In the last few years, there has been an explosion in the number of people seeking cosmetic dental treatments, with one of the most popular options being the fitting of porcelain laminates.

These are, in short, thin porcelain wafers that are placed over the front of your teeth and are held in place with dental cement. As you can guess, they can be used to help whiten teeth and seal cracks and chips, but can also be a great option if you have tooth sensitivity and have tried every other option.

Yet there used to be something of a mystery around the dental procedure, due in part to the fact that it was associated with the Hollywood elite for years. Even now many people simply have never heard of it. Is it the same as composite bonding? Read on to learn a bit more about porcelain veneers Bondi Junction and what you can expect when you approach a cosmetic dental team to have them fitted.

Assessment

First, a dental team will need to assess your suitability for porcelain laminates. This will include assessing the condition of your dental health overall and treating any underlying and active issues that you may have, such as tooth decay or gum disease. Gum disease is particularly detrimental when it comes to the fitting of porcelain laminates, as the swelling of the gums can cause the laminates to fall off prematurely.

They will also assess the suitability of the laminates with the condition that you want to have treated. So if you are looking to close a minor gap between 2 teeth with laminates, they will decide if this is feasible. If all goes well, you will be invited back for a fitting and an intraoral scan or mould of your teeth will be taken.

Creating the laminates

Creating the laminates is a rather impressive process. Using the intraoral scan or the dental mould, a dental technician will create a perfectly fitted laminate in whichever shade you wish to have it, as well as any size. The process can be quite time-consuming however, with many porcelain laminate sets taking between 4 to 6 weeks to be made and shipped back to your dental surgery, so you will need to wait.

The fitting

The fitting of porcelain laminates is relatively straightforward. Your dental team will first gently sand the front of the teeth that they are going to be attached to and will then place the dental cement onto it. The tooth surface has to be slightly rough for the cement to adhere correctly. Once the cement is in place, the laminate will be pressed onto the tooth and the cement will set.

Aftercare

Once the laminates are in place, all you need to do to maintain them is to brush your teeth twice a day as you would anyway. Be sure to floss and use mouthwash. If you suspect that your laminates are falling off prematurely, then please seek an appointment with your dental team as soon as possible to ascertain the underlying reason.

Longevity

Provided that you stick to this very simple aftercare, your porcelain laminates can easily last between 15 and 20 years. But this may be shortened, especially if you are a smoker or if you consume alcohol to excess regularly.

DISCLAIMER OFFSITE

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.