Porcelain Veneers
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front and top surfaces of teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility. With veneers as an alternative, some spaces between teeth, stains, or crooked teeth can be corrected.
Will they look like normal teeth?
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, and even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options. Because they are thin, light can shine through them and they take on a natural tooth color.
How durable are veneers?
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade.
The doctor will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
The Procedure
This procedure will require three appointments:
- Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Preparation of the teeth
- Bonding/delivery
Diagnosis and treatment planning:
You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. The doctor will review the corrective limitations of this procedure and help you plan your new smile.
Preparation:
The second appointment will take 2-3 hours depending on the number of teeth involved. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, a small amount of tooth structure is removed to allow for the added thickness of the porcelain. This may require a little local anesthesia. Then a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. Most of the time, a temporary veneer is placed while your permanent veneer is fabricated. The veneer should be ready in approximately 3 weeks.
Bonding:
At the time of your third appointment, the doctor will first place the veneer on your teeth to check for fit and color. At this point the color of the veneer can be slightly adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. A special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately 1-2 hours again depending on the number of teeth involved.
Care and follow up:
Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after 1-2 weeks.
Maintenance of you new veneers:
Brush and floss as you normally would. Do not be afraid that you will damage your veneers by brushing and flossing. A non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best esthetic success of your veneers. You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneers. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate after 1-2 weeks. If sensitivity persists please call the office.
If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. The doctor may recommend a night guard for you to decrease the stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep. This stress can not only fracture teeth, but can fracture or dislodge veneers as well.