What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are also known as dental porcelain laminates. These are thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size or length.

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?

• Teeth that are discolored
• Teeth that are worn down
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
• Teeth with gaps between them

How is it done?

It usually involves a consultation between dentist and patient to make and apply dental veneers. It is best if you explain to your dentist your expected results and what you are trying to attain by getting dental veneers. During the consultation, the dentist will measure the teeth for possible application of dental veneers. The dentist will also discuss the limitations, the procedure during the appointment.

Your dentist will remove about ½ millimeter of enamel from the tooth. Before trimming off the enamel, you and your dentist will decide the need for a local anesthetic to numb the area. A model of your teeth will be constructed for the veneers to be made. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks before the dentist receives the constructed veneers from the lab.

The dental veneer is permanently cemented into your tooth. But before that, your dentist will make certain that the veneers fit your tooth/teeth and that the color is the same as your tooth. To prepare your tooth to receive the veneer, your tooth will be cleaned, polished and impressed "which roughens the tooth to allow for a strong bonding process. With the use of special cement, the veneers will be bonded on your tooth. Final steps of the bonding involve checking your bite, chipping excess cement, and adjusting the veneers to completely fit the tooth.

It is necessary that your dentist may ask you to come back for a regular check up. This is to assess on how your gums are responding to the newly attached veneers and examine the placement of the veneers.

How much does a dental veneer costs?

A dental veneers cost normally varies depending on the porcelain used. It usually costs PHP 15,000 to PHP 20,000 per unit.