Acheive A New Smile with Veneers

Although regular dental care and proper oral hygiene are key elements in keeping your teeth healthy and beautiful, they have their limitations. Brushing and flossing will not correct chipped, stained or irregularly shaped teeth. Luckily, modern dentistry has afforded us the ability to dramatically alter the appearance of your teeth through the placement of veneers.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are extremely thin shells of porcelain made custom designed to fit your prepared tooth. Since they are only a few millimeters thick, they are mostly translucent and reelect light in a similar fashion as natural teeth. They are custom designed to fit your prepared tooth. Properly designed and fitted veneers are nearly impossible to identify. Their longevity is extraordinary. The typical veneer will last 10 or more years.

Indications for Veneers

Porcelain veneers are the ideal solution when whitening and crowns are not an option. Unlike teeth whitening, veneers do not bleach stains, they physically cover them. Veneers may also be used to correct other flaws such as small gaps, uneven or chipped teeth, and even misaligned teeth. Veneers are permanently cemented or bonded onto your teeth. Therefore, they may not be removed once placed.

The Application Process

The application of porcelain veneers is rather simple, however you should advise your dentist of your interest in veneers since it is an elective procedure.

  1. Initial Exam:
  2. At this appointment, your dentist will examine the affected teeth in order to send accurate information to the dental lab. X-rays, 3-D imaging and impressions may also be taken to ensure accuracy. This information will be sent to the lab, and your custom porcelain veneers will be created within about one to two weeks.
  3. No Prep Veneers:
  4. Porcelain veneers can generally be placed in a single visit. The first step is preparing the affected teeth. The dentist may remove a small amount of enamel from the teeth to eliminate misaligned teeth. The teeth will then be cleaned, polished and etched, which makes the surface rougher to facilitate more secure bonding.
  5. Placement:
  6. Before applying the cement that will bond the veneers to your teeth, the dentist will place the custom veneers to ensure that they fit properly, He may need to trim or otherwise adjust the veneers, but this shouldn’t take long. Once the dentist is confident about the placement, cement will be applied and the veneers will be positioned. A hand-held light will then be used to permanently bond the veneers to the teeth.
  7. Final Steps:
  8. Once the cement is completely hardened and the veneers are successfully bonded, the dentist will remove excess cement from the teeth and evaluate your bite. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to ensure the quality of the veneers, or your dentist may wait until your next regularly scheduled oral exam.

The appearance of your teeth will immediately be improved and your new smile will be instantly revealed. Although porcelain veneers are stain resistant, you should still practice proper brushing and flossing habit.