How Dental Veneers Have Changed Over the Years

Dentist showing porcelain crowns to the female patient.

Did you know that dental veneers have been around for about a century? And in that long span of time, dental veneers have evolved drastically. Dental veneers of today are so far from those removable tooth caps that started it all. If you think you will need veneers, it is a good idea to know more about how they have changed over the years!

Porcelain veneers have first been used in the late 1920s. Its use began in Hollywood when a dentist from California named Charles Pincus thought of a way to improve the smiles of his celebrity patients. Dr. Pincus came up with the idea of making an acrylic tooth cap and fitting it over a patient’s existing tooth. Hollywood stars would wear those caps during the filming of movie scenes and then remove them afterward. This may seem too different from the porcelain permanent veneers that we have today, but it really is the beginning of dental veneers and how they were used to perfect people’s smiles.

Regular people then began getting that particular type of dental veneers to improve their smile up until the early 1950s. This dental solution was especially popular among those who have damaged or lost teeth. In the 1950s, dentists were already bonding veneers to the surface of teeth. The problem, however, was that the veneers, which were then already made of either composite or porcelain, would not adhere properly to the teeth’s surface. It was Dr. Michael Bunocore who discovered that using a mild acid to lightly etch the surface of the tooth made bonding easier and stronger. It was during this time that veneers became a more permanent and attractive option.

It was in the early 1980s that veneers that are similar to what we have today began. Dental veneers also became more affordable, making them popular among people who wish to get improvements for cosmetic reasons.

 

Veneers of Today

Today’s veneers look very real that it is very hard to tell if someone is wearing them. Now you can choose between two options: traditional and no-preparation veneers. For traditional veneers, a small amount of enamel from your teeth will be removed to make room for the veneers. For no-preparation veneers, there is no need to modify your natural teeth as the veneers are directly fitted over your natural teeth.

While the very first veneers were temporary and for short-term use, the ones we have available today are permanent. High-quality veneers can last anywhere between 2 to 20 years.

Veneers have really come a long way and now it has reached that stage where they look just like your natural teeth. Colour- matching with your existing teeth is, of course, an important aspect and that’s where the dentist’s and the dental laboratory’s skills come into play. Being able to create a natural-looking veneer with subtle translucency and the right shape for our patients is what sets Pickering Square Dental apart from others.

Veneers can fix a lot of problems like chipped, decayed, broken, or gapped tooth. But don’t just get veneers anywhere! Choose Pickering Square Dental to make sure that you get the best veneers! Our attention to detail and meticulous veneer application ensure that you will get that gorgeous smile that you are looking for.

Dental Health Resolutions for the New Year

The New Year is a time for renewal, not just of our calendars, but of our lives.  It’s an opportunity to start fresh, yet again, and live a better and healthier life with a new set of guidelines.  If you’re like many people you don’t take care of your teeth as well as you should so January 1st represents a great time to make a change towards better dental health.  Here are some teeth-friendly resolutions you should consider sticking to this year.

Brush up on The Basics

You should brush three times a day and floss daily and if you stick to those basics that’s a lot of preventative maintenance done for your teeth right there.  If flossing has been too much of a hassle for you traditionally consider floss picks or interdental brushes as an alternative.

Get Your Teeth Whiter

You look in the mirror and your teeth are ruddier or more yellow than you’d like.  You can address that with a trip to the dentist.

Get Those Imperfections Fixed

Maybe you have a chip or a crack that doesn’t really bother you, except when you see it in the mirror.  Make the time this year to get those problems taken care of.  Keeping your smile bright and without glaring flaws can be a big boost for your self-esteem.

Teach Your Kids

You know you need to pass on good hygiene habits to the little ones so this is the year to do it.  Take the time to show them how to brush and floss properly and explain the reasons why it’s important.

See Your Dentist More Often

Maybe 2015 has been a busy year, perhaps with the New Year and January around the corner… it’s a great time to get back on schedule to make sure little problems don’t become big ones.  Even a quick dental cleaning can save you a lot in pain and bills down the road.  Make this year the year you start taking really great care of your teeth. 

As a reminder, a majority of dental insured patients has an annual renewal of their dental benefits January 1st.  If you’re one of our patients fortunate enough to have benefits, remember, unused benefits do not get carried forward, they’re lost forever.  If you have any issues or questions about your dental benefits and want some guidance contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.

Aesthetic Options for Your Teeth

When it comes to human interaction the attractiveness of our teeth – our smile – is a crucial part of the first impression.  White healthy teeth means a healthy person who takes good care of him or herself and cracked, crooked, or missing teeth can be perceived as the opposite!  This, of course, isn’t always true – a person with missing teeth could simply have been the victim of a bad accident or other misfortune but that won’t always come across to the person they are speaking to.  Thankfully, there are methods offered that can help you obtain or restore a gorgeous gleam for your smile.

Braces

For fixing crooked teeth in either children or adults braces remain a terrific option.  Braces are long-term dental work that are affixed to the teeth in multiple ways.  Over time the pressure applied by braces will coax the teeth into better alignment giving a gorgeous symmetrical look. 

Veneers

For people with small chips, cracks, or stained teeth veneers are a great option.  Thin porcelain shells that are custom-fitted and attached to the front of your teeth they can immediately whiten and brighten your smile and give it a long-lasting and healthy look.  If you just want to brighten your smile veneers are the way to go.

Crowns

If you have more serious issues with major cracks, extremely large fillings, or root canals then crowns are right for you.  Crowns, also called dental caps, are tooth shaped caps that cover the teeth all the way to the gum line.  Unlike veneers crowns also have the ability to strengthen the teeth but in order to be fitted properly a portion of the tooth needs to be removed.  They’re always the correct choice for teeth with structural issues.

Implants

If you lose your teeth and want to fill that gap the only way that used to be available was through dentures.  Dentures still remain a viable choice for those with multiple teeth needing to be replaced but for those with only one or two missing who want a more permanent solution dental implants are now available.  These implants will look and work like your natural teeth and with advances in dental technology are easier than ever to place.

As you can see there are a lot of great options for those wanting to add a little aesthetic power to their smile.  If you want some of that power for yourself contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.  We offer a full array of aesthetic options.