Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells of tooth-coloured materials that are designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. The shells are bonded to the front of the teeth and improve their colour, shape or size.
Porcelain veneers are also called dental veneers. Porcelain resists stains better than resin veneers and also mimic the light reflecting characteristics of natural teeth.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
These are the main benefits of dental veneers:
Easily whitens your smile
Teeth become stained after years of smoking, drinking coffee, tea, soda and many other things. Dental veneers are largely stain resistant and you don’t have to worry as much about discolouration or having teeth whitening treatment.
Fixes minor cosmetic problems
Veneer teeth mask small problems and are commonly used to fix teeth that are:
- Discoloured
- Worn down
- Chipped or broken
- Misaligned, uneven or irregularly shaped
- Gaps between them
Replaces damaged enamel
Enamel is worn down from aggressive brushing or eaten away from acidic foods and drinks. While enamel can’t grow back, it can be replaced with veneers to give a natural appearance to your teeth’s so you can show your best smile.
Non-invasive procedure
Once enamel is removed, it cannot grow back. But when our dentist places dental veneers, only a small amount of enamel from the front of your teeth need to be removed to make room. The process is non-invasive.
Easy Maintenance of Dental Veneers
Easy Maintenance of Dental Veneers Like your natural teeth, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene and be conscious of what foods you need so your porcelain veneers last for years. Be careful when you eat hard food such as ice because it can cause your veneers to chip. Even though dental veneers are stain resistant, it’s still important to brush and floss your teeth twice a day and have regular dental checkups to maintain good oral health. This simple maintenance will help keep your veneers shining and keep your healthy smile.
What is the Process for Getting Dental Veneers?
Getting veneer teeth only requires two or three trips to our dentist. The first visit will be for a consultation and the next two appointments will be to make and apply the veneers.
This is the general process whether you are using porcelain veneers for one or many teeth:
Diagnosis and treatment plan
You can tell our dentist the reason you want to get veneer teeth. The dentist will then examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate for your case and what is involved with the procedure. Our team may take X-rays and impressions of your mouth and teeth.
Preparation
To prepare for veneer teeth, our dentist will remove about ½ millimeter of enamel from the tooth surface. If it’s needed, the dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area.
Afterwards, a model of your teeth will be made to be sent to a dental laboratory to make your custom porcelain veneers. It can take up to a few weeks to receive the veneer teeth back from the lab. If you have unsightly teeth, we can place temporary veneers.
Bonding
Before the porcelain veneers are permanently cemented to your tooth, the dentist will temporarily place it on your teeth to check the colour and make sure it fits well. Your teeth will be cleaned, polished and etched to make your veneer teeth have a stronger bonding process.
A special cement is applied to the dental veneers and then placed over your teeth. Once they are in the right position, the dentist will apply a special light so the cement will harden quickly.
Once your veneer teeth are placed, our dentist will schedule a follow-up visit to make sure your gums respond well in the presences of the veneer.
Contact Us
Contact us if you have any questions about porcelain veneers, would like to have an initial consultation or make an appointment phone