Dental veneers: specialists & information

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are becoming increasingly popular with people who want more beautiful teeth.

They are wafer-thin, almost transparent veneers that are firmly bonded to the tooth. They are durable, color-fast and look natural. Dental veneers are usually made of ceramic. They are individually designed for your teeth and manufactured in a specialist laboratory.

Over the last 20 years, the bonding methods and materials used for dental veneers have been continuously improved. Dental veneers can last for 15 years or longer with good care. The prerequisite is that the treatment is carried out by a qualified specialist in aesthetic dentistry.

The treatment can be completed in just two visits to the practice.

Dental veneers are firmly bonded to the teeth and cover blemishes such as discoloration or cracks © jovkovski1969 | AdobeStock

What are the benefits of dental veneers?

• Achieving a uniform, white, radiant smile with cosmetic means
• Natural-looking teeth
• Good gum compatibility of ceramic
• The patient can choose the color of the veneers and thus determine how white their smile will be.
• Ceramic veneers are color stable.
• Dental veneers are very durable.
• Hardly any tooth reduction (0.3 to 1.2 mm) necessary
• Compared to alternative treatment methods with braces or Invisalign, dental veneers can achieve a quick result in just a few treatment appointments.
• Correction of crooked teeth
• Correction of misaligned teeth
• Improving the size or shape of teeth
• Whitening severely discolored or dark teeth
• Closing unwanted or uneven gaps between teeth
• Restoration of worn or chipped teeth
• Refreshing old crowns or bridges

For which patients are dental veneers possible?

Veneer treatment is possible for any patient with healthy teeth and a normal bite. For patients with

• cavities,
• gum disease or
• a malocclusion

these problems must be treated first.

A malocclusion is usually the only reason why dental veneers chip or break off. With a malocclusion, the neuromuscular position between the jaw and teeth is not correct. Symptoms of this are

• Worn or chipped teeth,
• night-time clenching or grinding of the teeth,
• damaged dentures,
• facial pain and
• possibly headaches and neck pain.

What are the possible disadvantages, complications or risks of dental veneers?

• The process is irreversible.
• Dental veneers are more expensive than composite resin.
• The removal of enamel can make the tooth more sensitive to hot or cold food and drink.
• Ceramic cannot be whitened with bleaching. Schedule tooth whitening prior to veneer treatment to ensure an even result after the veneers are placed.
• In rare cases, dental veneers may fall off. To prevent the loss of dental veneers, avoid biting on anything hard, such as ice, fingernails or bone.

What alternatives are there to dental veneers?

Braces

Healthy, straight teeth are the basis for a beautiful smile. Braces are recommended for patients with

• misaligned teeth,
• crossbite or
• overbite

may be the best solution. Teeth that do not fit together properly can lead to

• tooth decay,
• bone loss,
• bite and other problems

if this condition is not treated.

Dental veneers cannot treat crooked teeth, they only conceal them visually. With dental veneers, a correction is actually made so that problems resulting from misaligned teeth do not arise in the first place.

Invisalign

Invisalign can restore a harmonious, healthy smile for patients with slightly misaligned teeth.

The Invisalign system offers the advantages of braces, i.e. the correction of crooked teeth. However, no conspicuous metal or ceramic brackets are required.

The Invisalign system uses several transparent plastic splints that slowly move the tooth into its new position. The aligners are comfortable, removable and virtually invisible, making them very popular with patients of all ages.

Composite resin

For minor chipping, cracks or discoloration, composite resin can be used to improve the appearance of teeth.

In contrast to the placement of ceramic veneers, the natural tooth structure is not affected by composite fillings. The composite material is applied directly to the tooth surface.

Plastic fillings are less expensive than dental veneers. However, they are not color-fast and need to be replaced more frequently.

Composite resin can be used after treatment with braces, Invisalign or after tooth whitening. It rounds off the result of these treatments.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is an inexpensive, safe and effective way of making teeth look whiter. The term bleaching is used when teeth are whitened beyond their natural color. Bleaching restores the natural, fresh color of the teeth.

The treatment can be

• carried out by the dentist in the dental practice,
• given by the dentist for treatment at home or
• purchased directly in the store

directly from the shop.

In many cases, the best results are achieved with teeth whitening in combination with braces, Invisalign and composite resin.

How expensive are dental veneers?

The cost of dental veneers can vary greatly. The price of dental veneers is influenced by many factors:

• Material or the type of ceramic used (empress3, feldspathic, Cerinate Lumineers, Procera),
• Are the roots affected?
• How much tooth structure is present?
• where was the dentist trained?
• how many advanced training courses on esthetic dentistry has the dentist attended?
• how often does the dentist use dental veneers to improve the smile?
• Where is the practice located?
• Which bonding material is used?
• What qualifications does the dental technician have?
• Is there a guarantee for the dental work?

Inform yourself thoroughly and try to find the answer to some of these questions. Only then will you be able to determine whether the price is reasonable.

A good way to do this is to look at the dentist's treatments. An experienced dentist should have already carried out many full restorations. If this is not the case, they may lack the necessary experience.

Average price range for dental veneers in Germany:

• Price for 1 dental veneer: 450 - 1800 euros
• Price for 8-10 dental veneers (smile makeover): 3600 - 18,000 euros

Dental veneers in combination with other treatments

It is also possible to carry out several aesthetic dental treatments in combination, e.g.

• Veneers,
• composite resin,
• dental implants,
• orthodontics and
• tooth whitening.