In the medical profession, techniques and procedures are improving at breakneck speed. It's amazing to see how many new options your cosmetic dentist has now, compared to the fairly recent past. This has combined with training and new procedures at the lab, to present you with so many different solutions. If you want to re-craft your smile, but are still thinking that your options are limited, you really need to have a word with your dentist to see what's available. In particular, there have been many improvements in the way that veneers are created and applied. What are some of these improvements?
Early Beginnings
In the not too distant past, dentists had to rely on using porcelain to create veneers that would work well and looked acceptable. This was quite a laborious task in the lab and technicians had to build these veneers from scratch using simple layers of paste. As the lab technician worked away, the veneers would harden and soon a finished result would be ready. However, due to the way that they were constructed, they were susceptible to fracture under typical daily pressures. This was due to the fact that there was a lot of glass within the make-up of the veneer and these could be damaged quite easily if the patient had a habit of grinding their teeth at night, for example.
Improvements
Soon, a new material was introduced into the mix called leucite. The strength of the veneers was improved and they could be fabricated by using a much simpler process. They looked good and felt okay and were much stronger than the predecessor.
Latest Developments
Now, however, an even better and metal free material is used, known as lithium disilicate. This is even stronger than the predecessor and much thinner. It easier for the lab technician to work with this material and the veneers are not only durable and strong, but have a more "translucent" look.
Benefits for You
Due to the flexibility of this new material, the teeth can now benefit from a mixture of materials, according to the particular needs of the patient. It might be that strength is particularly important in your case and it may be somewhat less important to get a particular appearance or colour. The dentist and technician can work together to come up with the very best option and they have a large degree of flexibility due to the materials and techniques available.
Plotting Your Course
So, if you think that you only have one option when it comes to working on your smile, think again. Have a word with your dentist to see what solution can work best for you.