Tooth veneers, porcelain etc? weird question?

What does it look like behind the tooth/veneer?





Are they just like squarish shaped plates that go on the front?


Can the pieces of teeth that are left rot, or move, making your veneers change position?





Do they have to sand off a lot of your tooth or are there any that just fit over?


Also what about these things called "caps" Where do you get those. You know like what Robin Williams snaps on in Mrs Doubtfire, then they fall off into the glass lol. What are they and do they actually exist as an option?








-Sorry for all the questions. Please answer as many as possible.


I love picking best answers! but usually don't get any good ones. Someone must know? ;-)

Tooth veneers, porcelain etc? weird question?
Toothfairy gave a very good answer and you should vote it as best.





Just to add: the amount of tooth removed to place veneers depends on a few factors - how much re-shaping needs to be done, if there is any decay or existing fillings in the teeth, if there are open contacts or crowding.





Most dentists will be happy to discuss options for cosmetic restorations. Ask to see pictures of their actual cases (not just cases in a book they bought).





Keep in mind that "Cosmetic Dentistry" is not an actual specialty recognized by the ADA. Anybody can call themselves a cosmetic dentist, so ask around.
Reply:A veneer is basically a false front on your tooth. It reaches from your gumline to just behind the bottom edge of your toothand wraps around both sides a little. Some of the original tooth surface usually has to be removed but not very much. You can get a cavity in any natural tooth and the veneer does not stop that since most of the backside of the natural tooth is still exposed.


A "cap" is a common name for a crown, which is similar to a veneer, but more tooth is removed and it covers the whole tooth surface rather than just the front.


Hope that helps!
Reply:A veneer is kinda like a fake fingernail but the difference is that the tooth has to be prepped down to make space for the veneer so they are not too thick. The tooth structure that is left is basically the back of your tooth and if you take care of your teeth and see a dentist regularly you shouldn't have any problems.





The kind of caps you are talking about are just a prosthesis that fit over your teeth, they make those especially for actors and such...in a sense kinda like billy bob teeth that you can put in and wear.





Hope that helps..... :)
Reply:The porcelain veneers are very thin layer of porcelain,that seat right on top of your own teeth.They are for cosmetic reasons.By getting them you can change your teeth color,you can close small gaps and you can straiten your teeth to some level.They are permanent and they get glued on to your teeth.In order to make them fit and to have some room for them they have to sand off some of your own.Not much.After that an impression is being taken from your moth and they send it to the dental lab with bunch of instructions.The lab makes them according to your mouth and impressions,so they'll fit perfect.The last step is gluing them on.The caps are complete covers to protect a broken dawn teeth or root canaled teeth.The veneers are just for the face of your teeth.The back stays the same.The caps have metal lining inside them,for strong support.Again dental lab makes them.What Robin Williams is using are dentures.In his case the fake once.You don't want to get those.Not in these days.If you want to know about dentures,ask again,I'll do my best to explain.