Treatment with Composite Veneers

Composite Veneers (also known as Resin Veneers or Composite bonding)

A skilled dentist can build up numerous layers of resin onto the front surfaces of teeth, and is able to fix gaps, crooked teeth, discolouration, broken or chipped teeth. This skill requires more than technical skill and experience, but importantly an artistic eye and attention to aesthetic detail. As the dentist personally is creating the shape of teeth, they must be well versed in the recreating the shape, anatomy and details of natural teeth.

What is Composite Resin?

Composite resin is a tooth-coloured restorative material frequently used by dentists as an alternative to metal fillings. Resin is applied to a tooth whilst in a soft, dough-like state, however when the resin is exposed to a particular wavelength of special blue light, the resin hardens, becoming strong and bonding to the underlying tooth.

In the last 30 years, composite resin materials have improved to such an extent that it is durable enough to be used for repairing the teeth at the back of the mouth, which experience high levels of pressure when biting and chewing.

What Can Composite Veneers Fix?

This question is limited really only to the skill and expertise of the dentist. An accomplished and experienced aesthetic dentist can utilise composite resin veneers to address a wide range of cosmetic concerns, including shape, colour, size, position of teeth, closing gaps, correcting the smile line, repair tooth wear and damage.

Advantages of Composite Veneers:

Can address a range of aesthetic concerns.
Can restore existing tooth wear.
Can be completed in one appointment.
Minimal preparation, very conservative.
Highly flexible and durable material.
Easily adjusted and modified by a dentist.
Treatment is reversible.

Disadvantages of Composite Veneers:

Texture and finish can fade with time.
Requires regular polishing, but this can be achieved during routine follow-up appointments.
Can require maintenance, which is also addressed during routine follow-up appointments.

Before Treatment

After discussing your motivations, goals and expectations about aesthetic dental treatment with composite veneers, the dentist will formulate a treatment plan best suited to your needs, and discuss any costs or additional work that may need attention before treatment with veneers.
Before veneers are applied, any necessary dental treatments required to stabilise the health and functionality of the mouth must be completed. This will often include a professional clean to remove and treat any decay or calculus.

The Veneering Process

Having treatment with resin veneers is often far less invasive than other methods of smile rejuvenation, for example porcelain veneers or crowns. In most cases the treatment can often be completed in one visit to an aesthetic dentist, without the need for needles, drilling or grinding back healthy teeth.

The dentist will etch the outermost surface of the teeth using a specially formulated phosphoric acid, which will create microscopic roughening of the top layer of enamel. This prepares the tooth for better bonding with the composite resin. Think of it much like the primer coat applied before painting.
The dentist will then carefully apply consecutive thin layers of soft, doughy resin onto the teeth, shaping it and moulding it carefully with artistic skill.
Each layer is ‘cured’ or hardened using an intense blue light. The particular wavelength of this light activates a chemical reaction which makes the soft composite material become hard, strong and durable.
Various layers or different coloured resin, with varying degrees of translucency (see through-ness) will create the lustre and colouration of natural teeth. This is a vital skill a dentist must have if composite veneers are going to look real and complement the rest of the face.
After the shape of the veneers are finalised, the dentist will check the bite and functionality of the teeth, and ensure the patient can easily and clearly pronounce all the sounds of speech (our teeth play a large role in most sounds of spoken language).
Finally, the dentist will add the finishing touches to the veneers, smoothing edges, polishing and adding the necessary details and anatomical features required to help create a realistic finish.

Maintaining a Smile with Composite Veneers

Good dental hygiene and adequate ongoing care and maintenance are vital for the longevity and continued beauty of a new smile.

Are Composite Veneers Reversible?

Unlike traditional porcelain veneers or crowns which permanently shave back the teeth to make room on the surface for the thicker restorations, resin veneers do not require painful destruction of natural tooth tissue. If a crown breaks or comes away, the sensitive underlying tooth is exposed, and can be very uncomfortable. Underneath composite resin veneers, teeth are intact and healthy, and should you choose to have the veneers removed, there are techniques that allow this to be done safely.