History of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers can transform the smile, masking cracks, discoloration, and other dental flaws that might make the teeth look less than perfect.
Modern porcelain veneers are natural-looking and long lasting, but that wasn't always the case. Thanks to the developments throughout the history of porcelain veneers, our Redwood City, CA patients are able to benefit from porcelain veneers treatment. Let's take a closer look at the history of porcelain veneers and how they've become the popular treatment we know today.
Hollywood Origins
Porcelain veneers help our Redwood City patients enjoy a movie-star smile, so it may come as no surprise that the origins of veneers go back to Hollywood and the early film industry.
By the end of the 1920s, Hollywood was considered the film capital of the world. As films became more popular, movie studios needed their stars to have beautiful, dazzling smiles.
In response to this need, Hollywood dentist Charles Pincus devised a way to transform the smiles of actors and actresses one tooth at a time by creating the first veneers. These early veneers were made of acrylic and only temporary, lasting for about one to two hours, just enough time actors and actresses to have perfect smiles while filming.
Veneers Remain a Temporary Fix
In the two decades following the invention of veneers, veneers treatment primarily stayed within the film industry, but dentists began to realize the benefits veneers could have outside of Hollywood.
Dentists were able to make veneers that looked more natural and were more durable by fabricating them out of porcelain and composite resin, but the available dental adhesives only enabled veneers to stay on the teeth for about an hour or two at a time.
Until a longer lasting way to bond veneers to the teeth could be developed, veneers couldn't be used as a permanent way to transform the smile.
A Strong Bond for Veneers Is Discovered
The biggest obstacle to using porcelain veneers as a permanent treatment was their inability to adhere to the teeth. Progress in overcoming this challenge was made in the 1950s, when dentist Michael Buonocore developed a technique, called dental etching, to adhere plastic sealants to the teeth.
Dr. Buonocore discovered that by applying an acidic solution to the surface of the teeth, he could roughen the enamel enough to enable a strong bond to form between the teeth and plastic sealants.
Using the idea of dental etching, in the 1980s, doctors J.R. Calamia and R.J Simonsen found that etching porcelain veneers with hydrofluoric acid along with etching the surface of the teeth created a long-lasting, nearly permanent bond.
Today's Veneers
Today's veneers have come a long way from their Hollywood origins. Now made of durable porcelain, modern veneers are stronger and more natural-looking than ever and can be used to hide a wide variety of dental flaws and improve the size, shape, and color of the teeth.
Combining the bonding techniques developed in the 1950s and 1980s with modern dental cements and bonding agents, today's veneers can last well over 10 years, sometimes even 30.
Schedule an Appointment
If you would like more information about veneers, or to find out if veneers are right for you, we welcome you to call our Redwood City office at (650) 367-4967 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Barthman.