Porcelain Dental Veneers

Are you self-conscious about your smile?

Dental veneers might be right for you. These thin porcelain shells can perfect the appearance of the front-facing teeth that show when you smile and talk. Veneers made of porcelain are more stain-resistant than their synthetic counterparts and are often preferred for this reason.

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What Can Veneers Fix?

Our veneers are layers of dental porcelain that are built to fit over an existing tooth to give you a perfect set of teeth without any drilling or major surgery. Beyond fixing dental issues, there are many additional benefits to veneers such as their durability and stain resistance, easy maintenance, and natural look. Check out our blog post about the benefits of porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers can fix a variety of dental issues, including:

• Crooked teeth
• Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Slight gaps between teeth
• Teeth that are too short

The veneers process is quick and easy. Once your custom-made veneers have been created, our dentists will file away a small amount of tooth enamel so the veneers will fit flush against the rest of your teeth. This process also helps the veneers adhere better to your teeth, as they need to bond to a roughened surface.

After that, the veneers are applied using a special dental cement. The procedure requires little to no recovery time, although some slight discomfort is normal immediately following your procedure. You should be able to speak and eat normally after your appointment.

Veneers can last for years with proper care. They’re a great cosmetic dentistry option for anyone looking to repair or restore their smile. In some cases, a more intensive procedure such as dental crowns might be required. Our dentists will let you know what your options are so you can choose the treatment that’s right for you.

The Veneers Process

1. Consultation with a Cosmetic Dentist

Our cosmetic dentists will need to evaluate your smile and medical history to determine the best treatment options. Regardless of whether you’re interested in improving the health and/or aesthetics of your smile, you can count on our team to tailor your treatment plan to your unique needs.

You may be a candidate for the veneers procedure if you have small chips, cracks, gaps, or stains affecting your front teeth. Porcelain veneers may also be used to improve the appearance of slightly misshapen teeth in the “smile zone.” As the name suggests, the “smile zone” refers to the front teeth that show when you smile and laugh.

To repair a tooth with structural damage, our dentists may recommend a dental crown or other procedure to restore the full health and function of your smile. Since each patient is different, you won’t know if you’re a candidate for porcelain veneers until you meet with one of our cosmetic dentists.

2. Teeth Preparation

In general, the dental veneers procedure takes two visits to our office. During your first appointment, one of our dentists will need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the fronts of your teeth. This is to ensure there’s adequate space for us to place the dental veneers. Some, but not all, patients require local anesthesia for this step. For this reason, our dentists and staff will monitor your comfort levels closely throughout your appointment.

Next, we’ll take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab that will be making your veneer restorations. While you wait for the lab, we’ll place temporary veneers over your teeth to protect them in the meantime.

3. Permanent Veneers Placement

When you arrive for your second appointment, your permanent veneers will be ready. During your visit, one of our dentists will remove the temporary veneers from your teeth and position the permanent ones in place. They’ll also ensure that the new veneers are the perfect size, shape, and shade. That way, your porcelain dental veneers will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.

Once our dentists are pleased with the way your new veneers look and fit, they’ll remove them from your teeth. Then, they’ll prepare the fronts of your teeth for the bonding process. This process involves cleaning the teeth to remove any bacteria that could get trapped between your natural enamel and veneers. It also involves etching the front surfaces of the receiving teeth so the dental veneers can create a strong, long-lasting bond.

For the final step, the dentist will bond the veneers in place and check your bite. The result is an attractive smile you’ll be proud to show off to the world.

Taking Care of Your Porcelain Veneers

You take care of them the same way you care for your other teeth by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once daily. Thanks to being non-porous, veneers do resist stains and cavities, but if you indulge in too many sweets and acidic foods they can lose their luster and become damaged.

If you bite down on ice, your veneer can chip. So if you’re a chronic ice bitter, maybe switch to something softer. Using a fluoride mouthwash is also a good idea because it will strengthen your veneer along with the rest of your teeth. The good news is your porcelain veneers require next to no additional effort outside good oral health habits to maintain them.

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Alternatives to porcelain veneers

There are some alternatives to porcelain veneers depending on how serious the condition of your teeth is. If you’re experiencing any pain and need more than cosmetic dentistry, then porcelain veneers likely aren’t the best choice for you.

• Dental bonding is a great alternative fix for chipped, cracked, and discolored teeth where a tooth-colored resin adheres to the tooth.
• Crowns are a restorative option to protect your teeth and the filling after you’ve had a cavity.
• If you have problems that extend to the pulp of your teeth or down into your gums then you may need a root canal and maybe a dental implant.
• Dental bridges, where a prosthetic tooth is held in place by crowns on both adjacent teeth, are great for replacing missing teeth.