What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front and top surfaces of the 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, there is no reason to put up with gaps between your teeth, teeth that are stained, badly shaped or crooked. A veneer placed on top of your teeth can correct these maladies, simply and quickly, to help you achieve a beautiful smile!
Will my porcelain veneers look like normal teeth?
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or 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 the natural color of the underlying tooth.
How durable are porcelain veneers?
With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for a very long time.
We will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
The Procelain Veneer Procedure
This procedure will require at least three appointments:
- Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Preparation
- Bonding
Diagnosis and treatment planning:
You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. We will review the corrective limitations of this procedure and help you plan your new smile.
We will first review your smile design and you will have an opportunity to discuss, the shape, size and color of your new teeth. We will then do your entire case on models with wax. Together, we will review these teeth. Any changes that you would like to make can easily be done at this step. You will be able to preview your entire case. In addition, should you desire, we can do your entire case in composite in your mouth. This step is completely reversible. In our office, there will never be any surprises that you weren’t expecting.
Preparation:
The second appointment will take several hours. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the added thickness. Approximately one half of a millimeter of tooth is removed.
Then a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. Provisionals based on your approved wax-up or mock-up will be fabricated at this time. The veneer should be ready in a few weeks.
Bonding:
At the time of your third appointment, we will first place the veneers on your teeth with water or glycerin to check their fit and color. Once the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleansed with specific conditioners to achieve a bond. Special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment will take several hours, depending on the number of veneers that are being placed.
Care and follow up:
Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after one to two weeks.
Maintenance of your new Porcelain Veneers:
Brush and floss as you normally would. Don’t be afraid that you will damage your veneers by brushing and flossing. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best esthetic success of your veneer.
You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneers. This is due to the amount of enamel left on the tooth after preparation. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate after one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists, please call the office.
If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. We may recommend a night guard for you to wear to minimize stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.
We hope that your new veneers fulfill your esthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.