Dental Veneers Can Enhance Your Smile

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made pieces of porcelain that are bonded permanently to the front of a patient’s teeth. Those who opt for dental veneers usually do so to improve the appearance of their smile. The porcelain laminate is designed to hide badly stained or otherwise damaged teeth; when applied the teeth look flawless yet natural. The veneer is about the same thickness as a fingernail.
People with are severely discolored, uneven, worn down, cracked or chipped teeth are candidates for veneers. While a tooth veneer made from resin composite can be expected to last for six or seven years before replacement, those who elect porcelain veneers can expect them to last upwards of fifteen years under normal use.
Dental veneers cannot be applied during a single visit to the cosmetic dentist. The patient will first spend time with the dentist to discuss all treatment options and decide whether veneers are the best course of action. During this initial consultation, the dentist will speak with the patient in order to fully understand what results they are looking for. Once the dentist and the patient are both comfortable with the decision to proceed, the dentist will prepare the teeth. He or she will reduce the thickness of the tooth by a small amount in order to fit the veneer, as well as reshape the tooth if necessary.
Once the initial preparation has been completed, the dentist will make a mold, which is used by a dental technician who will craft the veneers. The mold is used during the making of the veneers to ensure that they will fit the contours of the patient’s teeth when they are applied. It may take a couple of weeks for the veneers to be crafted; the dentist will usually fit temporary dental veneers during this waiting time.
Once the veneers have been returned to the dentist, he or she places them on the fronts of the teeth. If there is a need for any slight adjustments, they are done at this time. Any minor adjustments, such as color, must be made before they are bonded to the teeth. Once the dental veneers have been bonded to the front of the tooth, a special adhesive is cured with a blue light.