Teeth can become discoloured for different reasons. This means that bleaching is not always the best solution. Some teeth cannot be bleached. Old fillings have visible borders that become more pronounced when bleached, making it unsightly. To avoid these problems, your dentist might recommend using a crown made from ceramic. This is particularly helpful if most of the tooth is either filled or damaged, where bleaching would be unsuitable. However, if the tooth is healthy, crowns are not recommended, as much of the healthy tooth would have to be destroyed to make way for the crown.

Veneers
A modern alternative is a veneer. A veneer is a very thin shell made of porcelain and customised to fit individual patients’ teeth. It will be glued to the outer surface of the tooth, forming a strong bond. The appearance is natural because the veneer mimics the layers of enamel.

 
This patient was unhappy with the colour of her teeth and the old fillings (yellow). 

First, all her teeth were bleached. Then, veneers were placed on the front four teeth. Veneers allow you to alter the shape of the teeth. So this patient requested an increase in length of her front teeth.

A natural look
Enamel is a relatively thin and transparent layer on the surface of the tooth. Under the enamel is the dentine, which is darker and coloured. The veneer is glued to the enamel and masks the darker underlying dentine. The porcelain used for veneers is very similar to enamel, making the appearance natural – almost like a new layer of enamel.

 
A tooth gets its natural colour from reflections of light through the different layers of the tooth. In order to create a natural appearance, the dentist will try to mimic the natural construction of the tooth. Veneers are highly precise, very thin shells of porcelain. They are customised to fit each individual patient and tooth. The veneer is glued to the outer surface. It mimics the natural appearance of the tooth, almost like a new layer of enamel.

This patient’s front tooth was broken in an accident and repaired with composite (above). Over time, it  turned slightly yellow. This was fixed using a porcelain veneer (below).

It is not necessary to remove any tooth substance if you choose to increase the size of a tooth with the veneer treatment. However, your dentist might need to remove a thin layer of enamel – usually 0.5mm – to accommodate the veneer. Next, your dentist will take an impression of your tooth and create a cast. Our dental laboratory will then make your customised veneer and your dentist will schedule a fitting. If the fit and appearance are to your liking, the veneer will be “cemented” (glued) in place, and you can enjoy your new smile.

This patient had veneers made for six front teeth.

At Snö, our dental technician works like an artist to craft veneers in-house. During an inlay, onlay or crown procedure, we can usually fabricate it on the same day or the next. To make aesthetic veneers usually takes a few more days due to the customisations. 

Thanks to our advanced digital scanners, we also save you from the discomfort of taking tooth impressions. A two-minute scan is all we need to get all the information of your teeth in full detail and the highest resolution. The crown is cemented to the tooth – aesthetic, durable and strong.

The quality and lifespan of the veneer has a direct relation with the technique and time spent on the treatment and oral hygiene going forward.

A treatment can look and feel good, but can still have quality concerns. At Snö, we always document everything during treatment in order to insure our high quality standard. This applies to veneers too. The veneer treatment also carries a two-year warranty. If you follow our protection plan you can get up to five years of warranty.