Treatments - Veneers / Laminates

Dental veneers/laminates are thin, shell like coverings which are fixed on the outer surface of teeth to correct minor irregularities such as worn enamel, discolouration, tooth fractures and spaces between teeth.

For teeth that are not severely crooked, veneers placed over their front surface will give a straight and perfectly aligned looking smile. For this type of treatment many people refer to veneers as ‘instant orthodontics’ since you get a similar end result in a fraction of the time. But this is suitable only in cases of minor crowding of teeth and when a person wants ‘quick-fix’ results.

       
                    Before                                              After

Porcelain laminate veneers are one of the most conservative and esthetic means of creating a more pleasing and beautiful smile. They are less invasive than crowns as they require very less amount of tooth reduction (approximately 0.5 mm). They are not the only alternative for all esthetic abnormalities but are truly a remarkable restoration when they are the treatment of choice.

After the laminates are placed on the teeth, they are very strong and will resist most of the forces placed upon them by a normal diet. Porcelain has great crushing strength but poor tensile strength. Therefore, one should avoid eating anything that will tend to twist the laminate.

Veneers are made up of either ceramic or composite. Both porcelain veneers and composite veneers can be fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory; composite veneers can also be directly fabricated inside the mouth at the dental office.