A perfectly even, snow-white, and healthy smile is the dream of every person. To achieve it, relying on genetics alone, is almost impossible. According to statistics, more than 90% of people have dentition defects caused by both congenital and external factors. Poor heredity, mechanical damage, trauma, systemic use of drugs, and bad habits – all affect the condition of the enamel and adjacent tissues and also affect the internal structure of the crowns in a bad way. However, modern dentistry has a sufficient arsenal of methods and tools to solve the problem. One of the options implemented as part of aesthetic restoration is the installation of thin ceramic onlays that even out the shape of problem teeth and protect the surface from negative impacts. In this case, it should be borne in mind that before installing veneers, a part of the enamel coating is ground off, which makes the operation irreversible. Why is this necessary, is it possible to do without preparation, and how does the procedure affect the state of the jaw row? Let’s figure it out.
General view
For a long period, artificial crowns remained the main option available for masking visually noticeable defects. They are still used today by dentists to restore chewing units, however, in cases where problems arise in the area of the anterior incisors, plates made of ceramic, porcelain, or zirconium dioxide are a worthy alternative. With their help, the following tasks are solved:
- Cutting edge alignment.
- Concealment of areas with damaged or darkened enamel.
- Restoration of the alveolar position of the rotated unit.
- Elimination of interdental gaps – three and diastema.
- Destruction at the formed chips and cracks.
Many patients who have already seen photos with installation online are interested in whether teeth are ground down under veneers before they are placed – and in order to answer this question in detail, one should consider the aesthetic correction methods that exist today, delving a little into their specifics.
Let’s start with the fact that veneering belongs to the category of micro-prosthetic procedures. This means that the fixation of replacement devices is not associated with a radical surgical intervention and does not affect important body processes. The main task of overlays fixed on the surface of the enamel is to improve the appearance, hide the existing flaws and strengthen the structure, excluding the formation of new pathological manifestations and defects. The materials used, such as ceramics, porcelain, or zirconium dioxide, qualitatively imitate the natural translucent structure, have a characteristic natural luster, and are indistinguishable from the “native” coating from the side.
Quite often, the primary diagnosis, carried out in a clinical setting, determines that the installation requires turning the teeth for veneers – with the help of this procedure, the doctor solves several problems at once that prevent the creation of a perfect smile. First, the processing of the enamel coating eliminates irregularities and defects that can impair the adhesion between the base and the micro-prosthesis and lead to displacement or breakage of the plate under load. Secondly, aesthetic products have their own thickness, varying in the range of 0.5-1.2 mm. If you simply place them on top of the enamel, the appearance of the entire row will look unnatural, more reminiscent of false jaws from children’s toy stores, which will negatively affect the appearance of the patient.
However, today there is no objective reason to worry about preparing for prosthetics. At first, the preparation was indeed a traumatic procedure, causing not only discomfort, but also pain, but modern technologies completely exclude any negative reactions of the body. Sawing teeth for veneers is carried out using technical equipment and is a minimally invasive technique. This is a prerequisite, the observance of which allows you to achieve the desired result.
Veneers Basic principles
The general plan for aesthetic restoration is developed based on the indications of the clinical picture, compiled on the basis of the results of preliminary diagnostics. As part of the examination, the doctor assesses the condition of problem units and adjacent tissues, determines the severity of the damage, and defects, and selects the best recovery option.
The reasons for the deterioration of the appearance of the enamel, as a rule, are either pathological processes that affect dentition or an impact that leads to the formation of cracks and chips. In any case, before filing down the teeth for the installation of veneers, in order to ensure that there are no problems during fixation, it is important to carry out the necessary therapeutic treatment, which excludes the recurrence of the disease. The condition of the tissues directly affects the reliability of the connection between the lining and the base, so preliminary procedures can be dispensed with only in those situations where the diagnosis did not reveal serious anomalies, and the reason for visiting a doctor was the patient’s desire to improve the aesthetics of a smile.
The functional tasks of preparation are reduced to achieving the following effects:
- High-quality fixation of the plate on the surface.
- Connection line masking.
- Extended service life.
- Reduced risk of product damage.
However, it would not be entirely correct to talk about the absolute inevitability of preparation. Each rule has its exceptions, which are also worth mentioning.
Is it always necessary to file teeth for veneers?
Formally, no. The need for the procedure is excluded in cases where it is a correction implemented by the direct method using composite materials. In fact, the technique resembles filling crowns, but instead of an inlay, the doctor forms a uniform coating that protects the enamel surface. In practice, it is rarely used, which is due to the presence of more reliable alternative recovery methods.
For the manufacture of porcelain, ceramic, and zirconium veneers in the laboratory, artificial casts are needed, reflecting the features of the anatomical structure of the processed elements of the row. The impressions are taken after preparation and allow the dentist to prepare the inner surface of the micro prostheses in such a way as to achieve optimal adhesion.
Basic turning methods of veneers
The choice of protocol for enamel coating treatment depends on the condition of the teeth, as well as on concomitant factors. There are several options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s consider the most common of them.
laser method
Hardware preparation is implemented using a device that generates a directed impulse. Under the action of the laser, the enamel heats up, which leads to the gradual destruction of microparticles of hard tissue. The technique provides a quick and safe result but is not practiced so often – due to the need to purchase expensive equipment.
Ultrasonic processing
A method involving the use of technology based on the effect of high-frequency vibration. Unlike the previous version, it is not accompanied by heating of the internal structure of the processed elements, which eliminates the occurrence of pain or discomfort. In addition, the procedure has a positive effect on the state of the pulp and does not pose a threat to previously installed inlays and implanted pins.
Chemical preparation
A method in which a variety of acidic substances are used to soften the hard surface of the enamel coating and allow it to be removed without much effort. Despite the specifics, the technique is absolutely painless, ensures the achievement of the desired result, and guarantees the preparation of the base with optimal adhesive characteristics.
Tunnel turning
Speaking about whether the teeth are heavily ground for veneers before installing the lining, one cannot but recall this method, implemented using a drill. As in the case of laser treatment, the technology is associated with the heating of the dental tissue, which often provokes discomfort and pain. Preventing negative manifestations allows the use of high-quality equipment, as well as the professional skills of a doctor.
Air abrasive method
Preparation, during which the row is exposed to a mixture of air and abrasive particles supplied under pressure, destroys the structure of the enamel in a certain area. The advantage is the possibility of spot processing, maximum preservation of volume, and the absence of a negative effect characteristic of more radical methods.
Preparing for the installation of ceramic plates
As part of the preparatory phase, direct and indirect turning protocols are used, the choice between which depends on the diagnostic indications.
In the first case, we are talking about a point impact on individual elements of the jaw region that require correction due to damage, abnormal development, or pathological condition. Previously, we have already considered the question of whether it is necessary to grind teeth for composite veneers – in this situation, processing, in terms of the degree of invasive intervention, also turns out to be minimal. The doctor examines the patient, finds the affected areas, performs preparation and treatment, then makes ceramic prostheses directly on the units themselves.
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The second option involves covering the entire vestibular surface of the incisors. The depth of turning depends on the thickness of the inserts – it is also a current practice to grip the cutting edge, due to which subsequent fixation becomes much easier. The technique is preferable in aesthetic terms since the complex restoration eliminates visual differences between the treated and untreated areas of the dentition.
Ways to install veneers
Based on which protocol turned out to be preferable for preparation, the order in which micro prostheses will be installed is also determined. There are also two possible options here.
Single
Spot placement of ceramic or zirconium plates on a previously prepared surface, with control of the position relative to the center, as well as checking the strength and tightness of the fit.
Multiple
With sequential prosthetics of the frontal section, adjacent linings should harmoniously contact each other, leaving no gaps or gaps. Modern digital image processing technologies make it possible to visualize the future result even at the planning stage, so that the patient can immediately assess the aesthetics of the appearance, choose the appropriate shade, and also make appropriate adjustments, from his point of view.
Veneers Procedure steps
Vining improves the visual characteristics of the incisors that form the smile zone. Ceramic micro prostheses not only protect teeth from injuries and the negative impact of external factors but also help to eliminate psychological complexes that prevent full communication with others, arising from a feeling of embarrassment from existing defects. When preparing for prosthetics, it is important to strictly comply with existing medical protocols and recommendations – this guarantees a successful outcome of aesthetic restoration.
Turning sequence for porcelain veneers
The algorithm of the preparatory stage includes two stages – the processing of the vestibular surface and lateral areas (required), as well as the cutting edges and adjacent tissues (optional, if necessary).
To begin with, the doctor must determine the thickness of the enamel layer to be removed. The indicator is calculated based on two factors – the type of onlays planned for use, as well as the condition of the dental crowns to be restored.
In the process of processing the contour, it is allowed to preserve natural occlusion, or to correct adjacent lines of contact, which is necessary to give the correct shape. Under certain conditions, taking into account both the features of the model and the configuration of the micro prosthesis, the cutting edge of the unit can either be ground or left in its original form.
Teeth cut for veneers are reprocessed before the final phase to improve adhesion. The importance of competent preparation is especially emphasized by specialists since insufficient attention to mandatory procedures not only negates all the efforts and intermediate results of prosthetics but can also have a negative impact on the state of the jaw region as a whole.
Indications and contraindications for turning
Veneering is not the only dental operation in which the preparation technique is used. Removal of tissues is carried out as part of the treatment of caries and other pathologies of the dentition, with the abnormal development of individual elements, as well as the identification of uneven and pointed areas that jeopardize the oral mucosa.
All of the above defects require the removal of a layer of enamel, the size of which depends on the severity of the diagnosed problem. Machining makes it possible to obtain sufficient free space, which is subsequently filled with a composite material or used to place a prosthetic structure. It is important to take into account that in the process of preparing for vining, the aesthetics of the row are noticeably reduced, so the consequences of the restoration are irreversible.
The question of whether it is necessary to grind teeth for the installation of veneers if the diagnosis revealed a small size of crowns or wear of the enamel coating is decided at the discretion of the attending physician. An unambiguous limitation to the procedure is the presence of the following pathological conditions and anomalies:
- Extensive caries in medium and deep form.
- Periodontitis, pulpitis, periodontal disease.
- Diagnosed bruxism.
- Abnormal bite development.
- The presence of impacted and dystopic units.
- The destruction of the crown is more than 50% of the total area.
The final treatment plan is formed after a comprehensive diagnosis, excluding medical contraindications.
Summing up
Turning teeth for veneers is an important and technically complex task, the solution of which opens up the possibility of installing micro prostheses. By contacting the specialists of the Dentika clinic, you can sign up for a preliminary consultation with qualified dentists and independently evaluate the benefits of modern methods of aesthetic smile restoration.