Teeth that are badly stained, shaped, or crooked may be improved by cosmetic dentistry with veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are thin pieces of dental porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced, or crooked.
What are the top 5 benefits of Dental Veneers?
There are many benefits to Veneers. Here are what our clients tell us are the top 5:
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Veneers have a longer life expectancy. They are considered semipermanent because they can last for more than a decade, depending on the type of veneer you choose.
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Veneers are highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.
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Veneers are often used by cosmetic dentists to treat broken or chipped teeth, gaps, smaller-than-average teeth, or teeth that are unusually shaped.
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The procedure is relatively painless as little or no anesthesia is needed.
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Veneers give you a brighter, more even smile as they provide more color stability than bonding, thus helping you feel more confident about your smile.
What should I know before I get Veneers?
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Veneers may not be right for you if you grind your teeth as the thin veneers may chip. A plastic night guard may be recommended.
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Due to the enamel being removed during the process, once this is done, the process cannot be “undone”.
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Your dentist will not proceed with the procedure unless your teeth are healthy. Your teeth should be free of any decay or disease before veneers can be placed.
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Your veneers may need to be replaced. Though this is a semi-permanent procedure, it is possible for veneers to come loose as time passes. If this happens, you may need new veneers.
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Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by your dentist. Veneers are usually irreversible because it`s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.
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Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.
How do I get Veneers?
Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.
During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerin on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth.
To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.
What should I expect after getting Veneers?
During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. After one or two weeks, you`ll return for a follow-up appointment.
Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.
For certain patients, no preparation of the teeth may be necessary.
