What Are Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are used to fix a variety of dental problems such as discoloration, worn down teeth, chipped or broken teeth, misaligned, uneven or misshapen teeth, and small gaps in teeth as well. The process usually requires three different dentist visits. The first is the consultation followed by two separate appointments. One is to get properly fitted and the next appointment will be to permanently affix the veneer to your tooth.
Recent years have developed astonishing advances in dental porcelain technology. Due to modern dentistry techniques, veneers can be made thin enough to sometimes bond directly onto your existing tooth surface. In most cases, a very thin layer of tooth enamel — as thin as the veneer itself — requires removal to properly fit the new porcelain surface and make it look as natural as possible.
Versatility Of Porcelain Veneers
Veneers can be used to improve any of the following:
Color
More often than not, our favorite foods and drinks tend to stain our teeth. Stain can also arise from smoking as well as from natural aging. Veneers are available in many shades to match your natural tooth or you can even opt for that Hollywood white look.
Size & Shape
Teeth come in many shapes and sizes. Some lack define size and shape while others have the problem of wearing down their teeth size and shape due to bad habits such as jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Veneers can be shaped and sized in whichever way is most comfortable and flattering to your face.
Alignment & Spacing
Veneers can also be used to close any small gaps in between teeth. Veneers can also slightly correct a minor alignment issue in your smile.
Limitations Of Porcelain Veneers
For some patients, veneers are not recommended or encouraged. For example, if you have the habit of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth often, you risk chipping or cracking your veneers. Veneers are permanent and are usually not repairable. Also, those who suffer from significantly misaligned teeth or a large gap, may want to consider traditional orthodontics as a more appropriate solution than veneers. If you have lost a lot of tooth from decay or trauma, restoring your teeth with porcelain crowns that cover the entire tooth maybe be a better alternative to veneers.
Porcelain Veneers : The Process
Getting veneers begins with your first consultation. It is important to properly communicate with your dentist the look and feel you would like your smile to have. Let them know exactly what you do and don’t like about your smile. Be as detailed as possible. Also make sure to help your dentist get a clear visual of what you want by supplying sample smile pictures.
Once you and your dentist have agreed upon the proper dental procedure, The dentist trims approximately half a millimeter of the tooth enamel to prepare for the veneers. Then a mold of your teeth is made and sent to a lab to prepare the custom fit veneers. When the veneers come back from the lab, they are fitted and are finally cemented onto your teeth.
Caring For Your Veneers
Regular checkups should remain as important as always to your oral and general health. Caring for your veneers is very similar to caring for your natural teeth. It is recommended you begin with flossing each day. Brushing is expected to be done twice a day for approximately 2 full minutes each time. It is recommended to use a soft toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste. This should help you remove dental plaque and ensure good gum tissue health around the veneers. While most dentist don’t recommended getting veneers if you grind or clench your teeth at night, there is a chance you may be advised to get a custom-made nightguard to protect your veneers — and your investment in your dental health.
