What is Laminate Treatment?

Laminate treatment is a current treatment option, which is applied to the teeth only from the front (such as contact lenses) and is generally recommended for cosmetic reasons, not for functional purposes. There is no need for interventional treatments as traditional veneers in patients treated with laminate. Most of the time, laminate treatment can be finished without even anesthesia. In the most basic sense, two types of laminate treatment can be performed. They can be classified as composite laminates and porcelain laminates according to the materials used.

Can Everyone Have Laminate Treatment?

The first condition in a successful laminate treatment is a healthy bond strength. This is called adhesion in dentistry. Since adhesion can reach its highest values ​​in enamel, laminate treatment is applied on the condition that it remains within the enamel boundaries. In other words, there are limitations of applying laminate treatment in patients with worn enamel, exposed root surface (cement) or bruxism (clenching teeth). Here, the knowledge and experience of the treating clinician is the most important determinant of the laminate treatment plan. Laminate treatment can be applied to everyone by eliminating the limiting factors for laminate treatment.

Laminate Types

• composite laminates

• porcelain laminates

 

1) Composite laminates

Composites, also known as white filling material, are mixtures that aim to strongly bond to the tooth while reflecting the anatomical structure and light transmittance of the light-cured tooth in the most accurate way.

To list the advantages of composite laminates, teeth can generally be reshaped in a single session. In addition, most of the time, no abrasion is required on the teeth. Composite laminate costs are also much more affordable than porcelain laminates. In many cases, it is possible to achieve aesthetic results with such small interventions.

The disadvantages are that the success rate of composite laminates decreases as the number of teeth to be applied and the amount of necessary change in tooth anatomy increase. In addition, the durability of the composite is lower than that of porcelain, and in long-term follow-up, composite laminates may change color due to liquid absorption in the oral environment.

2) Porcelain laminates

The common name of porcelain laminates is leaf porcelain treatment. In this treatment option, it may be necessary to do some abrasion on the teeth in line with the knowledge and experience of the physician. However, this amount is 4-6 times less than traditional coatings and for technical reasons it should only remain at the enamel level. Today, porcelain is the most natural treatment option by reflecting the light transmittance of the enamel in the most accurate way. It is possible to get more aesthetic results with porcelain laminates in large-scale smile design cases.

Advantages of porcelain laminates; They are very difficult to color and their fracture resistance is higher than composite laminates. This increases the treatment life for a significant period of time. All-ceramic materials used in today’s dentistry are more durable than materials used in the past, thanks to the strengthening agents (lithium disilicate, leucite) added to them. In addition, porcelain is the material that can imitate tooth enamel most easily, thanks to up-to-date processing and coloring techniques.

The disadvantages of porcelain laminates are the need for some abrasion in some cases, provided that they remain within the tooth enamel boundaries. Porcelain laminate treatment (leaf porcelain) is higher in cost and treatment time than composite laminates. However, since the average life of porcelain laminates is higher than composite laminates, it is very difficult to compare them in terms of total treatment time and cost.

Both laminate treatment options require high sensitivity and care. For more information about the treatment process, you can visit our page.

How Long Does Laminate Treatment Last?

The lifespan of laminate treatments usually varies according to gingival recession. Restoration edges are ideally prepared according to the gingival border at the time of the laminate treatment. However, with age, some recession can be seen in the gums due to bruxism (clenching teeth) and wrong tooth brushing habits. This brings with it the need to renew the restorations. Average porcelain laminate life varies between 10-15 years, and this period is shorter in composite laminates. Because composite laminates are a material that can be colored more easily than porcelain. Of course, these numbers can change positively or negatively depending on the usage patterns of the patients.

How Much Are Laminate Treatment Fees?

The cost of laminate treatment may vary considerably according to the materials preferred by the physician and the patient, but to have an average idea, the current price lists of the Turkish Dental Association can be examined. For detailed information about the treatment processes of our patients, you can visit our Instagram page.