Dental laminates and veneers are very thin tooth coloured materials used to cover tooth surface to mask discolored tooth which cannot be restored back to original form by conventional methods or to improve shape and size of the tooth with minimal damage to original tooth structure overall greatly improving esthetics.
Unlike composite material build up a laminate or veneer can only be fabricated indirectly that is by taking an impression of patient mouth and sending it to the laboratory for the fabrication of laminates and veneers.
INDICATIONS :
- Restoration of single or multiple fractured teeth
- Restoration of single or multiple discoloured teeth which cannot be treated by conventional treatment.
- Teeth with worn off edges.
- Malpositioned teeth
- Closing of spaces in between teeth
- Increasing the length of teeth if it has got reduced due to wear off
- Closing of black spaces in between teeth due to gums recession
- Providing uniform colouration of teeth
- Providing uniform symmetry to teeth
HOW INDIRECT TECHNIQUE HAS MORE ADVANTAGES?
Indirect technique results in
- Maximum esthetics due to greater dimensional stability and colour stability of ceramic
- Adequate control of tooth dimension, shape , contact areas , finishing and polishing
- It provides for trials in patients mouth for esthetic evaluation before it is actually cemented permanently.
HOW DOES IT ACTUALLY WORKS/ STEPS INVOLVED
The sequence of steps involved during fabrication of laminates and veneers involve :
- Intraoral and extra oral analysis of patient facial appearance and recording of what patient actually wants at the end of treatment
- Photographs are to be taken and recorded as to how the patient appears from all the angles possible. If need a dynamic video recording can also be done so that it can be estimated that how a patient normally smiles and how much of teeth is visible when the patient normally talks
- Digital previsualization of all the collected data must be done.
- Clinical previsualization by preparing a mock-up or fabrication of pre evaluative temporaries can be fabricated by the help of mock up
- Evaluating and treatment of pre existing condition like any gum treatment or treatment of existing cavities must be done
- Minimally invasive preparation of tooth and recording the impression.
- Manufacturing of laminates and veneers in lab
- Trial to be done before permanent cementation
- Actual cementation
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED
DO VENEERS STAY ON FOREVER?
Veneers do survive for a long time but since they are fabricated by minimally removing a layer of tooth surface it might have to be changed due to changes in the oral cavity.
ARE VENEERS AND LAMINATES PLACEMENT PAINFUL?
Since the fabrication of laminates and veneers are done by minimal tooth layer removal it is usually pain free and while placement also all possible care is taken to make the procedure painless.
CAN VENEERS STAIN?
Porcelain veneers usually do not stain because porcelain is impervious to stains. However edges might stain later where restoration meets tooth surface. Moreover cigarette smoke can stain composite used to attach porcelain.
CAN VENEERS REMOVED AND REPLACED?
Yes it’s possible. Process is removing the veneers and bonding material, taking fresh impression and fabrication of new prosthesis.
CAN VENEERS FIX MISSING TEETH?
Dental laminates and veneers are cosmetic treatments which are very thin. Hence they cannot be used to replace missing teeth.