Porcelain Veneers
When you smile, it's there. It's the first thing someone sees when they look at you, and it can make a big difference in your life. Your smile affects how others see you and, most importantly, how you feel about yourself. Porcelain Veneers are an excellent solution for changing your smile without the cost or time involved with traditional porcelain crowns.
What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are a very thin shell of porcelain or ceramic that we bond to a single, multiple, or all of the face of your front teeth. Unlike crowns, veneers do not encase the tooth but are on the front of the tooth. Veneers are strong and durable, allowing patients to eat and drink as they usually would, and no one will ever have to know.
Your veneer is customized to fit your mouth, accomplishing the look you want. Your veneers can be wider, shorter, longer, or thinner. We can alter the color to match your current tooth color or a brighter look to match newly whitened teeth. Veneers are customized to you.
Why dental veneers?
Often thought of as a cosmetic enhancement, veneers are more than just a beauty treatment. From covering chips and fractures to giving your teeth an even look that they can only otherwise get from years of braces, we help our patients feel more comfortable in their teeth.
Our patients ask about dental veneers to:
Cover up gaps between their teeth
Veneers create a smooth, even surface to help close up any gaps between your teeth.
Although we may suggest that you have orthodontics to fix these problems, porcelain veneers can be placed right over the tooth, creating an invisible result.
Cover stains and discoloration
While our office focuses on making your teeth their whitest, your natural tooth color is sometimes too dark. Fluorosis, Medication, or unusual wear may have left your teeth a little darker than they were meant to be.We can use veneers to make your teeth whiter or match the color of your other teeth. The process of placing a veneer takes time but will result in brighter and whiter results that you can enjoy for years.
Fix chips and fractures
Veneers can give your teeth a great deal of strength.
We use porcelain veneers to cover up chips and fractures in teeth, adding strength and protection without changing the look of your natural tooth.
Help give front teeth a straighter appearance.
Another of the most common reasons for wanting a new smile is to get straighter teeth. A veneer can be used to shift a tooth into the proper position, helping you avoid years of orthodontic work.
Improve worn down teeth
With age, our teeth lose some mass and develop tiny pits that make them appear much older than their actual age. If you have a lot of wear on your teeth, that is also another reason why veneers can be helpful to you.
Factors to consider before choosing Porcelain Veneers
one should carefully consider the following list of factors before deciding to have porcelain veneers.
The Cost:
The cost of this dental procedure is higher than other types of restorative dentistry, such as traditional fillings, crowns, and bridges. Many insurance companies will not cover the cost of these procedures since they are considered cosmetic. Ask your dentist for details about coverage in your specific case.
The Time:
The time needed is determined by the number of teeth that need to be addressed. The more teeth that need veneers, the longer it will take. Your dentist needs to talk with you about the time involved before any procedure begins. Most typically, this is done during your consultation visit.
The Procedure:
Your dentist will perform a thorough exam before beginning treatment. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the reasons for having veneers, the number of appointments needed, what type of anesthesia may be used, and any other concerns you have. Veneers are typically bonded to the front of the teeth. A mold is taken and sent to a dental laboratory, where your veneers are created to fit you perfectly. You should expect some tenderness, stiffness, and swelling in the first few days following treatment. Our dentist will prescribe Medication to treat any discomfort you experience until it resolves completely.
Maintenance:
As with any dental restoration, it is essential to maintain your new smile. This will require you to be careful about your diet and avoid chewing on hard objects. If you have a history of cavities or gum disease, these conditions may increase. Ask our dentist for a complete oral hygiene regimen if you are not accustomed to this type of care.
Another Option:
There is another option that may be considered as an alternative to veneers. If you have a damaged tooth, but it is not as visible as you would like, our dental team can camouflage the area using bonding materials. This procedure does not require lab time and can be completed in one office visit.
Placing Dental Veneers
The placement will require at least two office visits for patients seeking porcelain veneers. For patients seeking an instant look, we can mill your ceramic veneer right here in our office.
Once we have your customized veneer ready, we begin the process of placement by first thoroughly cleansing your tooth and making any necessary reduction in the natural tooth size. All teeth need to have the enamel reduced by at least ½ a millimeter to have the required space for your veneer to rest.
We will also reshape your original tooth to ensure that it hides well behind your veneer. Once the natural tooth is reduced in size, we will etch the face of the tooth. This step is needed to provide a roughened surface to allow better bonding.
The bonding agent is applied along with the veneer, which we then cure using a specialized blue light. Your dentist, either Dr. Clay Keith or Dr. Paul Denson, will check the look and bite of the veneer and make any adjustments as needed. Your finished tooth is cleansed and polished for a beautiful finish.
We can significantly change the look of your teeth with the placement of dental veneers. Whether porcelain that is designed in a dental lab or ceramic is made right here in our office using our CEREC milling station, we can customize veneers to give you the look that you want. The Center for Implant and General Dentistry in Lindale, TX., prides itself in serving our patients, meeting their needs, and helping them make the right choice for their situation. Dr. Clay Keith or Dr. Paul Denson will evaluate your needs and help you design a treatment plan that will give you the look you want.
References
Alothman, Yousef, and Maryam Saleh Bamasoud. "The success of dental veneers according to preparation design and material type." Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences 6.12 (2018): 2402. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6311473/
Calamia, J. R. "Clinical evaluation of etched porcelain veneers." American journal of dentistry 2.1 (1989): 9-15. https://europepmc.org/article/med/2597374
Dunne, S. M., and B. J. Millar. "A longitudinal study of the clinical performance of porcelain veneers." British dental journal 175.9 (1993): 317-321. https://www.nature.com/articles/4808314
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