Porcelain laminate veneers are thin porcelain facings bonded onto prepared tooth structures. They are the ultimate way to achieve a predictable beautiful smile with minimum tooth reduction, decreasing the chance of nerve or tissue damage.

Veneers not only change tooth shade and shape but can also create the illusion that the teeth have moved into a more harmonious and pleasing position in the arch. The alluring smile is achieved in harmony with the individual's masticatory system through proper treatment planning and diagnostic wax-up.

A model (cast) of your teeth is prepared and sculptured in wax using the information gathered during the consultation visit. The wax model is then used to create the correct shade and shape for the temporary veneers which are shaped chair side to create a most aesthetically pleasing smile. The optimal form and function of your teeth is achieved by establishing the correct results with the temporary veneers and then duplicating those results in the final restoration. The results are the beauty of cosmetic dentistry.

LAMINATES AND VENEERS

What are laminates and veneers?

What is the difference between a laminate and a crown?

What are direct and indirect laminates?

Do they look natural?

What are laminates made from?

What are laminates and veneers?

There is a very subtle difference between these two words as far as dentistry is concerned and could be used interchangeably with some liberty. These are basically shells of tooth-coloured materials that are bonded to the front surfaces usually to make them look beautiful.

What is the difference between a laminate and a crown?

A crown covers the whole of the tooth whereas a laminate generally covers only the front surface of the tooth. Therefore it may be considered to be a more conservative treatment as it tends to preserve a lot of healthy tooth structure that might have been sacrificed if a crown were to be fabricated.

What are direct and indirect laminates?

Direct laminates are the ones that are made directly inside the patient’s mouth. Whereas, indirect laminates are made in the laboratory on a replica of the patient’s teeth acquired by making the impression of the teeth.

Do they look natural?

Newer tooth-coloured materials have improved so much that, it may be extremely difficult for a lay person to make out anything artificial having been done on your teeth if the laminates are properly made. Only a trained eye like a dentist’s may be able to make out any treatment. That too sometimes, is difficult.

What are laminates made from?

There are various materials from which laminates or veneers can be fabricated as is the case with metal-free crowns.

Some of them are: Ceramics, Zirconia, Composite resin.