What type of veneer is best for you? In a perfect world, let your dentist decide, says Dr. Mark Gustavson, a partner at Affiliated Dentists in Madison, Wisconsin. While some types of veneers are best for one reason, others are best for another. It all depends on the tooth structure of the tooth in question…
Dental veneers have changed and gone through a lot of techniques over the years. Early on, all veneers were generally what is called stacked feldspathic veneers. These types of veneers were where the lab technician would incrementally place porcelain layers onto a model tooth to create the size and shape of the tooth he wanted to achieve. These veneers were done by removing as small an amount of tooth structure as possible, and making the porcelain as thin as possible.
As techniques changed over time, however, dentists have started to move towards what is called pressed ceramic veneers, or pressed veneers. A pressed veneer is when a wax replica is made of the tooth, then porcelain is pressed into the impression and “melted out” to create the right veneer size and shape. Over time, pressed veneers have been made thinner and thinner, requiring less tooth structure and making the job for the lab technician much simpler.
The world of veneers has kind of come full circle now, as we are back to losing the least amount of tooth structure removal. The pressed veneers have become thinner, but more and more dentists are using stacked feldspathic veneers. That’s because they allow the technician to be a little bit more of an artist, creating more life in the tooth and making it look more natural and lifelike.
A good lab technician should be able to do both types of veneers, and the dentist would know when one veneer is better than the other, based on the individual needs of the specific tooth or teeth in question.
A pressed veneer is stronger over its lifetime. So when more tooth structure needs to be removed, a pressed veneer is the best option. If less tooth structure can be removed, a feldspathic veneer tends to give a better final outcome.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
