Dental Design Concepts - Dr. Cornell Lee

The appropriate number of veneers depends on your expectations for improving your smile. Typically, to achieve symmetry and to balance aesthetics, two, four, six, eight and even 10 veneers are done on the upper teeth. It is also possible to place veneers on the lower teeth. The greater the requirements in terms of color change or transformation, the more teeth that will need to be treated. It also depends on the number of teeth that are revealed upon smiling and speaking.

Veneers are made out of porcelain. Porcelain best mimics the optical properties of teeth in terms of color, translucency, lustre and surface texture. Porcelain is a durable material being able to withstand temperature and pH changes in the mouth and regular chewing.

There are many variables affecting the longevity of veneers. Meticulous oral hygiene is required to prevent cavities around the veneers and to avoid gum disease or gum recession around the teeth. Bad habits such as teeth grinding and biting on hard substances like ice, metal or shells can cause chipping or fracturing of the veneers. The average lifespan of porcelain veneers is at least ten years with proper care and maintenance.

The goal is to preserve as much tooth structure as possible so that the structural strength of the tooth is not compromised. Depending on the clinical situation, tooth reduction will typically range from 0 mm to less than 0.8 mm. Less removal is always prioritized to maintain as much natural tooth structure as possible for longevity.

Porcelain veneers are very predictable if teeth are skillfully prepared and a meticulous bonding protocol followed. They should not debond.

Most patients are curious about the cost of veneers. They require a significant financial investment. A set of six veneers can cost around $13,000. It is also worth noting that dental insurance rarely, if ever cover the cost of porcelain veneers.

A denturist is a non-dentist who has taken three years of education at an accredited technical college. Their training is focussed on complete dentures and partial dentures. A denturist is not a dental specialist. A prosthodontist is a dentist who has taken three additional years of post-graduate education at an accredited university in addition to the four years of dental school. Prosthodontists have the medical and technical knowledge to treat patients as a whole. As dental specialists they have a broad depth and diversity of knowledge and skills to restore function not only with dentures but with dental implants, crowns and bridges.

Dentures should not be painful. When dentures are first inserted into your mouth, there may be areas of discomfort. At the follow-up appointments the areas would be identified and judiciously adjusted until you are comfortable.