What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers, also known as porcelain laminates, are wafer-thin shells of ceramic material, which are bonded to the front of teeth and can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of your smile.
Porcelain veneers are placed to hide discolorations, to perfect the look of your teeth, and to improve a smile.
Highly resistant to permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers can achieve a durable bond to the tooth, resulting in an natural quality that is truly unsurpassed by any other restorative option.
How are porcelain veneers applied?
Typically you will need three appointments for the entire procedure. At these appointments, We will diagnosis your condition and develop your treatment plan, next he will prepare your teeth and the final appointment is when we will conduct the actual bonding of the veneers to your teeth.
Preparation of your teeth:
- this appointment will take from one to two hours
- the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer
- about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic
- a mold is taken of your teeth
- the mold is then sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers
- the fabrication process can take about one to two weeks
- if your teeth are too sensitive, you can have temporary veneers, at an additional cost
The bonding of veneers:
- this appointment will take from one to two hours
- the veneers are placed with glycerin on the teeth to check their fit and shade or color
- at this point, the color of the veneers can still be adjusted with the shade of the cement to be used
- the color cannot be altered after veneers are cemented
- to apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond
- once the cement is applied to both the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement
Why a porcelain veneer?
Porcelain veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns in many situations. They provide a much more conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color, size, or shape. Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth.
Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers. Generally, veneers will last for many years, and the technique has shown remarkable longevity when properly performed.