Advantages of Porcelain Veneers

Dr. Bobby Chhoker

It goes without saying that most dental patients wish that their smiles were whiter.

Or that they could hide that pesky crack in their front tooth they got whilst playing football. In years gone by, these issues would have been resolved using traditional dental whitening and the placement of a composite filling, depending on the depth of the crack and if decay had set in. But thanks to the mainstream use of porcelain laminates it is now possible to have both of these issues and many more, treated without the need for an invasive filling or potentially uncomfortable bleach-based whitening.

When you come to Dr Bobby Chhoker looking to resolve these, or other, issues we may suggest the use of porcelain veneers. These are wafer-thin, tooth-shaped porcelain coverings, which are placed over the top or front of your teeth to create a cosmetic finish that is striking and can truly boost your self-esteem.

Are there any other advantages to having porcelain veneers fitted? Here, our team discusses 5 uses of porcelain laminates, so you can ascertain if this may be the treatment for you.

Whitening

As mentioned before, a key use of porcelain veneers is for whitening. They can whiten your smile up to 18 shades or more if you’re going for the aesthetics of a Hollywood smile, without the use of bleach or abrasion. They are also stain resistant, due to porcelain being less porous than enamel, so your whiter smile will last longer than it would if you obtained it using traditional whitening methods.

Concealing cracks

Laminates are in essence a cover. So they can be used to conceal cracks or chips in the teeth provided that decay has not set in, which would require a filling. Our team will simply place the laminates over a crack or chip using dental cement to secure them in place. This is also a viable option if you have a crack that has become discoloured, as the laminate will conceal the discolouration and hide the damage to the enamel.

Hiding gaps

If you have a minor gap in between your teeth, you may be wary about undertaking an expensive and lengthy orthodontic treatment to resolve it. Porcelain laminates can resolve minor gaps between teeth. Our team will simply make the laminates slightly wider than the surrounding teeth. So, when they are placed the gap will be closed, creating a flawless finish. Remember, for complicated cases of dental gaps or spacing, it is likely that you will need to undertake orthodontic treatment.

Correcting asymmetry

Laminates can also be used to lengthen teeth that may be asymmetrical when compared to the same tooth on the opposite side of the mouth. So they can correct asymmetries in your smile without the need for aligners or braces. Once again this will depend on the severity of the asymmetry.

Sensitivity reduction

We mentioned this before, but laminates are in essence covers that go over the front of your teeth. So, if you have dental sensitivity caused by microscopic holes in your enamel, laminates can be used to relieve this issue by covering the gaps. The sensitivity will be stopped instantly, allowing you to enjoy hot food or cold drinks without discomfort.