What types of dental veneers are there?
As you probably already know, dental veneers are thin veneers made to adhere to the front of the tooth and improve its aesthetics. In addition to improving the colour of teeth and hiding stains, they can also correct small enamel fractures, as well as provide a solution to interdental spaces or minor positional defects. However, depending on the material they are made of, their quality and application may vary.
Find out about the types of dental veneers that exist, their characteristics, applications, advantages and disadvantages:
- Composite dental veneers.
- Zirconium dental veneers.
- Lithium disilicate dental veneers.
- Ultra-thin dental veneers.
Treatment with dental veneers is a minimally invasive, fast and effective procedure in the area of Dental Aesthetics. But, as we have mentioned, veneers can be made of different materials, giving rise to different qualities and qualities that are interesting to know.
Thus, in Dentistry, we have two types of veneers, composite veneers and ceramic or porcelain veneers (which are both zirconium and ultra-thin). And depending on the particular needs of each patient, the specialist should recommend the placement of one type of veneer or another.
1. Composite dental veneers.
Composite veneers are thin layers made of a mouldable synthetic resin. They are the most frequently used in dental aesthetic treatments as composite is an economical and resistant material composed of carbon fibres, glass and boron.
In addition, composite is a highly adaptable material, so it blends in very well with the exact colour of the tooth, i.e. it does not stand out negatively in contrast to the patient’s original teeth, so it can be used on one or more teeth, always achieving a good aesthetic result.
1.1. When is it advisable to wear composite veneers?
Composite veneers are recommended for people who wish to cover slight defects in their teeth. They can be placed on incisors and other visible teeth to correct small defects such as slight crowding, staining and stains, or to close gaps (triangles) or diastemas (interdental spaces).
However, the treatment of dental veneers with composite is not recommended for patients who wish to treat more severe imperfections of position and shape, or who are more prone to caries. Nor is this material advisable if you suffer from bruxism, i.e. clenching or grinding of the teeth.
1.2. What are the advantages of composite veneers?
- Synthetic resin is an inexpensive material and therefore treatment with composite veneers is more affordable.
- The application of these resin veneers requires only a few sessions and the specialist can contour them directly onto the tooth.
- For this reason, in the exceptional cases in which the veneer suffers a fracture, the specialist can retouch them in one session.
1.2. What are the disadvantages of composite veneers?
- Composite is a material that can stain over time, especially due to highly coloured food and beverages.
- Composite veneers have a durability of approximately 5 years, slightly longer if they are very well maintained.
- After this period, the patient should visit the clinic to have the composite veneers replaced or polished.
2. Zirconium dental veneers.
Zirconium veneers are one of the most popular types of ceramic veneers. Zirconium is one of the most avant-garde materials in the elaboration of different parts for dentistry, including the manufacture of dental veneers, as it is a biocompatible and highly resistant material.
In addition, zirconium is easily malleable and translucent. Its whitish colour blends in with the tooth and gives the veneer a natural look. This is why it is used in many dental procedures, especially due to the high quality of the material.
2.1. When is it advisable to wear zirconium veneers?
Zirconium crowns are a recommended aesthetic solution for patients with gingival recession. Specialists also recommend their use when the tooth to be treated has a metal post. This is the most common when the tooth suffers a greater imperfection and weakening, as these types of veneers are thicker and more resistant. For this same reason, they are ideal for size corrections.
2.2. What are the advantages of porcelain veneers?
- Zirconium is a very resistant material and therefore very durable. They can last up to 15 years in perfect conditions.
- Both the colour and the shine will remain intact following the recommendations of the specialist in terms of maintenance and care.
- The material can be used to cover more than one tooth at a time, it is not necessary to cover the teeth one by one.
- They are the best option to solve slight positional imperfections, without the need to resort to orthodontics.
2.3. What are the disadvantages of porcelain veneers?
- They are 1.2 millimetres thick, so they are recommended for teeth that have already suffered previous wear.
- Ceramic does not adapt to the colour of the tooth in the same way as composite, so it is better to wear them on more than one tooth.
- Although it is a material that is unlikely to suffer a fracture, if it does, it is necessary to reconstruct it in a laboratory.
3. Lithium disilicate dental veneers.
Lithium disilicate dental veneers are a thin veneer made of a high-strength material produced through a process of nucleation control and crystallisation of the glass by means of heat. This system offers highly aesthetic restorations that can adopt a natural shade, as well as providing durability to the veneer.
This mixture of ceramic and glass is one of the latest advances in dentistry as it is an innovative material that does not require excessive prior grinding of the tooth. In addition, these veneers are custom-made, that is, they are highly customisable to meet the needs of patients who wish to improve the aesthetics of their smile.
3.1. When is it advisable to wear lithium disilicate veneers?
When the patient has defects such as stains, imperfections or interdental spaces. It is also recommended when there are more serious conditions such as fractures, even if the area to be restored is larger, thanks to its resistant quality. In addition, it is possible to place several veneers at the same time, making them ideal when a larger number of teeth need to be restored.
3.2. What are the advantages of lithium disilicate veneers?
- Following the instructions of our specialists, dental veneers can have a long life span of up to 20 years.
- Lithium disilicate veneers achieve very natural shades that perfectly match the patient’s teeth.
3.3. What are the disadvantages of lithium disilicate veneers?
- They are expensive, although their price is in line with the characteristics (thinness and strength of the material) and the fitting process.
- Their placement implies more visits to the dentist, as the design must be made first and then they must be cemented.
4. Ultra-thin dental veneers.
Ultra-thin dental veneers are the latest generation of ultra-thin porcelain veneers, as thin as a contact lens. To make this type of ceramic veneers, injected porcelain is used and they must be made manually, hence the importance of relying on 3D scanning technology to get the best prototype or mould.
The most prominent brand of ultra-thin dental veneers is Lumineers. These veneers adhere to the tooth practically without touching or modifying it thanks to the fact that their thickness ranges between 0.3 and 1 millimetre. For this reason, it is the most innovative treatment in this dental aesthetic technique and its success lies in its translucent and highly resistant material.
4.1. When is it advisable to wear Lumineers veneers?
When the patient wishes to increase the size of a tooth affected by wear, as an aesthetic restoration of a broken tooth, to slightly change the shape and position of a tooth and, obviously, to correct the colour and shade of the teeth, obtaining a very natural and unnoticeable result.
4.2. What are the advantages of Lumineers veneers?
- Lumineers veneers are bonded to the dental piece practically without the need for milling, cutting or filing in most cases.
- If you follow the instructions of our specialists, dental veneers can last for up to 15 years.
- Cerinate®, the company that manufactures Lumineers, offers a five-year manufacturing guarantee on its veneers, as long as they are maintained in Clinicas Udemax, which are certified to carry out the treatment.
4.3. What are the disadvantages of Lumineers veneers?
- Given that the veneers are translucent and provide naturalness, if the original tooth is very yellow, it will be necessary to carry out a previous dental whitening.
- They are the most expensive, although their price is adjusted to the characteristics (thinness and strength of the material) and the fitting process.
