What Exactly Are Veneers?
Think of a veneer as a thin jacket that is placed over the front of a tooth that will change its appearance. Some of the cosmetic problems that can be treated with veneers include deep dental stain, chipped teeth, uneven dentition, gaps between teeth, and misaligned teeth.
Your cosmetic voyage begins with a consultation and dental exam. Your cosmetic dentist will explain each step of treatment and work with you to determine which teeth should be treated. Porcelain veneers are appropriate to treat one or numerous teeth.
With standard porcelain veneers, a thin amount of enamel must be removed from the front of teeth that are to be treated. This will allow for a symmetrical alignment with untreated teeth once veneers are cemented in place; this step also makes this a permanent procedure as once enamel is removed, it will not grow back.
Impressions are taken and sent to the dental lab for fabrication. Temporary veneers are placed; permanent veneers are usually available in about two weeks.
Your cosmetic dentist will try on veneers for fit and appearance; small adjustments can be made at this time if needed. They will then be permanently cemented in place.
Caring for Veneers and Veneer Treated Teeth
There is generally no special treatment required to care for veneer treated teeth. You will brush and floss daily. Porcelain is naturally stain resistant, so if you wish to ever whiten your teeth, this step should be performed before getting veneers as they will not respond to teeth whitening.
You should take care not to bite into hard, chewy, or sticky foods with veneer treated teeth. If one should become dislodged or broken, it must be replaced. Veneers are generally not repairable.
While veneer treated teeth are actually a little stronger, they will not hold up well for patients who bite their nails or suffer from teeth grinding. Our doctors at Aesthetic Dental Partners will explain all of this to you before you pursue treatment.
