Dental Laminates: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

We all love to display a bright, shining set of teeth. Discoloration or bad tooth shape look unbecoming, and dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates exist to rectify those and give our teeth a new and improved look.

Dental laminates can help conditions such as discolored teeth, bad teeth, broken teeth, crooked teeth or a set of teeth that does not have proper alignment. Dental veneers also work well to cover the spaces between the teeth. The best thing about veneers is that they are very thin, so they do not cause any difficulty to the person who is getting those.

Dental veneers are made of materials that mimic the shape of the teeth. They are attached to the front of the teeth and they cover the original set of teeth in such a way that the deformities of the original teeth are hidden. There are two types of dental laminates. One is porcelain veneers and the other one is resin veneers. Porcelain veneers are better than resin laminates because they do not get stained easily and they are better reflectors of light, that is, they make your teeth look more shiny and bright. Your dentist would be able to determine which suits you better.

The first appointment with the dentist, before the laminates are attached to your teeth, might involve an X-ray so that the doctor can have a clear picture of the insides of your mouth.

After this the dentist would perform a tooth enamel cleansing routine where a part of your teeth enamel would be removed. The amount of enamel that is removed equals the measurement of the dental laminates that are to be attached.

The operation is conducted once the laminates arrive. But, before implanting them finally, the dentist would place them against your teeth to check whether they correspond well to the shape of your original teeth. Depending on the dentist’s assessment the veneers would be trimmed or the shade would be modified. When the dentist is happy with the result, he/she will trim, etch and polish your teeth. After that the veneers would be attached. The dentist will complete the procedure by applying a light beam on your tooth that will set the chemicals in the cement into motion and the laminates will easily be hardened. After the procedure there will be a follow-up dental check up where the dentist will check whether the gums are reacting positively to the veneers.

People with discolored teeth, broken teeth, gaps between the teeth, eroding teeth are eligible candidates to opt for dental laminates.

People suffering from dental disorders such as crossbites, underbites, overbites and overjets are not eligible for dental veneers. The dentist will first give them braces to reshape their teeth. After the desirable shape is achieved dental veneers might be considered. Veneers are also not a feasible choice for people with decaying teeth.

One of the side effects of dental veneers is that it makes the teeth less tolerant to cold and heat. The high sensitivity to temperature can make eating cold and hot food difficult. Once the veneers are implanted the teeth cannot handle excessive pressure as well. This means that patients should avoid eating or chewing on hard food products.

There are no special aftercare regime that one needs to follow after getting dental implants. One simply needs to maintain oral hygiene which includes regular brushing and flossing. It is recommended that people with dental laminates use mouth wash. Dentists also advices these people to abstain from consuming food that cause stain such as wine, coffee, too much turmeric etc.

It does not take more than one day to attach the veneers to your teeth. Patients recover right after the operation attains completion. A follow-up check up is needed after a week or two where the doctor evaluates whether the gums are responding positively to the veneers.

The cost of dental laminates in India can be anywhere between INR 8000 and INR 15000.

Veneers last for 7 to 15 years, after which they are required to be renewed.