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What are porcelain veneers ?
These are wafer thin laminates or shells of tooth coloured porcelain that is bonded to the front surface of your teeth. Dental veneers have long been used to create the ultimate smile-makeover. With porcelain veneers it is possible to transform crooked ,stain, damaged or worn down teeth into a new straight white smile. |
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When do we need porcelain veneers ?
The following dental conditions may be resolved with dental veneers
Discoloured teeth
Gaps between teeth
Fractured teeth
Toothless smile
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Masking discoloured teeth with porcelain veneers
Teeth whitening does not work on dark, greyish discolouration of teeth. Often the only solution to this problem is porcelain veneers
Teeth discoloured by fillings, tetracyclline and aging can be brighten up with porcelain veneers. |
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Repairing fractured teeth with porcelain veneers
Teeth that are not badly fractures , can be restored to its original state with porcelain veneers. Dental veneers is preferred to crowning as the tooth preparation for veneers is minimal compared to crowning. |
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Closing gaps between teeth with porcelain veneers
Gaps between teeth pose aesthetic and speech problems, especially if they occur in the upper jaw . This can come in the form of single tooth gaps or multiple teeth gaps.
 
Single tooth gaps Multiple tooth gaps
Single or multiple unsightly gaps can closed easily and rapidly with porcelain veneers. Only 2 visits is required. The interval between the 2 visits is 10 days.
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Worn down teeth
Teeth worn down through grinding can be restored back to its original shape and length with porcelain veneers . Properly design dental veneers that cover the incisal edges , will protect the teeth from further wear. However, wearing night guard is compulsory at night to minimise the harmful effect of grinding teeth at night. |
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Straightening correcting crooked teeth with porcelain veneers.
Long sharp canines and Small peg-shape lateral incisors. The long canine and small lateral incisor makes the teeth look crooked. By veneering the canine shorter and the lateral incisor bigger, the crookedness can be solve. |
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Mild crowding of incisors with a good bite. Realignment of teeth with porcelain veneers is possible with minimal teeth preparations
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Improving in-standing incisors
Crooked teeth can be due to instanding teeth. By laminating the instanding tooth with a porcelain veneer the crookedness will be less apparent. |
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Improving shape and sizes of upper incisors
Teeth with overly long or slanted incisor edges can also gives an appearance of crooked smile . Porcelain veneers can be used to shorten teeth and straighten incisal edges. |
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Improving mildly rotated teeth
Minor rotated teeth that can be realign with porcelain veneers or crowns
 
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What is the procedures for porcelain veneers
Phase 1: Diagnostic phase
Phase 2: Teeth preparation and impression phase
Phase 3: Fitting phase
Diagnostic Phase
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Diagnostic study model
In the first visit , the prosthodontist will take a mold of your teeth . From this a model of your teeth will be made. In this case , the upper 4 incisors are crooked and irregular. The prosthodontist will discuss with the patient about his /her aesthetic requirements. The dental specialist will also discuss in detail with the patient how to improve his/her smile with porcelain veneers. |
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Mock –up Diagnostic Model
A mock up of the final veneers shape will presented to the patient The shape of the veneers are based on previous discussion with the patients aesthetic requirements . |
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Try in of mock up in the mouth
This an important phase. A mock up of veneers in plastic form is try- in in the mouth. The patient actually get to see how the final veneers will look like. Any changes can easily be made at this stage by addition or subtraction. Once the patient is happy with the aesthetic, the laboratory technician will make an exact copy in the final porcelain veneers . Bespoke Veneers !!! |
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Preparatory Phase
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In this phase , the teeth is shaped by removing a small amount of enamel.
The tooth preparation is very conservative compared to crowning. Modern porcelain veneers are strong in very thin sections. As a result, as seen in the picture on the left, only 0.5 mm of enamel is removed. The amount of enamel removed is almost not noticeable. An impression is than made and a set of temporary veneers are made fitted. |
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Fitting Phase
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The temporary veneers are removed and the final veneers are try in for fit and aesthetics |
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The dental veneers are bonded to the teeth with powerful dental cement. The setting of the cement is activated with a light curing machine. |
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Will I see a black line around the gum areas of the porcelain veneers?
Porcelain Veneers or Dental Veneers are metal free. With improvement in porcelain materials used to fabricate these veneers, the modern porcelain veneers are translucent and the margin s are almost invisible to the naked eye. The new generation of bonding agent to glue the dental veneers to the tooth is also translucent and virtually insoluble and
therefore less likely to pick up stains.
Is the procedure painful ?
With local anesthetic, the procedure is relatively painless.
Any special maintenance required? No special maintenance is required. The porcelain veneers behaves like your own natural teeth. Regular brushing and flossing is important so is regular 6 months check- up
How long will the veneer last?
With good maintenance, the average life span is 8-10 years, although some of veneers cases we have done as far back as 1988, is still functioning in the mouth to this day.
What are the advantages of porcelain veneers over composite veneers ?
Colour and aesthetics: porcelain veneers offers better 3 dimensional colour and translucency compared to composite veneers . It can mimic the natural fluorescence of teeth ,lending it a certain vitality.
Bonding to teeth: The bonding of porcelain veneers to teeth is stronger than that of composite veneers
Resistance to fracture.: composite veneers are weaker than porcelain veneers and fracture more easily.
Colour stability and resistance to staining.: Porcelain absorbs much less fluid and stains . On the other hand , composite veneers are porous and pick up stains easily.
What are the contraindications for porcelain veneers?
Lack of enamel: Porcelain veneers requires enamel for good bonding. If the tooth is severely damaged with lack of enamel,than crowning is a better option
Oral habits: patient with severe grinding habits are generally contraindicated.
What is the smile lift for a younger smile ?
We are in the era whereby looking younger and better is important. Plastic surgery has become very popular lately because looking old and haggard is no longer acceptable in the modern society .
The nice smile with good looking teeth will go a long way to looking good and young because the smile is major component of your face , about 1/3 to precise. Some time a person may have some wrinkles or grey hairs etc and yet they look good . What is the secret ? They are have a great smile.
Now there is a quick and painless way to have a great smile – Porcelain Veneers for your teeth. It can improve your facial appearance dramatically without expensive and complex surgery.
The porcelain veneers can hide discoloured teeth, making them sparkling white again. It can straighten mildly crooked teeth without uncomfortable and tedious process of wearing braces. With porcelain veneers you can straighten your teeth in 2 visits and within 10 days.! Any imperfection such as chips, irregular shape or gaps between teeth can corrected to perfect shape with porcelain veneers which are crafted by skilled technician. Straight, perfect proportion teeth as a result of porcelain veneers is the surest to way to have a winning smile.
Porcelain veneers is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth. This because the thin porcelain is almost translucent and allows light to pass thorough and reflect off the tooth dentine . Its behaviour with light is almost the same as that prismatic enamel which is the outer covering layer of the tooth, As a result .well made porcelain veneers are almost indistinguishable from adjacent natural teeth. No other dental restorations for example crowns can produce this type 3 dimensional ,translucent appearance, except for porcelain veneers .
Porcelain veneers will result in the perfect natural looking smile. See your cosmetic dentist for porcelain veneers, it will change the way you smile and it might just change your life!!!
Cosmetic Veneers Costs
While every one aspire to have beautiful teeth, ultimately , the most important question is , how much it cost ?. Some patients are concern about quality and they are willing to pay more for the best . On the other hand , due to budget constraints, some people have to opt for cheaper options. The price of cosmetic veneers are affected by many factors.
Composite veneers are cheaper than porcelain veneers . But composite veneers only last for a few years. It also pick stains easily and lose it shine after only a short period in the mouth.
Porcelain veneers cost more because it last longer and it does not discolour because porcelain is impervious to fluid and as a result does not pick up stains.
The most important factor for cost is the skill of the cosmetic dentist. Veneer preparations , impression and bonding of dental veneers are all highly dependant artistic skill and experience of the cosmetic dentist.
The skill of the technician crafting the cosmetic veneers is another factor affecting the cost of the veneers. Veneers milled by a machine in an hour from a standard block of ceramic is cheaper and like all mass produce products, poor aesthetics. Cosmetic veneers handcrafted by skilled technician by slowly firing layer upon layer of porcelain in a 3 dimensional manner, the final bespoke veneers will look very translucent and aesthetic. Of course highly customized veneers by highly skilled dental veneers technician, are more expensive. Prices of porcelain veneers in Singapore varies from $900 to $1800 per veneers
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