Dental laminate is a method to whiten and make teeth attractive. But what exactly is this coating? What is its use?.
How is it different from dental composite and how can you be sure of its quality? Being aware of the disadvantages and complications of dental laminate can help you make a basic choice. In general, dental laminate is divided into two categories: ceramic laminate and veneer composite (composite laminate).
Table of Contents
What is the use of laminate?
Laminate (ceramic and composite) is usually used to treat the following problems. The condition of the teeth, the cost you have considered for the treatment and finally the doctor’s diagnosis will determine the type of treatment.
- tooth fracture
- bad teeth
- Fraction
- Crooked and malformed teeth
- orthodontic replacement (in some cases)
Ceramic laminate steps
- After a detailed examination and determining whether ceramic lamination can be done, the initial molding is done. Then the molds are sent to the laboratory for initial wax-up.
- Doing make-up according to the wax-up laboratory is the next step. At this stage, with the temporary material, the patient sees the shape of the laminates on his teeth. This step is very important. Because the final shape of your face and smile will be determined. After the temporary material is approved by the patient and the dentist, the teeth are trimmed. This cutting is usually about half a millimeter.
- After about ten days to two weeks, the original laminates will be sent to the office. The laminate is tested on the patient’s teeth. Then they are glued with special cement in a precise and delicate process.
- It should be noted that each of the meetings has special importance.
How many sessions is dental lamination done?
Ceramic laminate is done in three sessions:
- Examination and molding of teeth
- Making ceramic laminates in the laboratory and testing them on teeth
- Checking the condition of the laminate on the teeth and final delivery
- Composite laminate is done in one session.[*]
Disadvantages of ceramic laminate
Possibility of separation from the tooth: the skill of the dentist is very effective during the life of the laminate. If the unprofessional dentist uses low-quality glue, the laminate may be removed from the tooth. For this reason, we suggest that you definitely go to a specialist doctor to prevent further injuries.
Irreversibility: There is no possibility of return in ceramic laminate. Because the teeth are shaved. This means that you cannot remove the laminates from your teeth. Laminated teeth need care just like regular teeth. Fizzy drinks, coffee, cigarettes and hookah can cause the color of the laminate in the long term. Laminated teeth should be taken care of with a toothbrush, dental floss, etc.
Heat and cold: Also, if the oral environment is exposed to changes in heat and cold, the laminate may be removed.
The difference between ceramic laminate and composite laminate
Ceramic laminate is stronger and more durable than composite laminate. This strength includes the color and strength of the material. One of the disadvantages of laminate compared to composite is tooth shaving. Ceramic laminate is made in the laboratory and then glued on the tooth. While the composite is formed on the tooth in the dental office.
Composite laminate does not require teeth shaving. The price of composite laminate is about one third of ceramic laminate. And it is less durable than ceramic laminate. The average lifespan of ceramic laminate is ten years and composite is four to five years, which can be much longer with proper care.
Composite laminate
Composite veneer or composite laminate is a method to whiten teeth. In this method, composite is added to the outer surface of the tooth. Composite veneer is used to change the shape or color of teeth. Also, this treatment is used to correct minor to moderate irregularities or brighten the color of teeth. Composite veneer is also used to close the gap between the teeth (diastem).
Ceramic laminate
Ceramic laminate is more beautiful than composite. This material is a thin layer with a maximum diameter of one millimeter and is made of pure ceramic. Ceramic laminate is attached to the front of the tooth with a special adhesive after shaving the tooth and molding it.
Longevity of dental laminate
The skill of the dentist is very effective during the life of the laminate. Because if it is not performed correctly, it may be torn or broken. In such a case, re-treatment is required. This process can be very annoying for the patient. For this reason, we suggest that you definitely go to a specialist doctor to prevent further injuries.
Also, if the oral environment is exposed to heat and cold changes, the laminate may be removed. In case of hygiene and care of ceramic laminate, its lifespan will be up to 10 years. Composite veneer or composite laminate can also last up to five years if properly cared for.
The cost of ceramic laminate
The cost of laminate is one of the common questions of patients. First of all, I must mention that the cost of laminate is higher than that of composite. Also, its tariff has a different price range according to whether the dentist is a specialist or a generalist, the type of ceramic used, the cost of the laboratory that makes the laminate, and the type of glue used.
The cost of laminate also depends on the number of teeth that need to be laminated. To determine this number, you can do a very simple task. Just smile in front of the mirror. The teeth you see should be laminated.
Laminate care
Caring for laminated teeth is the same as normal teeth. Using dental floss and toothbrush is one of the basic and important principles after laminate. If you think that you cannot maintain your oral and dental hygiene, do not go for laminate at all.
Also, after laminate, it is better to avoid eating seeds and hard foods. Because it can make it jump.
Colored food causes discoloration of composite laminate. Of course, in the case of proper polishing, the amount of staining is similar to natural teeth. For improvement, re-polishing can be used at intervals of six months or one year. Scaling and bracing are used in the same way as for a person’s natural teeth.
Who can laminate their teeth?
Many issues can affect your candidacy. In this section, we will have a partial classification of these people with different conditions:
Closing the interdental gap or diastema
The distance between the teeth may be small or large. Also, the position of the teeth is also variable. In most cases, the diastema between the teeth can be closed without other treatments. If the distance between the teeth is small, it can be closed by adding composite to one side of the tooth.
If the distance between the teeth is large. or the need to add to both sides of the tooth to close the gap; The gap is closed by doing composite veneer. Not just by adding composite to a tooth surface.
Sometimes, due to the position of the teeth in relation to each other and the original size of the teeth, it is not possible to close the gap in a way that achieves beauty by just adding a composite veneer to one side of the tooth. In this situation, pre-treatment may be needed.
Consider this example. A person’s middle teeth are very large. Also, their distance is large, so that they are attached to the side teeth on both sides. In this situation, if it is only added to the middle teeth, these teeth will be bigger.
And the golden ratio of these teeth will not be preserved compared to the adjacent teeth. In these cases, the middle teeth should be brought together by braces for two weeks. And then all four teeth are composite veneers.
Treatment of misaligned teeth with laminate
Basically, according to its severity, the treatment of irregular teeth is composite laminate or composite veneer and finally orthodontics. In minor irregularities that do not require extensive tooth grinding, composite veneers are used to brighten the teeth or change their shape.
In more severe irregularities, which cannot be done without teeth grinding, ceramic laminate is used, and in severe irregularities, orthodontic treatment is used. Laminate basically has several uses:
- Lighten the color of the teeth
- Changing the shape of the teeth
- And one of the most important of them is regularizing teeth that are somewhat disorganized.
It should be noted that if this irregularity is more than a limit or due to the placement of the jaw arches of the person, we do not have space to add to the surface of the teeth, it may be necessary to perform ceramic instead of composite veneer or in more severe cases, orthodontics may be required.
In fact, it can be said that if the misalignment of the teeth is not very severe and it is determined in the examination that it can be solved with composite, there will be no need for orthodontics. And in this way, long-term orthodontic treatment (usually one and a half to two years) is avoided.
And the person will achieve his desired smile in one or two sessions. But sometimes this irregularity is such that it cannot be solved without orthodontics. And sometimes it cannot be solved only with orthodontics. Therefore, after completing the orthodontic treatment, the patient can be referred for cosmetic treatments.
Treatment of jaw deformity with laminate
Usually, the jaw deformity is not such that it can be corrected by adding composite to their surface or by small ceramic grinding. In other words, jaw abnormalities usually require orthodontics and even orthosurgery (that is, a combination of orthodontic treatments and jaw surgery). And in very few cases where the anomaly is minor, they can be corrected by composite or ceramic laminate.
Laminate during pregnancy
No elective dental treatment is performed during pregnancy. The meaning of optional is the opposite of mandatory and emergency. Also, during this period, due to the change in the hormones of the mother’s body, inflammation of the gums and bleeding from the gums occurs. When there is gingivitis, laminate is not done. Because laminate can increase gum inflammation.
Removable prosthesis and dental laminate
Laminate cannot be placed with removable dentures. If you plan to laminate, you should implant your teeth instead of removable dentures. so that the rest of the teeth can be laminated. The damage of the removable prosthesis to laminitis is due to the instability of the removable prosthesis and the clasps of the prosthesis on the base tooth.
Baby tooth laminate
It is not possible to laminate milk teeth. This is not recommended at all.
Lower jaw laminate
Another question that clients have is about mandibular laminate. Lower jaw laminate is possible. But this answer can be different in each patient. In general, if your jaw relationship allows, it will be possible to use laminate on the lower teeth. If you want to know the answer to this question about your own jaw, you can contact us through WhatsApp of the dental clinic: 971521266664
Treatment of broken teeth and filled lips
Laminate is a treatment method for broken teeth and full lips. But the answer to this question depends on the extent of the fracture. In some cases, it is not possible with composite, in others with ceramic, and sometimes with neither. In such cases, dental veneers are used. In general, it can be said that the possibility of lamination for a broken tooth depends on the extent of the fracture and the involvement of the dental nerve.
Black tooth laminate
First, the cause of the blackness of the root tooth must be found. Usually, the factors that cause the teeth to turn black are actually things that prevent laminate. For example, a covered tooth usually turns black. This type of teeth is one of the contraindications of laminate. In general, black teeth should be investigated first and the cause should be found. Usually, this series of teeth cannot be laminated. And they must be covered.
