What are veneers in dentistry – how much does a beautiful smile cost?

Perfectly straight and white teeth by nature are an exceptional rarity. Modern advances in prosthetics help to painlessly and quickly acquire such a luxurious smile, like that of Hollywood stars. New technologies provide excellent results regardless of the initial state of the teeth.

What are veneers in dentistry?

The devices described by many patients are regarded as thin overlays that are glued to the enamel. Before you decide to install them, it is important to find out exactly what veneers are on your teeth. They are not just false plates, but micro prostheses used to correct the shape and color of a smile. Artificial coating covers only the front surface and the cutting edge of the teeth.

What types of veneers are there?

There are 2 types of microprostheses under consideration, the classification is based on the material of manufacture. Types of veneers:

• composite;
• ceramic.

On the eve of choosing the devices to be installed, the dentist must explain in detail what veneers, lumineers and ultraneers are, and name their differences. The last mentioned types of microprostheses are much more expensive than standard overlays. They are produced and attached using a similar technology, but their use does not require severe damage to natural tooth enamel.

Composite veneers

Such devices are made of organic resin with glass or ceramic microparticles. Direct veneers are formed from a soft filling material by layering using adhesive systems. The doctor gives them the final look right in the mouth, after grinding off a thin layer of enamel. This option of veneers is advisable to install to improve 1-2 teeth in a row, because they will last only 3-5 years.

If more durable veneers are needed for the anterior teeth, or the entire smile area needs to be corrected, the laboratory method of manufacturing composite plates should be chosen. In such a situation, an impression is first taken from the jaw, according to which the technician makes a model. Based on the scheme obtained, veneers are produced, they are polymerized in a special oven, which ensures a long service life and strength of the plates. Fabricated onlays are glued to pre-turned teeth using a flowable composite.

Ceramic veneers

The described type of devices is made exclusively in the laboratory. To place ceramic dental veneers, you first need to grind your teeth. After that, an impression of the jaw is performed, it is sent to the technician’s workshop. Temporary veneers are installed on the prepared teeth, while the patient wears them, permanent microprostheses are formed in the laboratory. They are made in 3 ways:

1. Classical. Veneers are made by layering ceramic powder, which requires subsequent polymerization.
2. Pressing. Devices are cast under high pressure.
3. Milling. Micro prostheses are machined from a solid block of ceramic material.

The resulting veneers are painted with special paints, which ensures that their color matches the shade of adjacent teeth. In addition, the dental technician recreates the unique features of natural enamel on ceramics. These are the most realistic veneers before and after photos show that these fixtures look very natural and at the same time provide a pronounced correction of the dentition. They are durable (service life is about 10-15 years) and durable, unlike composite microprostheses, they do not change their original color.

Hollywood laminates

The most aesthetic, safe and durable are American ultra-thin veneers without turning teeth. The technology for their manufacture was patented by Cerinate under the Lumineers brand. The plates described are made to order in California only. They look more natural than ceramic veneers because they are almost transparent.

Most famous musicians and Hollywood actors prefer lumineers – without turning the teeth, the natural enamel remains intact, such microprostheses can be replaced or removed without consequences. These overlays are heavy-duty, their service life exceeds 20 years. The only caveat is that due to the transparency of lumineers, it is not recommended to use it in the presence of multi-colored and spotted enamel.

Ultranirs are considered an alternative to the type of overlays under consideration. They are the Russian analogue of Lumineers, made of modern IPS E. MAX ceramic material. Ultraniers are cheaper than Californian microprostheses and are much faster to create, but their guaranteed service life is limited to 10-15 years, and in some cases teeth must be ground for installation.

Veneers – indications and contraindications

Microprosthetics refers to invasive and expensive dental procedures. Before its implementation, it is necessary to carefully study what veneers are and how they are installed, to choose the best option for overlays. All these issues should be discussed in detail with a specialist, to make sure that there are no contraindications to the manipulation. It is possible to decide whether to put veneers only after consulting a dentist. You can correct the appearance of the teeth in other, less traumatic ways.

Indications for veneers

The main purpose of fixing the presented overlays is to improve the aesthetics of the smile. Restoration with veneers is used in the following cases:

• chipping of the cutting edge;
• ugly shape or color of teeth;
• congenital or acquired enamel defects;
• diastema or similar spaces;
• moderate curvature of the dentition;
• small cracks and chips;
• yellow enamel against the background of smoking or hobbies for coffee, strong tea.

Veneers – contraindications

Micro prostheses are not recommended to be installed if the own enamel on the front surface of the teeth is thinner than 0.5 mm. This is due to what veneers are and how they are attached. The overlays are glued (cemented) with a special composition to the prepared (turned or polished) surface. If the enamel is thin, they will have to be fixed on soft dentin, which impairs the reliability and durability of the structure.

Installation of veneers on teeth is contraindicated in such situations:

• bruxism;
• increased abrasion of enamel (from the 2nd degree);
• extreme contact sports (boxing, wrestling and analogues);
• absence of chewing teeth (“sixes” and “sevens”);
• pronounced destruction of the lingual surface of the enamel;
• direct or reverse malocclusion;
• caries and periodontal disease (microprosthetics is performed after a complete cure);
• the presence of a large filling.

How are veneers placed?

Depending on the chosen type of devices, the dentist develops a scheme for their manufacture and fixation. The installation of veneers is carried out in several stages:

• assessment of the condition of teeth and enamel, clarification of existing problems;
• treatment of caries, gum lesions and other diseases of the oral cavity;
• preparation for microprosthetics (turning);
• creation of an impression, according to which the technician makes individual veneers;
• gluing temporary overlays;
• installation of permanent micro-prostheses (after checking their color, shape and density of fit to the teeth);
• cementing.

Veneers – pros and cons

The presented version of correcting the shape and color of a smile has a lot of advantages, but it is not without drawbacks. It is important for the patient at the dentist to find out how veneers will affect the teeth – the pros and cons of their use. Along with high aesthetics, microprostheses require special care and certain additional hygiene rules.

Veneers – pluses

The main advantage of the considered devices is an instant improvement in the appearance of the dentition. Veneers and lumineers allow you to get a “Hollywood” smile in just 1-2 visits to the dentist. Other benefits of microprosthetics:

• fast production (exception – Lumineers, they will have to wait several months);
• excellent cosmetic result;
• durability, especially when choosing ceramic veneers, lumineers or ultraneers;
• natural look;
• strength;
• comfort (microprostheses are not felt in the mouth).

Veneers – cons

If you want to get a snow-white smile from a row of even and beautiful teeth, it is important to first get as much information as possible about the features of artificial overlays. It is necessary to find out from the prosthetist what veneers are, what are their features and rules of operation. It is important to ask about the cost of microprostheses, their guaranteed service life and the possibility of replacing structures.

Dental veneers – cons:

• low strength and fragility of composite overlays;
• enamel grinding, which in the future will require additional restoration with filling materials;
• high price of fixtures, especially lumineers;
• poor masking ability with a significant change in the color of the teeth;
• a large number of contraindications;
• gradual darkening of the artificial coating (typical of composite fixtures), which involves the replacement of structures;

The cost of veneers

The price of microprostheses depends on their type and materials from which they are made. Composite veneers are the cheapest. The cost of such overlays (for 1 piece) is about 100 USD. Stronger, more durable and more aesthetically pleasing ceramic structures are more expensive, their price starts from $120. For the best Lumineers veneers from an American manufacturer, you will have to pay a lot. The cost of one lumineer, set by the manufacturer, is from 700 USD. The final price is formed taking into account the delivery of microprostheses and can reach 1500-2000 thousand USD.

Due to such a high cost of lumineers, many dental patients are interested in what ultrathin veneers (ultraneers) are, which are produced in local dental laboratories. In fact, they are analogues of American Lumineers, but less perfect and durable. The cost of such “Hollywood” veneers is lower than the original microprostheses, it is about 150-200 USD. a piece.