Dental veneers are one of the most popular ways to transform the appearance of your teeth. Usually made from porcelain or another tooth-colored material, these thin, custom-made shells are designed to cover the front surface of the teeth in order to cover imperfections and improve the way that they look.
Some of the ways in which veneers can enhance your smile include:
- Covering stains and discoloration
- Hiding chips and cracks and other superficial damage
- Adding thickness to teeth that are set back or particularly thin
- Adding height to teeth that are undersized
- Closing small gaps between the teeth
- Improving the overall uniformity of your smile
Veneers can be made individually to improve the appearance of just a single tooth or supplied as a full or partial set to make a more significant impact on the aesthetics of your smile.
Although primarily cosmetic in nature, veneers are surprisingly strong and do add an extra layer of protection to your natural teeth, giving them a functional benefit too. They can also be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth, making them fairly simple to look after. When they receive proper care, porcelain veneers could last as long as 15 years before they require replacing. Meanwhile, composite veneers (which are less expensive) can last up to 7 seven years with the right attention.
What happens when you get dental veneers?
The process to get dental veneers usually takes place over two appointments.
During the first visit, your teeth will be prepared. Your dentist will trim around half a millimeter of natural enamel off of the teeth using a file. This is done using local anesthetic to ensure that you don’t experience any pain, although patients who are particularly nervous about dental treatment may also request sedation to keep them calm and comfortable. Once the enamel has been removed, your dentist will use a mold to take impressions of your teeth. These will be used to create your customized veneers which will be made in the perfect shape, size, and color needed to enhance the appearance of your smile. You will then be fitted with temporary veneers to wear until your bespoke ones are ready. These are made to look like permanent veneers but do not fit as well or feel as comfortable as your final restorations owing to their generic design.
Around a week later when your custom veneers have been made, you will return to your dentist’s office where their fit will be checked against each individual tooth. If all is well, as it should be, your teeth will be cleaned, and the surface roughened which will improve the adhesion of the veneer. The veneer is then attached to the tooth using a special adhesive and UV light used to harden the cement, securing it permanently in place.
You may be offered an additional appointment several weeks after receiving your veneers so that your dentist can check how you are getting on with your newly improved smile.
If you would like more information about what to expect from the process of getting dental veneers, or if you would like to schedule an appointment to see if you are a suitable candidate for veneers, please contact our offices where our team would be delighted to help you rediscover your confidence in your smile.
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