Porcelain veneers and transforming your smile: expert advice from your trusted dental practice

At Orpington Dental, we understand how important your smile is to your overall appearance and self-confidence. That’s why we are here to provide you with expert advice on porcelain veneers, a popular option for achieving a radiant and flawless smile. In this article, we will guide you through everything you need to know about porcelain veneers in Orpington and how they can transform your smile. From their benefits and application process to aftercare and maintenance, we aim to provide you with comprehensive insights.

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What are veneers?

These veneers are thin shells made of dental ceramic or porcelain that are custom-made to cover the front surface of a tooth. They are meticulously crafted to resemble the colour and shape of natural teeth. By bonding these veneers to the teeth, dentists can effectively enhance the appearance of an individual’s smile. This cosmetic dental solution is a versatile and long-lasting option for those looking to correct various dental imperfections, including stained, chipped, misaligned, or irregularly shaped teeth.

Benefits of veneers

This treatment offers numerous benefits that contribute to their popularity among individuals seeking smile transformations. One significant advantage is their ability to provide natural-looking results. The material used in creating veneers mimics the translucency and shine of natural enamel, ensuring a seamless integration with the rest of your teeth. Additionally, porcelain is stain-resistant, allowing you to maintain a bright, white smile for years to come. Another advantage of veneers is their durability. When properly cared for, veneers can last for 10-15 years.

The application process

The application process of porcelain veneers in Orpington typically involves several steps. It begins with an initial consultation with your dentist, during which you discuss your goals and expectations. After determining that veneers are the right option for you, your dentist will prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from the surface. This step ensures a proper fit for the veneers. Next, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth, which will serve as the blueprints for crafting custom veneers. Once the permanent veneers are ready, your dentist will bond them securely to your teeth using dental cement, making any necessary adjustments for optimal fit and appearance.

Aftercare and maintenance

Proper aftercare and maintenance are essential for maximising the longevity and preserving the appearance of your porcelain veneers. It is advisable to practise good oral hygiene habits, including regular brushing and flossing, as well as attending routine dental check-ups and cleanings. Avoid excessive consumption of stain-causing substances like coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco products to prevent discoloration. If you tend to grind your teeth, your dentist may recommend wearing a nightguard to protect your veneers. Lastly, be mindful of biting into excessively hard foods or objects, as this can potentially damage the veneers.

Choosing the right dental practice for porcelain veneers

When considering veneers, it’s essential to choose a reputable and experienced dental practice like Orpington Dental. Our team of skilled professionals is dedicated to providing personalised treatment plans and delivering outstanding results. During your consultation, we will assess your dental health, discuss your aesthetic goals, and tailor a treatment plan that aligns with your needs. With our state-of-the-art technology and commitment to patient satisfaction, we strive to make your porcelain veneer experience a positive and transformative one.

Conclusion

Porcelain veneers in Orpington are an excellent solution for achieving a flawless smile, enhancing your appearance, and boosting your self-confidence. By addressing various dental imperfections, these custom-made shells can provide natural-looking and long-lasting results. Remember to consult with your trusted dental practice in Orpington for professional advice and personalised treatment. With proper care and maintenance, your veneers can continue to transform and beautify your smile for years to come. Don’t hesitate to take the first step towards your dream smile – schedule a consultation with us at Orpington Dental today!

Porcelain veneers Orpington: how to make your smile look like new

If you’ve had chipped or cracked teeth, stained teeth or crossed teeth, then a treatment you may like to consider is porcelain veneers Orpington here at Orpington Dental. There are a couple of types of veneers: porcelain and composite bonding. Neither require major surgery and can help your teeth to look improved, giving you a smile you can be proud of.

Composite bonding

If you have a small imperfection in one of your teeth, you may be offered composite bonding, which is a quick and effective way of improving the appearance of your teeth. We match the colour of the porcelain to the surrounding teeth, so that nobody else will realise that you have had this treatment and that your teeth aren’t completely natural. The composite bonding is attached to the tooth once the surface of the tooth has been prepared. It can be given in a single visit and you won’t need any recovery time after the treatment has been completed. There is no need to have a local anaesthetic and you shouldn’t feel any pain at all. If you are a nervous patient, we are happy to discuss this treatment in advance with you and take everything at your own pace.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers Orpington are used for more complex matters and for times when many teeth need treating. A porcelain veneer requires the surface of the teeth to be prepared and then the veneers are placed onto the front of your teeth, like a false nail. Once this has been added on, it can be used to change the size, shape and colour of your teeth and the results can be wonderful aesthetically when you are having so many teeth done. We typically advise that smile makeovers may include other treatments such as Invisalign which is used for realigning teeth, should this be required. Smile makeovers not only improve the appearance of your teeth, but they can also address health issues as well. For example, if you have crossed teeth, having them realigned can make it easier for you to brush and floss effectively. You may also have had speech difficulties or jaw pain, which could also be resolved once your teeth are realigned. So, it’s not just about you having a pretty face!

Initial consultation with us

If you would like to find out more about any of our treatments, including veneers, and maybe have a smile makeover, the first thing you will need to do is to contact us for an initial consultation. During this time, our professional team will welcome you and assess your smile, examining you and maybe taking x-rays, if required. This will help our dentist to find out which treatments may be suitable and they will discuss the options with you. During this time, you can ask about anything you are unsure of and take the time to come to a decision about the treatment plan that suits you best.

If you do opt for veneers, we look forward to helping you have a new healthy and attractive smile in the near future!

Disguise chips and imperfections with porcelain veneers

At Orpington Dental we know that everybody is striving to get a smile that they love. Having an even smile with no chips, no cracks and no gaps is considered to be the sought after look, which is why we provide treatment to help disguise any chips, cracks or gaps that people may have. A lot of people believe that once they have chipped a tooth or cracked it in an accident there is no way to resolve it, and they will be stuck with a damaged tooth for the rest of their life. This can not only leave people feeling incredibly insecure, but uncomfortable as well, as their tongue will have to adapt to the jaggedness of their damaged tooth. This can also make eating and speaking difficult sometimes too. If you have a damaged tooth or an uneven smile that you wish to change, it may be time to book a consultation appointment with one of our practitioners to discuss getting porcelain veneers Orpington. They will be able to tell you whether this treatment is suitable for your circumstances and answer any questions that you might have about the procedure too.

Designed to look and feel like your original teeth

Many people worry that once they get porcelain veneers Orpington that everyone will notice that they have undergone dental treatment. In reality this is not likely, as they are made to look and feel exactly like your original teeth. In circumstances where you are only having one veneer fitted to conceal a chipped tooth, it will be matched as closely as possible to the shade of your other teeth to make sure that it blends in as successfully as possible. In some cases people wish to get a full set instead of just one veneer, which gives your smile a more complete, even appearance. When you get a whole set, each veneer is individually shaped and designed to make all of your teeth appear aligned, even and matched as much as possible in terms of overall shape and size. This treatment is also extremely durable. Once you have had your treatment your practitioner will explain how to take care of your new veneers properly. If they are looked after well they could last you for up to ten years, making them a cost effective treatment to have too.

An alternative treatment when braces cannot help

People sometimes think that porcelain veneers Orpington are only for people who have chipped or cracked teeth. This is not the case at all, and quite often people have tiny gaps between their teeth that cannot be closed up through the use of a straightening appliance for whatever reason. In these cases a full set of veneers can be used to disguise these spaces, giving your smile a completely aligned, even looking appearance with no unwanted voids. Sometimes having gaps between your teeth can lead to insecurities about your smile, leaving you feeling reluctant to smile in public or in front of anyone at all. This can really impact your self-esteem in the long run and can even end up with you isolating yourself from certain situations.

Our porcelain veneers in Orpington

Dental laminates can be used to give a subtle and permanent solution to discoloured and chipped teeth, while also closing the gaps which cannot be corrected with orthodontics.

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Our porcelain veneers Orpington are thin layers of hand crafted ceramics, which are permanently bonded to the front of a tooth.

What are dental bondings?

The very first dental overlays were crafted from acrylic and glued to the front of the teeth; these were impractical and temporary, and therefore not used outside of film sets. The challenges of a permanent laminate was how to successfully adhere porcelain to a tooth long term. Only in the 1980s was this solved, by etching both the underside of the porcelain prosthetic and the surfaces of the tooth. Then, a resin bonding agent could be used to fix the overlay in place for 10 to 30 years!  This has led to them being referred to as bondings.

Why use porcelain?

Our porcelain veneers Orpington are made to specification for each patient and have a natural translucent ‘tooth like’ quality. After colour matching, a single prosthetic can be indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth. Alternatively, a full set of veneers in a lighter or brighter shade can be used to provide a full dental makeover.

Bondings versus crowns

In many situations where crowns would have been used, the modern bondings we provide are an appropriate alternative. This allows us to save more of the original tooth, and allows more of the natural enamel to be retained in a less invasive procedure.

In situ bondings are formed by coating a tooth in dental resin, which is then sculpted by our dentist into its final form. They can be used to give structure to a badly damaged tooth and protect exposed dentine from further decay.

What is UV light bonding?

During the fitting stage of porcelain veneers Orpington, we will temporarily place and sculpt the laminate to the desired aesthetics. Only then will a resin be applied and cured with UV light, which permeates the thin laminate and ensures consistent and complete curing of the resin.

Looking after bondings

Veneering comes with some long-term maintenance. A 6 monthly check-up is still necessary to check the health and wellbeing of your mouth. Debonding can occur, but assuming no damage or decay has occurred, we can happily reattach the prosthetics. Cavities can still form around the edges of a bonding and encroach underneath them.

The porcelain laminates are more stain resistant than enamel. In smokers, red wine and coffee drinkers the laminate may become more obvious over time, and appear lighter than the teeth around it. This is not an issue if you have a full set of bondings, but is something that our dental hygienist can help with during a routine scale and polish. To find out more about porcelain veneers in Orpington or if they are an appropriate treatment option for you, a consultation will be necessary. Please feel free to contact us to take your first steps towards a new smile.

Porcelain Veneers in Orpington

Unhappy with your smile? Suffering from tooth decay or experiencing crooked teeth and want to do something about it? Based in the peaceful town of Orpington? Why not take a trip down to Orpington Dental and explore the available options we have for you.

Porcelain Veneers in OrpingtonIf you currently have chipped teeth or stains that are irreversible, we have treatments available which can help to restore your smile to what it once was. One option which can correct these tooth deficiencies are porcelain veneers. in Orpington.

These are wafer-thin porcelain shells designed to cover the front surface of your teeth to improve their appearance. A versatile option, these tooth coloured pieces of porcelain can be bonded to a single tooth or a number of teeth. You can even have the bonding over a whole set, which is known as a smile makeover.  The shape of these caps can be adjusted to make your teeth longer or closer together.

Before the procedure, you will have an appointment at our practice in Orpington where we will discuss the best options for your teeth. Typically X-rays will be taken to evaluate the health of your teeth and identify any signs of gum disease or tooth decay. In order for you to have veneers, we will have to be sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to have your treatment.

If we give you the go ahead, you will have a follow up appointment with us in which one of our dental professionals will remove some of the enamel of your teeth using a grinding tool. This is nothing to worry about as only about half a millimetre of your tooth is trimmed in order for us to take an impression of your teeth. The impressions are then sent off so that your veneers can be created.

Your next appointment will then be when we receive your porcelain veneers. At this point we will dentist will look at the shape and colouration to ensure they are perfect for you. If this is the case, dental cement will then be used to bind these caps onto your teeth. This typically should not last any longer than two hours.

Benefits of porcelain

Porcelain veneers in Orpington, out of all the materials available for bonding, have the most natural look and its durability means that they can last between ten to twenty years without staining. They are also less likely to break so you do not need to worry too much about them ever chipping although it is advised to eat harder foods with the back teeth as opposed to the front.

How to maintain your new smile

In order to get the best out of your treatment, we advise taking certain precautions which can assist you in making sure you get as much lifespan out of them as possible. For example, if you are someone that clenches or grinds your teeth, it would be beneficial for you to invest in a retainer. If you are an avid sports player it is also advised for you to wear a mouthguard to avoid any injuries. You must also avoid using your teeth to open packages and remember to maintain a good oral hygiene regime. So if you are thinking of porcelain veneers in Orpington contact us today.

Veneers are the real Hollywood smile

One of the best things to come along in modern dentistry is our ability to cover over teeth that aren’t looking so great. Veneers were first created in the 1920s in Hollywood as a way to change actors’ appearances. Veneers were stuck on over the actors’ real teeth to allow them transform themselves. But veneers weren’t very good back then; made of acrylic, they would only stay on for a few minutes and they made it harder to speak.

Porcelain Veneers in OrpingtonThings got better when dental porcelain came along, and there was another step forward in the 1950s when a dentist discovered a way to etch tooth enamel to create a better bonding surface. But it was not until the 1980s that veneers really started to come into their own for the general populace when dentists discovered a way to bond them permanently to the teeth.

Veneers in 2018

Now you can reap the benefits of all that research with veneers in Orpington at Orpington Dental Care, where we regularly use them to improve the look of our patients’ teeth. You can expect your veneers to last for at least 10 years if you look after them well too.

Versatile cover-ups

Veneers can be used to cover over chips, cracks, mild misalignments, gaps and also discolouration that can’t be removed with whitening. Dental porcelain can be crafted so that your veneers are indistinguishable from your other teeth. They can be coloured, sized and shaped to match. Or you can have them a few shades whiter than your teeth and have your teeth whitened to match.

One thing veneers can’t do is be bleached, so if you want whiter teeth, you need to get this done when you have your veneers done.

Two appointments

It only takes 2 appointments to get veneers. One for us to take measurements, agree on colour, and prepare your teeth by removing a thin layer of enamel so that they have a good bonding surface and your veneers will lie flush with the rest of your teeth. The other appointment is to fit them. It’s so easy and it can transform your smile.

Time for an upgrade

If your teeth have taken a bit of a battering over the years, you might be feeling a little less than comfortable with giving everyone your biggest grin.

And that’s a shame, because when we smile, it’s infectious. People automatically smile back and the world is a brighter place as we all feel the happy feelings that come with the rush of serotonin that genuine smiles release.

Porcelain Veneers in OrpingtonSo, what can you do to get back that lovely smile you once had before eating dangerous foods, like olives with their hard stones, took bits out of your teeth? Or how can you solve the issue of that crack, that gappy bit, those worn edges, that rough enamel that just seems to soak up stains no matter how regularly you come for a scale and polish?

Actually, the answer is easy and so is the procedure, when you come to us at Orpington Dental for porcelain veneers in Orpington.

What are veneers all about?

Dental porcelain has been developed over the years to become this incredibly strong, versatile, and durable material that can be coloured, moulded, and honed to create artificial teeth, or parts of teeth that can withstand the wear and tear of being a tooth for years. In the case of veneers, you can expect the piece of porcelain to last you over a decade. Of course, you have to look after your veneers — no more removing the caps from bottles of beer with your pearly whites. But with care and good oral hygiene, veneers can keep on looking great for a very long time. Here’s how we fit them:

You come to us for an appointment during which we look at what your dental problem is, and whether veneers are the right answer. If so, we do a colour match and take impressions so that the veneer in question will blend seamlessly with your own teeth. During the next appointment, we remove a very thin layer of enamel from your tooth, and fix the veneer to it with dental cement, making sure it lies flush with your other teeth.

And that’s it! All done. You can have as many veneers as you like. Why not pop in for a consultation?