceptable.

Some in the dental profession, it must be said, are not always as thorough or as consistent with issues of informed consent as they should be.

Informed consent is an imperative when elective dentistry is under consideration. An article in Inside Dentistry [2007;3(8)] made the observation that the patient should actually be in charge of his or her own care.

To be able to do this, however, the patient must have their current dental conditions fully explained in easily understood language as well as being fully informed of all treatment modalities; including the possible effects, both good and bad. Of great importance is for a practitioner to assess whether the patient fully understands and whether they are able to make a proper decision.

Treatment planning should start with the most conservative option and, as needed, advance to include more invasive options. This planning must be communicated in a clear and detailed manner to include possible risks, immediate and long-term.

It is not enough that this explanation be communicated to the patient orally; a standard legal form is a necessity, as is the patient’s signature on that form signifying understanding and approval of the procedure.

With all of this said, it should not be forgotten the ultimate responsibility for patient care rests, as it must, with the professional dental practitioner.

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Dental veneers were invented in the 1930s by Charles Pincus, founder of the American Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, and were introduced in “Building mouth personality”, a paper presented to the California State Dental Association at its1937 meeting in San Jose, California. Despite the fact that these early veneers quite often, and quite quickly fell off, they were just as quickly embraced by movie actors, earning Pincus the soubriquet Dentist To The Stars. For more than fifty years after the first veneer enhanced smile appeared on the screen their use remained almost exclusively confined to the movie industry.

That changed in the 1980s primarily due to research by R.J. Simonsen and John R. Calamia (see “Tensile Bond Strengths of Etched Porcelain”, Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 62, March 1983, Abstract #1099) which showed that porcelain could be etched with hydrofluoric acid and bond strengths could be achieved between composite resins and porcelain that were predicted to be able to hold porcelain veneers on to the surface of a tooth permanently. This research, along with nnumerous other investigations, showed the strength of the etched porcelain bonded to composite resin and also the clinical success of this porcelain to be used as laminated veneers and etched inlays and onlays.

This new modality of treatment ushered in the modern era of aesthetic dentistry, giving you more options with which to provide your patients healthy and functional restorative solutions.

Dental Veneers And Smile Makeovers

Before and After:

Dental veneers are used to change the look of the smile by reshaping the teeth and helping to realign the bite. Most people will suffer at least some type of problem with their shape, length, color, alignment, or general structure once in their lives. There are a few other alternatives to using dental veneers, such as braces and dentures, however, dental veneers are usually much more convenient and aesthetically appealing than any other option.

Stained Teeth And Dental Veneers

If you’ve got stained teeth, dental veneers are an excellent fix, especially if you are unable to obtain success from traditional whitening techniques. People who have crooked teeth are often recommended to get braces. However, braces can be very expensive and may even take years to fix your teeth depending on how quickly they move and the severity of the crookedness. A lot of people refer to dental veneers as “instant orthodontic” because it takes no more than a couple of visits to accomplish the appearance of the perfect smile. In some cases, a dentist may be able to fix the smile in one visit.

As time progresses, it’s normal for teeth to become stained in color, cracked, and decayed. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with great teeth. Much of what happens to a person’s teeth is preventable. The only downside is that not a lot of people think about how important it is to care for the health of their teeth until it is too late. There are typically two different types of dental veneers – porcelain and composite. Since dental veneers can get quite expensive, not everyone can afford porcelain veneers. Composite veneers are not as translucent like natural teeth and have a much lower initial cost. Over time, however, composite veneers may end up costing much more due to their tendency to wear and come off the tooth. Most dentists recommend porcelain veneers over composite veneers because although their initial cost is higher, they last longer, look more natural, and end up saving you money in the long run.

Dental Veneers Decision Time

Before making the decision to get dental veneers, you must first visit your dentist to make sure you are a good candidate for them. Not all dentists will recommend that you get dental veneers because they are a permanent decision. Furthermore, not all dentists do the same work. For best results, it’s recommended to shop around for dentists who have a good history of satisfied patients. This may require that you do some research to check for complaints and potential accidents.

Most dentists will try to exhaust all other options before placing dental veneers on your teeth. One of the reasons is because you will be required to have the surface of your tooth shaved and shaped in order to fit the veneer. After you’ve gotten your dental veneers, you will always have to replace them. Porcelain veneers last anywhere from five to ten years, while composite veneers last no more than one or two years. In order for a person to be completely happy with themselves, they must be satisfied with their smile. A healthy smile can change your entire appearance for the better. People who need a lot of dental work done are barely recognizable after they’ve gotten their dental veneers and if maintained, an attractive smile can last a lifetime.