Dental Veneers – Shortcut to a Great Smile

Many people are embarrassed about the condition of their teeth. They may suffer from cosmetic problems such as discolouration, caused by tea, coffee, red wine or smoking, or they might be crooked and unevenly spaced. Happily, the wonders of modern dentistry mean that these are just some of the problems that can be corrected using a new type of super-thin veneer.



The Hospital Group is at the forefront of this new technique, and is now offering this pain-free alternative to traditional veneers. The Hospital Group also has a Pinterest page which is packed full of all the latest information on cosmetic procedures. 

What Is Different About The New Veneers? 

Traditional veneers have been around for a while, and in order to apply them, the existing healthy tooth has to be ground down, which can be uncomfortable or painful. The new type of veneers are made of very strong porcelain and are paper thin, which means that there is no need to file down teeth, so the tooth structure can remain strong and intact.

As the veneers are made individually for each patient, it is possible to choose the exact shade – either colour-matching to existing teeth or going a few shades brighter.



All About Tooth Wear

Some patients suffer from excessive tooth wear. While this can be considered to be part of the normal ageing process, excessive wear is a problem which needs to be addressed. If there is too much wear, the enamel can be completely eroded, exposing the dentin underneath. This can lead to dental decay as well as increased sensitivity. Enamel does not regenerate, so the problem should be dealt with before too much damage has been done.

There are a number of symptoms of excessive wear. To start with, the appearance of the tooth may be altered. The biting edges of the front teeth may round or sharpen; the molar teeth may appear flat and the teeth may assume a level appearance. Wear does not always cause pain, but in some patients the teeth may become more sensitive. In addition, the teeth may appear yellowed; once the enamel has worn away, the yellow dentin underneath will show through.

Causes of Tooth Wear

Excessive tooth wear is caused by tooth on tooth contact, and can be accelerated if a tooth is rubbing against a porcelain filling in the opposite tooth. It can also be triggered by an acidic diet – for example, if the patient eats a lot of fruit or drinks a lot of fizzy drinks. Acid reflux can have the same effect.

Bruxism is also a common cause. ‘Bruxism’ means ‘tooth grinding’ – patients may grind their teeth together if they are stressed, and might not even realise they are doing it as it is possible for it to happen while they are asleep.



Treatment of Tooth Wear

If the wear has been caused by bruxism, the best way to prevent it from getting any worse is for the patient to wear a custom-made bite guard overnight. The condition of the teeth can be monitored to see if this is helping.

The decision on the degree of repair which should be made to the teeth depends on the patient’s needs, the severity of the wear and whether it has stabilised. Fillings, partial dentures and crown lengthening treatments are available, and veneers can also be used to repair teeth.

The super-thin veneers can be applied straight onto the damaged teeth without filing them down any further, giving quick and painless results.

With this advance in dentistry, there is now no reason for patients to be afraid of getting the smile they have always wanted. Even those with a strong aversion to dentists and dental treatment will find this procedure pleasantly acceptable, and can enjoy perfect teeth without years of treatment.