What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that cover teeth to close gaps and eliminate imperfections. If you have stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth and want a completely custom solution to rekindle your smile, porcelain veneers may be right for you.
Do Veneers look like natural teeth?
Absolutely! Veneers are made of fine dental porcelain that reflects light like natural tooth enamel, so they look and feel completely natural. In fact, porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable – no one will know you have them, but they will notice your stunning smile! Their resemblance to natural teeth is unsurpassed by other restorative options.
How durable are porcelain veneers?
With proper care, porcelain veneers can brighten your smile for well over a decade. They’re highly resistant to stains from food, beverages, and tobacco, so your smile will stay beautiful. Your dentist will talk with you about your options for veneers. They come in many qualities and styles, including minimal-preparation varieties that work well in some cases.
The Porcelain Veneers Procedure
Porcelain veneers require three visits to design, create, and place. Here’s what you can expect:
Diagnosis and treatment planning: your dentist will examine your smile and discuss your expectations. They’ll go over the details of the procedure and help you plan your new look.
Preparation (Aproximately two hours): during preparation, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel, about one half of a millimeter, from each tooth receiving a veneer, and he may fit you with temporaries. Enamel removal sometimes requires a small amount of local anesthesia, but many patients need no numbing. Your dentist will take an impression of your smile and send it to a trusted lab where a skilled ceramist will make your veneers by hand. Your completed restorations should be ready in approximately two to three weeks.
Bonding (one to two hours): At your third appointment, the dentist will remove the temporaries, then place the porcelain veneers on your teeth with water or glycerin to check their fit and color. The dentist can adjust veneer color by tinting the bonding material. Once the color meets your approval, your dentist will clean your tooth to ensure a tight bond with the veneer. Afterwards, they will use bonding cement and a special light to permanently affix your veneers and revitalize your smile.