What are composite (direct) veneers / laminates?

Composite veneers are glass filled resins that are stuck to the teeth. They are used to repair fractured teeth, close small gaps between teeth, and lighten the teeth shade and to enhance the smile. This can be done in single visit of 1to 3 hours depending upon number of teeth involved.

What are ceramic (indirect) veneers / laminates?

A Ceramic veneer is a facing on the front of your teeth, it is just like a false finger nail. Ceramic veneers, alternatively termed dental veneers or dental laminates, are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of teeth so as to create a cosmetic improvement for a tooth.

Ceramic Veneers retain their beautiful lustre and vitality, as they are much stronger and more durable than composite veneers. Sometimes composites will stain with age, but ceramic veneers will not. The best part is that there are no age group limitations, everyone can benefit, young and old alike.

This can be generally done in 2 to 3 visits in a span of 7to 8 days.

Who can benefit from Veneers

Veneers can be used to provide an aesthetic solution in many situations:

What care should I take after I get veneers for my teeth?

Look after your veneers well. Brush and floss as you regularly do. Use non abrasive toothpaste to help maintain the shine and gloss of your veneers. Normal diet will not harm your veneers. Avoid any shearing force on these teeth [like biting sugarcane, chikki or hard nuts from front teeth, you can have them in piece and chew from back teeth].

How long it lasts?

Regular check ups will ensure your veneers are in excellent shape. Well maintained veneers should last you for many years and give you a long lasting and beautiful smile.

What if veneer loses its lustre?

This problem is generally with composite or direct veneers. There are polishing techniques that can bring the lustre back and generally you require that every 12 to 18 months to maintain its shine and correct any discolouration.

What care should I take at home?

Here's your list of "do's" and "don'ts" for home care:

1. The biggest "no-no" is heavy, frequent alcohol consumption. If you consume large quantities of alcohol daily, the alcohol tends to dissolve bonding or the composite luting material that holds the porcelain to the tooth. Within a period of a couple of years, you could completely ruin the dental work. So, watch your alcohol consumption.


2. Don't subject your teeth to sharp impacts or hard objects. Don't bite pins, nails, or staples. Don't grind your teeth. If you tend to grind at night, get a Night Guard to protect your teeth.


3. Floss and brush your teeth regularly. While the porcelain or bonding work is immune to decay, the part of your teeth not covered by the cosmetic work is still susceptible to tooth decay. You can still get cavities with veneers or bonding or crowns. Keep it clean and it will stay decay-free and protect your investment.


4. Watch snacking! This is very important. Between-meal snacking is the single biggest factor in promoting decay. If you are constantly on snacks, you feed your plaque bacteria all day long, regardless of your excellent brushing habits. The best thing you can do to prevent decay, the deterioration of your teeth and the dental work, is to limit your eating to your basic three meals a day and maybe a couple of snacks.


5. Also annual dental check-up visit is also an important to make sure that not only your veneers but your gums, teeth and other dental work are maintained well, free of cavity and stains etc.