More things to know about Cosmetic Dentistry
(Part 7)
Now we discuss veneers or laminates as part of the service of cosmetic dentists.
Veneers or laminates are ultra-thin front-facing caps that dentists use to bond directly to the teeth. The idea is to make the teeth whiter and straighter than before.
To prepare the tooth for lamination or placement of veneers, an anatomic wax mockup is made first to guide the dentist as to the size and shape of the laminates.
Veneers are best used to change the color of the teeth, when bleaching is not possible. Veneers are used to enhance the shape of the tooth or to close the gap between teeth.
Another service offered by cosmetic dentists is tooth reduction or enameloplasty.
Tooth reduction entails the removal of the enamel or reshaping in order to come up with the optimal fit for the veneers.
The majority of veneer treatments need enameloplasty.
A mockup is needed as a guide for the veneers in order to achieve the best results. The mockup is based on one’s existing set of teeth and will be used to guide veneer fabrication.
Before the veneers are made using the mockup, pre-evaluation temporaries may he created to give the dentist a preview to the teeth occlusion, phonetics, and appearance of the laminates.
The dentist uses the mockup to visualize changes required on the teeth in respect to proportion, shape, and size in order to optimize the patient’s smile.
A mockup also helps dentists correct the laminate size and shape as needed.