Porcelain Veneers and Esthetic Dentistry
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of tooth colored porcelain or ceramic which cover the front of your tooth. Veneers are used to change the appearance of your teeth and smile by changing the shape and size of your tooth, changing the color of your tooth, and correcting mild alignment, chipping and staining issues. Veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth and can dramatically change your smile.
What to Expect During Cosmetic Dental Procedures
Veneers and other cosmetic dental procedures generally take 2-5 appointments. In most cases, an initial cosmetic consultation appointment will be scheduled. During this appointment, we will discuss your goals and the changes you would like to see in your smile. This is a great time to bring in photos of yourself and others in order to best communicate the changes you want to see and the ideal smile you would like to achieve. You and your dentist will review your desires and develop a treatment plan on how to achieve your goals. Your dentist can also connect you with specialists to help achieve an ideal smile. A mock-up or wax-up can then be done by our cosmetic lab so you may see what the final result would look like before we start. At the follow up consultation we will review the lab mockup, our treatment options and recommendations, and create a treatment plan. We encourage you to bring your spouse or significant other to this appointment to help you with the decision making process. Patients wanting to whiten their teeth should start the process prior to this appointment and/or starting treatment.
Once we are happy with the design, an appointment will be scheduled for preparation of the teeth, impressions, and temporization. The teeth will be prepared to make space for the veneer and allow for corrections in color, shape, and orientation. Temporary veneers will then be placed while the esthetic dental lab creates your new smile. Temporary veneers will be made based on the mock-up, allowing you to get a preview of your new smile, verify function, and request changes prior to final fabrication of your veneers.
Your final appointment will be for removal of the temporary veneers and placement of your new permanent veneers. We check color, shape, orientation and size prior to cementation. When you are happy with the veneers thy will be permanently bonded to your teeth. Once veneers are placed, a nightguard is often recommended to protect your new smile from chipping and debonding.
Who Should Get Veneers
Patients interested in veneers or other cosmetic dental procedures should speak with their dentist. There are many factors that go into deciding whether veneers are right for you, your teeth, your bite, and your oral habits. Our skilled dentists will complete a full exam to establish whether you are a candidate, and if any other procedures such as braces should be considered.
Common reasons patients decide to do veneers or cosmetic dentistry include:
- Chipped, fractured or worn teeth
- Staining not improved by bleaching
- Malformed Teeth
- Mild rotations in the teeth and arch
- Small spaces or gaps between the teeth
If you are interested in veneers or cosmetic dentistry, give us a call. We are happy to schedule you for a consult to start your journey to the smile of your dreams.
