When you visit a dental office for tooth restoration or tooth veneers or one of Dental cosmetic procedures, Porcelain is one of the most frequent names. that you hear Porcelain veneers are widely used in dentistry. But the question that arises is what is dental porcelain? In this article, we will introduce you to dental porcelain and explain the uses of porcelain veneers in dentistry.
Dental porcelain introduction
What is dental porcelain? Porcelain or dental porcelain, which is also called dental ceramic, is usually made of kaolin, quartz and feldspar. Porcelain has high strength and is used for various dental restorations, such as veneers, due to its close resemblance to natural teeth. This material is biocompatible and strong and creates an appearance similar to natural tooth enamel.
The history of using porcelain in dentistry
quoting from the book Comprehensive Biomaterials, the idea of using porcelain was first proposed in 1774. The first dental porcelains were made of kaolin, feldspar and quartz; But it wasn't until 1838 that dental porcelains were made with a clarity that matched other teeth. Features such as high strength and beauty have made dental porcelain have various applications in dentistry today.
Applications of porcelain veneers in dentistry
Now it's time to know what are the uses of dental porcelain. Porcelain has many uses in dentistry and is used to make dental veneers, dental veneers, bridges, etc. But one of the most important uses of it is to make cover.
porcelain cover
When the tooth is extensively decayed or when a tooth is denervated, the tooth is no longer strong and more vulnerable than before. For these teeth, the dentist uses a veneer. The veneers are like dental crown; But they are made artificially in a dental laboratory. Veneers completely cover the surface of the tooth, making it look like healthy and natural teeth and preventing tooth breakage. These veneers may be made as all-porcelain veneers or porcelain-bonded-to-metal (PFM) veneers. So basically porcelain veneers for:
- Repairing a broken tooth or a tooth with extensive decay
- To strengthen teeth and prevent tooth breakage
- To protect teeth and prevent tooth loss
- improving the appearance of teeth
- Make your smile more beautiful
Dental bridge
Given that porcelain is a strong material, we can also use it to replace one or two pulled teeth. For this, we use a prosthesis called Dental bridges. A bridge is a dental prosthesis that is made by placing several dental veneers together. This prosthesis is placed on the healthy teeth from both sides, like a veneer, and fills the place of the missing tooth.
porcelain veneer
Another use of porcelain in dentistry is to use it as dental veneer. Veneers are a thin ceramic layer that is attached to the front surface of the teeth and solve problems such as yellowing of the tooth color and minor tooth fractures. Porcelain veneer is used for smile correction because of its beauty and strength.
dental implant
When you want to replace a missing tooth with an implant, the surgeon first places a special base inside your jawbone, which Implant fixture we say. Then a small piece is attached to that base and a cover is placed on it so that the implant has the beauty and function of a natural tooth. Porcelain veneer is a veneer that you can also use for dental implants.
We recommend that you refer to the corresponding page for Dental implant price.
Annelle
Onlay is a type of restoration that looks like a half veneer. This restoration is used when the tooth needs extensive filling and restoration, but there is not enough tooth tissue left and the tooth is not able to hold the restoration.
Advantages of using porcelain veneers
Now that we know the uses of porcelain in dentistry, it is time to know what are the benefits of dental porcelain.
Natural appearance and resemblance to real teeth
Porcelain transmits light in a way that makes it look like natural teeth. Also, the color and shape of these veneers are customized for each patient to match well with the other teeth of the patient. As a result, porcelain restorations look like real teeth.
High durability and durability against wear and tear
Porcelain is very strong. This is the reason why dental restorations made of porcelain have a high resistance to chewing and biting. Also, these restorations are resistant to discoloration and staining.
Suitable for people who are allergic to metals
Porcelain is a biocompatible material. This substance rarely causes sensitivity or irritation of the gum tissues. For this reason, they are suitable for people who are allergic to metal coatings.
Use in front teeth to improve beauty
As we said, porcelain veneers look like natural teeth and harmonize well with other teeth. For this reason, this veneer is a suitable option for people whose front teeth are broken, damaged or severely yellowed.
possible disadvantages of porcelain veneers
Each treatment or cosmetic procedure performed in the dental office has advantages and disadvantages. Now it's time to know what are the disadvantages of dental porcelain. The disadvantages of porcelain veneers are:
- Need to shave the teeth: all dental veneers need to be shaved and shaped to be installed on the teeth. Shaving teeth to install veneers is an irreversible but necessary process.
- Time consuming: unlike some other dental restorations that are done in one session, making and preparing porcelain veneers and veneers requires a lot of time and several visits to the dentist. High cost: restorations and prostheses made with porcelain are more expensive than other dental restorations. This issue is considered one of the disadvantages of this type of coatings. But it should be noted that the result of restoration usually leads to high satisfaction of patients and its cost is fully justified.
- Possibility of breaking: Like any other dental restoration, and even like our own natural teeth, if too much pressure is applied to the porcelain crown, there is a chance that it will break. These covers are prone to breaking and filling. So you have to take good care of them.
- Tooth sensitivity: For a short time after the installation of the porcelain veneer, your tooth may become sensitive and react to cold or heat. This Tooth sensitivity The reason for shaving the teeth happens and usually resolves after a few days.
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How is porcelain veneer installed?
One of the frequent questions of clients is what are the steps of installing dental porcelain veneers? Dental porcelain veneers are prepared and installed in several steps.
Installation steps of porcelain veneer
The steps that must be done to install a veneer on the tooth are:
- In the first step, the dentist must first examine the patient's mouth and teeth and request a radiograph. During this examination, first the condition of the patient's teeth is checked and the necessary treatment for the tooth is determined.
- If it is determined that a crown needs to be placed on your tooth, the tooth must be prepared for the crown to be placed. At this stage, the dentist uses a special tool to shave the tooth and shape it so that the veneer can be properly installed on it.
- After preparing the tooth, it is time for molding. Molding may be done in a traditional way or by using special digital scanners. The prepared mold is sent to the laboratory along with the color chosen for the veneer, so that the veneer is made according to the condition of the patient's teeth.
- After molding, the dentist places a temporary cover on the patient's tooth so that the tooth is not damaged until the cover is ready.
- When the cover is ready, the patient must visit the dentist again. In this treatment session, the temporary cover is removed from the patient's tooth and the made cover or veneer is permanently installed on the patient's tooth.
- Finally, the dentist checks the installed crown for height and gloss to ensure the best restoration for the patient.
Duration of installation and care after it
You usually have to visit the dentist's office two or three times to have the crown installed. The laboratory usually needs two to three weeks to make porcelain veneers. After the time of molding to the final installation of the dental veneer, it takes about three weeks.
Important points after dental porcelain installation
Although porcelain is a strong and durable material, after the installation of dental porcelain, you must take good care of it so that the veneer and the tooth underneath remain healthy. That's why you should:
- Avoid eating hard foods such as chewing candy or ice and sticky foods such as chewing gum.
- Brush at least twice a day using a suitable toothbrush.
- Floss your teeth once a day and clean around your teeth.
- If you grind your teeth, use a special tooth protector.
- Visit your dentist for an examination twice a year and make sure that your crowns or veneers are healthy and not damaged.
- Minimize drinking acidic drinks and drinks like coffee that stain teeth and veneers.
Comparison of porcelain veneers with PFM
As we explained before, porcelain is used to make different types of dental crowns and prostheses, two of which are famous and widely used. Ceramic and PFM coating. An all-ceramic veneer, as the name suggests, is made entirely of porcelain ceramic. But the PFM coating is two layers. These crowns are made of a metal layer that is placed directly on the tooth. This metal layer is covered with porcelain from the outside to have a more natural appearance.
Compared to the pfm veneer, the full porcelain veneer has a more natural appearance and is more like a real tooth. Also, some time after installing the dental crown, the gums may atrophy a little. In this case, the metal layer of the pfm coating is defined as a thin gray line in the gum line.
Finally, it should be mentioned that pfm coatings cause allergic reactions and inflammation in some people. While this is not usually seen when using all-ceramic porcelain veneers. The price of the pfm cover is for the full porcelain cover.
Summary
In this article, we explained what dental porcelain is and said that due to its high resistance and durability, as well as the natural appearance of restorations made of porcelain, this material is widely used in dentistry. One of the most important uses of porcelain veneers in dentistry is making dental veneers. Veneers protect your damaged teeth and make them look more beautiful. Finally, we need to emphasize that to cover your teeth, you must visit an experienced dentist and take the care after installing the cover seriously.
Dental clinic of Dr. Hamidreza Afzali
FAQ
What is dental porcelain?
Porcelain or porcelain is a type of ceramic material that is used to make veneers, onlays, veneers, bridges, etc. This material has high durability and strength and good transparency.
Is dental porcelain veneer good?
Yes. Porcelain veneers have been used for years to restore teeth and to beautify teeth. These veneers match well with your side teeth and give your teeth a uniform appearance. These covers are also strong and durable.
How long is dental porcelain?
Porcelain veneers usually last between 10 and 15 years. However, this longevity depends to a large extent on how to care for and observe oral and dental hygiene.
