What are veneers?
Veneers are a thin piece of porcelain that are applied to the teeth in order to give them back a natural look after being stained or chipped. If a patient has a gap in his/her smile, veneers can also be used to fill it. Veneers also have the strength and resilience of natural teeth so they are quite hardy. They are also irreversible.
Unlike crowns or braces, veneers are rather unintrusive. They are simply a cosmetic solution to any issue a patient might find with the look of his/her smile. Discoloration, fractures, chips, small misalignments, and small gaps can all be fixed with veneers.
Dr. Heather Darcey and her team of dental professionals can help! Call 281-317-6881 or make Schedule an Appointment online.
Unlike crowns or braces, veneers are rather unintrusive.
They are simply a cosmetic solution to any issue a patient might find with the look of his/her smile. Discoloration, fractures, chips, small misalignments, and small gaps can all be fixed with veneers.
There are two types of veneers – porcelain and composite resin. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than the composite resin and mimic the properties of natural teeth.
Three trips are the average for applying a veneer. One consultation meeting then two meetings to create and apply the veneers. If multiple teeth are getting veneers they can all be done within the three trips.
If you have any questions call Dr. Heather Darcey at Space Age Smiles 281-317-6881
To prepare for the veneer application the dentist and patient will go through diagnosis and treatment planning. The dentist will decide with the patient at this meeting whether veneers are a good choice for him/her and if they are how to best proceed. To prepare the tooth for a veneer the dentist will take off about a half a millimeter of enamel from the tooth’s surface. A model or impression will then be made and sent to a lab. There will be a two to four week waiting period while the lab constructs the veneer. The last step is to bond the veneer to the tooth once the veneer comes back from the lab. After making sure the veneer will look good on the tooth by trimming and adjusting the color the dentist will prepare the tooth by cleaning, polishing and etching it. A special cement material will be used to apply the veneer to the tooth and a light will be shined to cure it permanently to the tooth. After getting rid of the excess cement the patient will be asked to bite to make sure the veneer is not in the way. Another appointment will be made for the next couple of weeks to make sure the gums are accepting the new veneer.
Some of the advantages of getting a dental veneer include:
- Natural tooth appearance
- Porcelain veneers are stain resistant
- Gum tissue tolerates porcelain
- Porcelain veneers can cause dark teeth to appear whiter
Some disadvantages to consider before getting veneers are:
- They are irreversible
- Veneers are more expensive than composite resin bonding
- Veneers are irreparable if chipped or cracked
- Tooth with veneer can become sensitive to hot and cold food and beverages since the enamel was removed
- Patients who clench or grind their tooth should not consider getting veneers since they can chip or crack
If you think a veneer will improve your smile call Dr. Heather Darcey at Space Age Smiles, 281-317-6881 . You can also make an appointment online today!