A veneer is an ultra-thin facing that sits on the front of the tooth to mask, cover or change imperfections like discolouration, shape alterations, chipping or breakages. Veneers can also be used when teeth are too small, pointy, or awkwardly positioned.
Benefits of dental veneers
One of the advantages of cosmetic veneers is that they look like natural teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile. Besides, it is a great option that doesn’t involve extensive damage to your teeth, and they are custom-made to match the shape and colour of your teeth.
Types of veneer materials
There are two types of veneers: composite veneers and porcelain veneers. Composite veneers are made of plastic material and can be made to look natural and aesthetic. One of the advantages of composite veneers is that it’s easy to alter, change and adjust, so if there’s a little chip or a break, bonding material can be added to it. The other advantage is that if the colour does change or staining occurs, it’s generally relatively easy to polish and adjust.
The other type is porcelain, which is a much stronger material. It’s made of glass: since it’s ceramic, it has more physical properties. It’s very similar to enamel; therefore, it looks more natural with shine and brightness. Additionally, because of the strength of the material, it’s stronger, and when porcelain is done well, it can last a long time.
How long do dental veneers last?
The aim is for 15 to 20 years for our porcelain veneers to last, compared to the bonded veneers, which generally range between four to ten years. In addition, porcelain’s colour doesn’t change or changes very rarely.
Overall, composite or bonded veneers are a good option when we’re looking at changing the shapes, styles and colours of teeth. Ultimately, it is a medium-term option rather than an ultra-long-term option like porcelain.
Benefits of dental veneers
One of the advantages of cosmetic veneers is that they look like natural teeth and enhance the appearance of your smile. Besides, it is a great option that doesn’t involve extensive damage to your teeth, and they are custom-made to match the shape and colour of your teeth.
Types of veneer materials
There are two types of veneers: composite veneers and porcelain veneers. Composite veneers are made of plastic material and can be made to look natural and aesthetic. One of the advantages of composite veneers is that it’s easy to alter, change and adjust, so if there’s a little chip or a break, bonding material can be added to it. The other advantage is that if the colour does change or staining occurs, it’s generally relatively easy to polish and adjust.
The other type is porcelain, which is a much stronger material. It’s made of glass: since it’s ceramic, it has more physical properties. It’s very similar to enamel; therefore, it looks more natural with shine and brightness. Additionally, because of the strength of the material, it’s stronger, and when porcelain is done well, it can last a long time.
How long do dental veneers last?
The aim is for 15 to 20 years for our porcelain veneers to last, compared to the bonded veneers, which generally range between four to ten years. In addition, porcelain’s colour doesn’t change or changes very rarely.
Overall, composite or bonded veneers are a good option when we’re looking at changing the shapes, styles and colours of teeth. Ultimately, it is a medium-term option rather than an ultra-long-term option like porcelain.
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that is an alternative to braces. With Invisalign, a clear aligner technology is used to move teeth slowly over time. With Invisalign, more consistent and predictable results can be achieved. Patients need to come in every 6 to 12 weeks to get their aligners, and it’s a relatively straightforward process.
The important part is getting the planning right. For this, Invisalign has a software called Clean Check, where patients can see what it will look like, provided they follow the plan and wear it well.
How does Invisalign work?
You do need to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. You may need Invisalign attachments on some teeth, which are small buttons that allow us to anchor, reposition, and move teeth in a much more predictable fashion.
Orthodontic treatment
Once you finish your Invisalign treatment, retention is needed, and this is sometimes forgotten. With any type of orthodontics, once the teeth have been moved and are in a beautiful perfect ideal position, they need to be kept there, and it is done by wearing a retainer every night or close to every night. Sometimes we will put wires in the backs of the front teeth to hold them in position. In an ideal world for many of our patients, we recommend doing both, so you might have the wire and the retainer to ensure your teeth stay straight for a long time.
How does Invisalign work?
You do need to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. You may need Invisalign attachments on some teeth, which are small buttons that allow us to anchor, reposition, and move teeth in a much more predictable fashion.
Orthodontic treatment
Once you finish your Invisalign treatment, retention is needed, and this is sometimes forgotten. With any type of orthodontics, once the teeth have been moved and are in a beautiful perfect ideal position, they need to be kept there, and it is done by wearing a retainer every night or close to every night. Sometimes we will put wires in the backs of the front teeth to hold them in position. In an ideal world for many of our patients, we recommend doing both, so you might have the wire and the retainer to ensure your teeth stay straight for a long time.
As we get older, our teeth tend to discolour over time. Besides, everyday foods and drinks cause tooth discolouration, such as coffee, tea and red wine. But there are other more trending substances, such as turmeric, acai bowls, green smoothies, and beetroot juices, which tend to discolour your teeth more frequently.
Before any cosmetic whitening procedure, it is recommended that your teeth are cleaned and your gums are in good health. The reason for this is to optimise the patient outcome. That means we want to try and get you the best patient results, and we can’t do that if the teeth are dirty or have staining on them, which can be easily removed by just a dental clean. A clean before a professional teeth whitening procedure ensures that you, the patient, will get the best result possible. At least that way, we can all rest assured that we achieved and delivered what we intended to do.
How often can I have Zoom teeth whitening done?
We can do it as often as your teeth require. It is not exactly a black-and-white answer: that decision must be made between you, the patient, and your dental professional. The reason is that certain things need to be ticked off to ensure that you are an appropriate candidate.
How long does teeth whitening last?
It is challenging to put a time frame on how long teeth whitening results usually last because results depend on you, as a patient, and what your teeth are structurally made up of and how they hold their cover. That is why we promote the use of maintenance kits here, at Dental Lounge, to ensure that you can keep your smile lasting as wide as possible.
How do I maintain my white smile after a test whitening procedure?
A few options are available for you to get and maintain those long-lasting results. A set of custom-made trays uniquely designed to fit your teeth is the most common. We send you home with a peroxide solution you administer and put into the trays. You wear them in the convenience of your own home under the direction of dental professionals. The second option is to use a Zoom three per cent at home pen. This is a click swivel pen that you can apply very easily at home to keep your teeth whitening results lasting a long time.
Zoom teeth whitening procedure
The dental teeth whitening process consists of four 15-minute whitening intervals. Before we begin, we isolate the soft tissues of your mouth, so your gums and everything inside your smile are well protected. Then we apply a bleaching solution to your teeth, which is then activated by blue led light. This process, in total, takes around about one to one and a half hours. The most common side effect of Zoom teeth whitening, or any teeth whitening, is some tooth sensitivity. Some people get a lot; others don’t get much.
Before any cosmetic whitening procedure, it is recommended that your teeth are cleaned and your gums are in good health. The reason for this is to optimise the patient outcome. That means we want to try and get you the best patient results, and we can’t do that if the teeth are dirty or have staining on them, which can be easily removed by just a dental clean. A clean before a professional teeth whitening procedure ensures that you, the patient, will get the best result possible. At least that way, we can all rest assured that we achieved and delivered what we intended to do.
How often can I have Zoom teeth whitening done?
We can do it as often as your teeth require. It is not exactly a black-and-white answer: that decision must be made between you, the patient, and your dental professional. The reason is that certain things need to be ticked off to ensure that you are an appropriate candidate.
How long does teeth whitening last?
It is challenging to put a time frame on how long teeth whitening results usually last because results depend on you, as a patient, and what your teeth are structurally made up of and how they hold their cover. That is why we promote the use of maintenance kits here, at Dental Lounge, to ensure that you can keep your smile lasting as wide as possible.
How do I maintain my white smile after a test whitening procedure?
A few options are available for you to get and maintain those long-lasting results. A set of custom-made trays uniquely designed to fit your teeth is the most common. We send you home with a peroxide solution you administer and put into the trays. You wear them in the convenience of your own home under the direction of dental professionals. The second option is to use a Zoom three per cent at home pen. This is a click swivel pen that you can apply very easily at home to keep your teeth whitening results lasting a long time.
Zoom teeth whitening procedure
The dental teeth whitening process consists of four 15-minute whitening intervals. Before we begin, we isolate the soft tissues of your mouth, so your gums and everything inside your smile are well protected. Then we apply a bleaching solution to your teeth, which is then activated by blue led light. This process, in total, takes around about one to one and a half hours. The most common side effect of Zoom teeth whitening, or any teeth whitening, is some tooth sensitivity. Some people get a lot; others don’t get much.