Enhance Your Smile with Dental Veneers

If you are unhappy with the colour, shape, size, spacing, or appearance of your teeth, dental veneers may be an
option for improving your smile. At Silver 7 Dental in Kanata, we offer both composite veneers and porcelain
veneers. Our dental team can assess your teeth, discuss the changes you would like to make, and help you
understand which treatment may be most appropriate. We welcome patients from Kanata, Stittsville, and
surrounding Ottawa communities.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are cosmetic restorations placed over the visible front surface of teeth to improve their appearance.
Depending on your needs, veneers may help improve tooth shape and proportions, discoloured or stained teeth,
small gaps, chipped or worn teeth, minor irregularities or asymmetry, and the overall appearance of your smile.

Composite Veneers

Composite veneers, sometimes called direct composite veneers or composite bonding, use tooth-coloured
composite resin carefully applied and shaped directly on the tooth. The material can be sculpted to improve shape,
contour, colour, and proportions, then polished for a natural appearance.

Benefits of Composite Veneers

Composite veneers can often be completed in fewer appointments, usually require minimal tooth preparation, can
provide immediate cosmetic improvement, generally cost less than porcelain veneers, and can often be repaired or
modified. Colour and shape can be customized.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made ceramic restorations designed to cover the front surface of selected teeth.
They are created to reproduce the colour, translucency, shape, and proportions of natural teeth.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers can provide a highly natural appearance, excellent colour stability, good resistance to staining,
long-lasting cosmetic results with appropriate care, customized tooth shape and proportions, and the ability to
address multiple cosmetic concerns.

Composite Veneers vs. Porcelain Veneers

Both treatments can improve a smile, but they have important differences. Composite veneers are applied directly
to teeth and can often be completed more conservatively and in fewer appointments. They are generally more
affordable and easier to repair. Porcelain veneers are custom-made ceramic restorations and generally offer
greater stain resistance, excellent aesthetics, and longer-term colour stability. The best choice depends on your
teeth, bite, cosmetic goals, budget, and expectations.

Are Veneers Right for You?

Before treatment, we evaluate tooth and gum health, existing restorations, tooth position, your bite, tooth wear,
grinding or clenching, the amount of healthy enamel available, and your cosmetic expectations. Active dental disease
should generally be addressed before cosmetic treatment.

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Veneers, Whitening or Invisalign?

Not every cosmetic concern requires veneers. For primarily discoloured natural teeth, professional teeth whitening
may be more conservative. If tooth position, crowding, or spacing is the main concern, Invisalign or orthodontic
treatment may sometimes be preferable. For chipped, irregularly shaped, worn, or permanently discoloured teeth,
composite or porcelain veneers may be considered.

The Dental Veneer Process

Treatment begins with a consultation and examination. For composite veneers, tooth-coloured resin is applied,
shaped, finished, and polished directly on the teeth. For porcelain veneers, teeth are prepared when necessary,
impressions or digital records are obtained, and custom veneers are created and later bonded after evaluating
appearance and fit.

Caring for Your Veneers

Maintain veneers with twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, regular dental examinations and professional cleanings,
avoiding biting very hard objects or using teeth to open packages, and discussing a night guard if you grind or
clench.