Veneers - Preparation

Your initial conversation with your dentist should cover whether your teeth are suitable for the installation of veneers. If this is the case, your first treatment session will involve taking x-rays and photographs as well as professional cleaning of your teeth. During this cleaning session, film and caries will be removed from the spaces in your teeth that are difficult to reach, often through the use of ultrasonic devices. The final step of the cleaning process consists of smoothing the teeth. Strong discoloration may also necessitate bleaching the teeth prior to the installation of veneers. Otherwise, the discoloration might be visible through the veneers due to their translucency.³ Possible dental or periodontal damage (periodontosis) are potential detractors to the success of the treatment and should be addressed prior to treatment. Extremely defective positioning of the jaw or teeth may require treatment using braces.⁴

Further preparations made during the first session include a color analysis of the teeth for the purpose of calculating an appropriate coloration for the cosmetic inlay, thereby ensuring its seamless integration into the overall dental structure.

After cleaning and dental analysis have taken place, debuffing of the teeth's frontal area begins. The thickness of the layer to be removed varies according to the amount of dental damage present; typical thicknesses are between 0.3 and 0.8mm.⁵

Your dentist will only remove as much dental material as is necessary to eliminate carious regions or to reconfigure the teeth's profile.⁶ Smaller inconsistencies and surface damage can be concurrently removed through debuffing. Local anaesthetic may be used depending on the patient and tooth composition in order to prepare the dental surface precisely. Sometimes a temporary protective covering is put in place to be worn during the time between the first and second sessions in order to prevent any possible recurrent damage to the prepared teeth.
In addition to the preparation of the dental material, making an impression of your teeth is an important component of the pre-treatment process. The impression is needed so that the dental technicians can construct a personal veneer for you.⁷

You should clarify any necessary preparatory measures in a preliminary conversation with your dentist. You should also undergo an examination to determine your suitability for the operation. This will allow you and your dentist to address the unique characteristics of your individual situation and develop a corresponding personal treatment plan.