Veneers and Worn-Down Teeth
Worn down teeth are a natural occurrence with the older population. Some wear to your teeth is a natural side effect of ageing, but it can be accelerating with aggressive brushing, grinding, clenching, and the consumption of acidic food and drinks.
The application of veneers is a popular solution in cosmetic dentistry. They also play a significant role in general restorative dentistry. They will restore your healthy smile and also replace the structure and function of any moderately worn-down teeth.
Dental veneers are custom designed, wafer-thin material bonded to the front surface of your front teeth. The major advantage over crowns is the minimal preparation, resulting in a more conservative treatment. There are two kinds of materials used, either porcelain or composite. Porcelain is the favorite, delivering the best quality of finish regarding both aesthetics and durability.
You may have recently noticed that your teeth look tired, and a further evaluation shows your teeth may be stained from years of enjoying coffee, tea, red wine, or colas. Your old dental fillings are also discolored and are wearing down with some chips. After your new porcelain veneers are placed, the transformation is quite remarkable. You might have gotten to the point that you were embarrassed to talk by covering your mouth with your hand, and now you cannot help but share your smile with your new veneers.
A standard veneer restoration case is when your original teeth are straight, there is no crowding, there is just mild to moderate wear of your teeth, there are decent gum margins, there is no gum disease present and finally, a wide upper arch form.
The Dental Veneer Process for Worn Down Teeth
Dental veneers easily help to restore the aesthetic appearance, function, and the natural feel of your teeth. The procedure entails placing a wafer-thin piece of porcelain or composite material on the front surface only of your front teeth, restoring the front to improve their appearance.
X-rays are essential prior to your treatment beginning. The x-rays will show if there are any defects with the teeth to be treated below the surface, such as gum disease or infections. A complete clinical examination of your gums and teeth follows. If there is any sign of gum disease this must be treated first. An infected tooth might require root canal therapy before a veneer can be successfully placed.
Severely and excessively worn-down teeth cannot be restored successfully with veneers. If you have been grinding or clenching your teeth, the result is shorter worn-down teeth. Your bite is misaligned from the wear. Veneers placed on these teeth will not last long, because the thin material will break not being able to withstand the strong biting forces of the chewing muscles.
This situation needs the bite to be opened by building up your back teeth, which will then create more space to lengthen the front teeth. In this case crowns are more suitable since they are stronger structurally.
The front surface is prepped and the custom fabricated veneer from the dental lab is bonded to the tooth. The veneer may be trimmed slightly, and your natural smile has returned. An evaluation by your dentist is essential to determine if veneers will be the best restoration treatment for your worn-down teeth.