In what situations would veneers only be needed on the top arch?

Doctor's Answers 1

Veneers on a single arch are actually very common.

This is usually because most of the desired corrections are done in the more visible part of the mouth, which is usually the upper front teeth.

From a functional perspective, the front and incisal surfaces of the upper front teeth are not as heavily loaded during chewing as that of the lower front teeth. This is why most veneer cases usually do not include the lower incisors.

Also since the lower incisors are the smallest teeth in the mouth, this can make veneer preparation and fabrication challenging since the minimum thickness of porcelain required DOES NOT CHANGE regardless of the tooth being treated.

Other less invasive options for improving the lower front teeth can be some tooth alignment with braces/Invisalign and bleaching.

Similar Questions

When is resin infiltration required before composite veneers?

Resin infiltration (ICON) is normally done to even out any white/brown/yellow spots on the enamel. These spots are areas of porous enamel. If these spots are not very significant and are shallow, then the process of trimming the enamel to accomodate the veneer will remove these areas of porous enamel and eliminate any colour discrepancy which may show through. If the spots are prominent and deep, then prior bleaching or use of ICON may not be effective and microabrasion of the enamel may be required prior to veneer placement.

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Answered By

Dr Jaclyn Toh

Dentist

How does dental bonding compare to veneers when it comes to making teeth appear longer?

Both dental bonding and dental veneers can make teeth appear longer. Bonding of the tooth is definitely cheaper, faster and, possibly, less invasive. Placing dental veneers requires more time, cost and there is some shaving of the teeth. The disadvantages of bonding are that it is not as long-lasting, they tend to stain more easily and they are weak. It is advisable not to bite with these teeth on anything hard. If they break then please understand that more tooth needs to be removed to be able to place a new filling.

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Answered By

Dr Kevin Ong

Dentist

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