A  Dental veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth or to protect a damaged tooth surface. When applied over the surface of a tooth, it can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment, spacing and chips or cracks.

Dental Veneers

Porcelain veneers can be a dream come true for people seeking a solution for aesthetic flaws, since, in just a few office visits, veneers provide a total smile makeover creating a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth. While there are risks involved with porcelain veneers, the advantages they provide make them one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments.

Porcelain Veneers and Composite Resin Veneers

There are two types of material used in a dental veneer, composite and porcelain. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory. Later it is bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement. In contrast, a porcelain veneer may only be indirectly fabricated and later bonded to the tooth.

Porcelain Veneers, The procedure:

1. Treatment Planning

In the initial consultation with the cosmetic dentist, he will gather information about your cosmetic goals, dental health, and medical history. To help you in your decision process, some dentists provide cosmetic digital imaging, which allows a patient to preview what their smile makeover may look like before committing to treatment.

Dental Veneers - Treatment Planning

2. Preparing the Teeth

During the second visit, the cosmetic dentist will numb your mouth and wear down the enamel on the affected tooth before making an impression of the area. This step is necessary since veneers adhere to the front of teeth, and a portion of the tooth structure must be removed to make room for the veneer.
Your teeth are prepared by removing a small amount of the front surface of the tooth (about 0.3 to 0.5 millimeter - the thickness of a fingernail) to allow space for the porcelain. Then the dentist takes an impression of your teeth.

This mold provides an exact impression of your bite, mouth size, and teeth shape. The mold is then sent to a dental laboratory, where lab technicians will custom craft your porcelain dental veneers to match your teeth. After the mold is made, your dentist will place attractive temporary veneers to cover and protect the teeth while your permanent dental veneers are crafted. When your permanent veneers are ready (usually in about a week), you will return for your third and final visit to have your porcelain dental veneers bonded.

3. The bonding appointment

On this appointment the appearance and fit of the porcelain is checked in your mouth to be sure that it will meet your aesthetic and functional requirements.

It is important that you are certain during the try-in, that the veneers meet your expectations. All changes except for shortening and minor trimming need to be accomplished during the try-in phase. Next, the dentist will carefully place the permanent veneers and bond them to the teeth with dental cement. After the fit and color of your dental veneers are adjusted to your liking, the adhesive is hardened using a special light. The end result is a durable, beautiful restoration that acts like it is a part of your tooth.

Dental Veneers

Some patients experience minor tooth sensitivity for a few days or so after the dental veneers are placed. You should plan a minimum of 10-15 days for porcelain veneers while composite veneers can be done in one appointment.

¿Veneers or Whitening?

Teeth whitening may provide a white smile for mildly discolored teeth. Some people who are interested in dental veneers will find that their cosmetic dentist will steer them to the simpler alternative of whitening, perhaps combined with some simple orthodontic alignment. The placement of dental veneers requires the “shaping” or “prepping” of all teeth being fitted with the custom-designed shells. This process permanently alters the teeth that are treated and is therefore not recommended if your natural teeth are functionally and esthetically adequate.

Patients considering dental veneers should understand that veneers are not removable; once the teeth are prepared for porcelain veneers, the process is irreversible. Before committing to veneers, patients should consult with an experienced dentist offering porcelain veneers to explore all their options.
If you have a severe case of dull or discolored teeth, you may have to opt for dental veneers. Veneers do have the added benefits of longevity and a proven ability to enhance the appearance of the mouth, smile, and possibly other areas of an aged face that would be better supported by properly shaped teeth. Although veneers require a much larger commitment than teeth whitening, the results are typically well worth it.

Porcelain Veneers May Need to Be Replaced. Although the placement of veneers is an irreversible process, veneers may eventually need to be replaced. Dental Veneers may become worn down over time, or they may become damaged or break off in an accident. Patients should be aware of this possibility and of the future cost that may be incurred.

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