Veneers
Teeth that are badly stained, poorly shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Porcelain veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking. Veneers are made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by your dentist.
Veneers are usually irreversible because it`s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the changes you seek. 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.
Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding. During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are re-shaped to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final “bonding” visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. Once you and the dentist are satisfied with the veneers, they will be bonded to your teeth. During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. After one or two weeks, you’ll return for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It’s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.
