LUMINEERS: PORCELAIN LAMINATE VENEERS


One of the most significant breakthroughs in dentistry has been the development of new adhesion materials and techniques which permits us to successfully adhere dissimilar materials to one another. Porcelain can now be laminated or "veneered" to enamel and dentin with great success. Although the porcelain laminate veneer is a comparatively new technique, the restorative results have proven successful and the cosmetic values frequently exceed the patient's own expectations.


The advantages of this technique are:

• Natural tooth structure is preserved and the surrounding soft tissues remain undisturbed.
• Individual teeth of dissimilar color and contour can now be matched.
• Permanent stains such as those caused by antibiotics administered during childhood (namely Tetracycline), can be completely masked.
• Natural teeth weakened by root canal treatment and old fillings can now be strengthened by this lamination process.
• Fractured and trauma-damaged teeth can now be restored without the invasive tooth reduction necessary for full crown coverage.
• Local anesthetics often are not required for this procedure.

The porcelain laminate veneer is relatively new to dentistry, and although ten years of service is common, the ultimate longevity of treatment is unknown. The present expectations of the dental profession for this procedure remain very high!


Perhaps the best analogy of the porcelain veneer technique is to compare it to laminated automotive glass. The three layers, glass/plastic/glass, are each very fragile by themselves, however, once laminated together they demonstrate incredible strength!