Porcelain Veneers
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 natural look 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 problems to help you achieve a beautiful smile!
Will they 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 well over a decade.
Dr. Allyson will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.
This procedure will require 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. Dr. Allyson will review the corrective limitations of this procedure (some times orthodontics or periodontal crown lengthening may be required) and help you plan your new smile. We will take models of your teeth to create a wax-up of the way we want your veneers to look (this wax-up is used to create your temporaries and evaluate tooth contour and proper gingival levels). We will also take photographs to help us better design the smile that will fit you the best.
Preparation:
The second appointment will take two to four hours, depending on the number of teeth that are involved. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are prepared to allow for the added thickness. Approximately three-tenths to seven-tenths millimeter of tooth is removed. This will likely require some local anesthesia.
Then a mold/impression is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication of the veneers. Your temporary veneers will be placed and we will re-evaluate them a week or two later for function and esthetics. The veneers should be ready in approximately four weeks.
Bonding:
At the time of your third appointment, Dr. Allyson will first place the veneers on your teeth with water or glycerin to check their fit and color. At this point the color of the veneer can still be adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is determined, and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. A cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately two hours.
Care and follow up:
Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after one to two weeks.
Maintenance of your new 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(ie. Do not use whitening toothpaste) . 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 veneer. 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), we will make a hard acrylic night guard for you to wear to protect your veneers and your other teeth.
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.