Chiswick Dentist

Case Studies

Veneer Case Study

I have recently had my veneers replaced after 13 years.  The process was quite a long process, as it not only involves 4 to 5 visits to the dentist but also a visit to the dental laboratory where the veneers are actually made.  The veneer on one of the front teeth had broken in half and it was rather unsightly.  Although the cost seemed rather high I didn’t have a choice. 

I had the veneers replaced on my top six front teeth and realised that the amount of time in getting the veneers perfect was not just down to my dentist but also the dental laboratory.  My visit to the dental laboratory lasted about an hour and as I was interested in how they were made they showed me the processes involved. 

First of all they use the impressions that have been taken by my dentist and from these they produce a 3D mould of your upper and lower teeth.  From this they are able to take a moulding of each individual tooth and use it to make the veneers.  This is where the time consuming process of making the veneers becomes apparent and whichever way you look at this process you can see that this is definitely an art form that requires a lot of skill. 

Before the work commences on making the veneers the dental technicians draw by hand an A4 size outline of a tooth and with some veneer templates they are able to assess along with digital photographs the exact colouring that would be required in order for them to look as natural as possible.  This usually incorporates the colouring of 2 or 3 templates and is detailed on the technicians drawing.  The technician also details the thickness, shape and imperfections that would have to be worked into the veneers.

Once this information is taken the process of building the veneers starts.  The veneers are made from porcelain and the dental technician has a vast range of different coloured porcelain pastes that are used to make up the correct colouration.  They mix the various colour pastes, which are then worked around the tooth mouldings just like moulding clay into shape but on a smaller scale.  Once the technician is satisfied with the porcelain mouldings they are then put into a small, contained furnace, which heats the porcelain mouldings to around 1,000 degrees centigrade.  This process is the same as firing pottery and once it is completed the porcelain veneers are removed and allowed to cool.  The appearance of the veneers has changed from a pasty matt finish to a solid glazed look, exactly the same as our natural teeth.  Once they have been allowed to cool they are all placed back in the moulding together to make sure that they all fit correctly as if they were your natural teeth.

Although the costs involved in having veneers seemed to be rather high, having seen the process from the dental laboratory as well as the hard work the dentist puts into correctly fitting them I would say that they are excellent value for money. 

They have also stopped me biting my nails for the first time in 30 years.

Tony Howell
White Truffle Auction

Website: www.whitetruffleauction.com
Tel: +44 (0)8454-609709

 

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0208 987 9977

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0208 987 9097

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Chiswick Park Dental Practice
62 South Parade
Chiswick
London
W4 5LG

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