Veneers are shells of material designed to look like teeth. They are tailored especially for the patient, and are bonded to the teeth for an improved appearance in its colour, shape, size or length.
Veneers are usually made from resin-fused materials or from porcelain. Resin veneers tend to be cheaper than porcelain veneers, but the latter is better in the long-run: porcelain veneers emulate natural teeth better because it has the light-reflective properties natural teeth possess; they also are less prone to staining.
If you are wondering, ‘are veneers for me?’, below are some examples of which veneers provide solutions to:
Teeth that are chipped, broken or worn down.
Teeth that are atypically shaped, are misaligned or uneven.
Very short and small teeth.
Discoloured teeth.
Teeth with gaps in-between them.
It is also for those that want a perfectly even smile that natural teeth cannot provide – but this can only be verified by an orthodontist.
A bridge’s purpose is to close a gap made by one or two teeth. Teeth adjacent to the missing tooth/teeth-gap provide support for a bridge. Put simply, the bridge is made up of crowns that are placed on either side of the gap – on the natural teeth or previously placed implants that are used as anchors – along with the false teeth that is placed between them.
Anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth, and the false teeth are called pontics. Pontics can be made up of a range of materials, including porcelain, alloy, porcelain, or a combination of such materials. The goal is to make the most natural-looking bridge that will match the colour, the shape and the size of exiting teeth; to mimic the individual’s natural dentition.
Dental bridges benefit those are looking to restore their smile, who perhaps desire to maintain or improve the shape of their face. They are also used to re-establish an individual’s ability to chew and/or speak. Another benefit to take note of is that it stops the rest of the teeth from drifting out of position.
Alternatively, dental implants or removable dentures mostly has the same desired effect as dental bridges. The best thing to do is to book a consultation with your orthodontist to pinpoint what is most suitable for you and budget.
Dentists at Dental & Skin enjoy creating the most natural and beautiful smile. Our background in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry provides us with a strong foundation for any smile makeover treatment case. We combine various modalities including simple treatments like; tooth whitening, tooth contouring and direct composite veneering, with complex treatments like; indirect ceramic veneering, crowns, bridges and orthodontic treatments. If you are concerned about your smile please attend for a free consultation with our dentist and we will provide you with options to meet your expectations.