How are veneers bonded to teeth

Porcelain Veneers | Composite Veneers | Replacement Veneers  | Before & After | Costs | Procedure

Bonding Process

Ultrathin Veneers, Durathin Veneers and Lumineers involve no drilling and no injections since no tooth is being cut.

Successful treatment is dependent on not only the laboratory creation of a superb highly aesthetic and realistic looking porcelain veneer but also on the durability of the adhesive bonds.

Veneers are bonded to teeth using a cementation technique that secures the porcelain firmly to the tooth and often requires little anaesthetic.

“Cementation” simply means sticking the porcelain to the tooth using agents with extremely strong adhesive properties. It describes the process of using special cement to adhere to the veneers to your existing teeth. 

Similar products can be used to bond any type of ceramic Indirect Restoration or Filling.

The choice of bonding agents and system is dependent upon:

• The personal preference of the clinician.

Professional entists may find that in their hands one technique and system is better than any other.

Most of these cementation systems are technique sensitive, meaning that the procedure must be followed accurately and requires specialist dentists to apply. 

It is wise to opt for a expert dentist, like Dr Bhavna Doshi, who will  follow precise processes and have had clinical experience of success.

Also, different cementation systems have varying usability and setting speeds of the products.

These too can greatly affect the quality of the end result if not managed correctly.

• The quality of the bonding system.

We only use premium and high-quality products that secure a good outcome.

• The type of porcelain’s fitting surface.

Some restorations require a particular type of process. For example, a porcelain surface may be pre-treated or pre-roughed to allow for better bonding.

• Whether the bonding is to enamel or dentine.

Both have different structures: enamel is all inorganic mineral whilst dentine is composed of both organic and non-organic parts.

Minimally prepared teeth will have more enamel surface whilst those teeth that are deep into dentine will have differing bonding requirements.

The Cementation Process:

1. If any local anaesthetic is required this is first given.
2. The transitional or temporary restorations/veneers are then removed and the teeth cleaned.
3. The teeth are then isolated to keep away any saliva or moist lips and cheeks from the mouth. 
4. The veneers are then “tried-in” to make sure they are all fit correctly.
5. The veneers are then prepared using a special acidic agent and a bonding resin. This will allow the porcelain to fuse to the bonding cement.
6. The bonding surface of the teeth is then prepared by washing thoroughly and then etching of the surface. This etching process uses an acid that creates microscopic “holes” into the tooth surface. You cannot see them with the naked eye. They are required so that the cement can integrate with the tooth surface establishing an immensely strong bond.
7. The teeth surfaces are then treated with special agents that reduce any post-operative sensitivity and bonding resin.
8. The main cementing product is a light coloured base paste. Different shades of the base cement can be used depending upon the specific colour choices or levels of opacity required. This paste sets hard when a special blue light is shone onto the veneer. This process is called “light-curing”.
9. In some cases, we require a double bonding system – one that is both light and chemically cured or set. In these circumstances, we can use another cement called a “catalyst”. When the catalyst cement is mixed with the base cement it sets off a chemical reaction which starts the process of setting the cement hard. Speed is often of the essence here. These cements can also be light-cured for additional security.
10. The cement is placed in each veneer and each veneer (one at a time) is placed upon the specially prepared tooth surface. The veneers are then light-cured to set hard on each tooth.
11. Each tooth is then cleaned up. Special smoothing drills are used to polish each veneer on each tooth. We then make sure that you can easily floss your teeth.
12. Finally, the biting surfaces are checked to make sure the patient is comfortable.
13. You will then be able to sit up and have a look at your final teeth.

At The Perfect Smile Studios, we have a special clinic dedicated specifically to the cementation process.

This allows us to be completely focused on a smooth process that increases that likelihood of longer lasting dentistry.

That’s why in London and Hertfordshire, we are considered one of the best. The proof of this is with our individual patients, who leave our practice happy and empowered.

See: Tooth preparation

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Before and After photos