Get Veneers without the Grind: Are U-Veneers for You?

Teeth encounter many factors that lead to damaging and staining, like grinding, age, accidents, coffee or tea, and even gum disease. This leads to a slow and steady decline in the appearance of your smile. Your smile becomes less vibrant and makes you look older. One-third of Americans wish they could change something about their smile to make it more attractive.

Teeth whitening products only do so much and other procedures like bonding chips or stains quickly. Porcelain veneers and crowns require grinding down of your teeth and cost the most. There is a less expensive and less invasive (little to no tooth grinding) procedure developed by Dr. Eshom using Bioclear and Ultradent’s U-Veneers. This may be a viable option if you’re looking to which will bring your smile to life!

What Are Veneers?

Veneers act as a thin mask for your real teeth. Once they are bonded to your teeth, they cover the tooth entirely, changing the look and feel of your teeth.

Veneers come in two different materials, porcelain and composite.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers mimic teeth best. They repel stains, have a hard surface, and are custom-made in a lab. Doing the porcelain veneer to the tooth requires the removal of enamel and tooth structure. Dr. Eshom suggests this procedure when the teeth are extremely broken down and the patient wants an extremely white smile. Even though porcelain veneers are the “gold standard” of cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers require destruction of tooth structure and cost the most in getting the desired result.

A general starting price for porcelain veneers is $1600 per tooth and can climb upwards. Dental insurance usually does not cover the cost of porcelain veneers because they are a cosmetic procedure.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers are constructed from resin and are formed by the dentist. They’re less expensive and usually require one dentist visit. They are bonded to the teeth using LED lighting, which hardens the resin to the tooth, and do not harm the enamel.

Unlike the porcelain veneers, regular composite veneers are prone to staining, chipping, and lack longevity. Regular composite veneers need to be resurfaced often and could appear less natural.

What Are U-Veneers?

The U Veneer system applied by Dr. Eshom is special and unique. Dr. Eshom combines the Bioclear method of warm injection molding to allow composite veneers to be formed in one monolithic piece directly on your tooth. This is just like porcelain veneers except it is done right in the patient’s mouth in one day. The U Veneer templates press over the warm injected composite to imitate the tooth more closely, resulting in a beautifully finished, high-quality product that resembles the natural tooth. Without these U Veneer templates and warm injection molding, the dentist would create the veneer using their hands, which incorporates air bubbles and the “patty caked” layers that leads to quick staining and chipping.

The advantage of U Veneers with Bioclear warm injection molding means you get a composite veneer that is nearly as strong as porcelain, stain-resistant, and long lasting which gives you the benefits of porcelain veneers without the high cost, waiting 3 weeks, and destroying your tooth structure. This gives you something to smile about inside and gives you a gorgeous smile on the outside.

How Do I Know If I Should Choose U-Veneer?

There are many reasons why some consider getting veneers. Some examples are:

  • Discoloration of the teeth
  • Broken, chipped, or damaged tooth
  • Fill in gaps between teeth
  • Worn down teeth
  • To fix the shape or help the tooth appear straight

Choosing to get veneers is a personal choice and one you should weigh and discuss with your dentist or Dr. Eshom. Dentists often offer free consultations so you can get all of your questions answered and weight your options at no cost to you.

What’s The Procedure Like?

The procedure of veneer application depends mostly on the type of veneer you choose.

Porcelain

For porcelain veneers, the process is lengthy, typically taking around 2-3 dentist visits. First, you’ll have a consultation with your dentist to talk about what you wish to achieve with your veneers. You should be able to preview what the veneers will look like before agreeing to anything.

Next, they’ll take a mold of your mouth and send it to a lab so they can form the veneer. They’ll also remove some of your enamel at this time, using local anesthesia.

Once the veneers are made (it usually takes a week or two), you’ll return to the office, where the dentist examines the veneers to ensure they’re perfect and gets your approval. After some additional shaping, the porcelain veneers are set in place.

Composite

For composite veneers, the process is much less time-consuming than porcelain. U Veneers are made by Dr. Eshom in one day! Here is what happens in a typical visit with U Veneers with Dr. Eshom.

U Veneers can be completed in one visit. Dr. Eshom and the patient choose the shade and shape they believe works best, and he warm injects the U Veneer onto the tooth. U-veneers usually (95% of the time) do not require enamel removal.

The U Veneer hardens under LED light and is then shaped artistically, polished, and smoothed by Dr. Eshom. The patient will then schedule a follow-up appointment to evaluate the U Veneer length and shape. Dr. Eshom will make minor changes as needed and take final photos.

Caring for A U-Veneer

One of the significant advantages of U Veneers is that there’s no special equipment or procedures to follow to keep them maintained. Continuing with your oral hygiene routine, which should include brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash, is enough. Don’t forget to schedule regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist.

Veneers do not protect against decay, and the tooth underneath is still susceptible to cavities and plaque. If you have extensive tooth decay, gum disease, or lack a healthy amount of enamel, you may not be eligible for veneers. It is important that your dentist addresses these factors during your consultation.

Pros of U-Veneers

Veneers can improve your smile, but there are other reasons to consider them.

They’re virtually undetectable since they resemble your natural teeth.

You have control over the shade of the  U Veneer, which means you achieve a whiter smile.

The gum line handles veneers with no gray lines

If you’ve lost quite of bit of enamel, veneers can help protect your teeth from further damage.

If you take care of your veneers, they could last anywhere from 7-10 years.

Cons of U-Veneers

U Veneers cannot change the color or shade of your teeth dramatically. They can improve your color one or two shades. For dramatic shade changes (3-4 shades), porcelain veneers are best. Consult Dr. Eshom if there are any questions.

U Veneers last 7-10 years. Eventually, you will have to replace or repair them. The good news is that it is easy and less expensive, and you had no tooth structure removed so you won’t lose any tooth structure in the repair or replacement 10 years from now.

The cost of U-Veneers is higher than bonding but much less than porcelain veneers because there is no lab work involved. However, since bonding typically stains or chips within the first 5 years, it may be well worth the investment to consider U-Veneers.

Even with proper placement and injection molding, accidents happen, and U Veneers may fall off, especially if you grind your teeth.Wear a night guard and keep foreign objects away from your mouth to reduce the chances of the U Veneer coming loose.

U-Veneers: Are They For You?

Either porcelain or U-Veneers are a fantastic choice when you’re looking to brighten and better your smile. They require little maintenance and last for years to come. Schedule your appointment with your dentist today to see which veneer is right for you.

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