What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are extremely thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain, custom-designed to cover up the front surfaces of teeth. You might also hear these restorations described as porcelain veneers or dental laminates. Although some veneers are made from tooth-colored composite resin, most are fabricated from some form of porcelain which is more durable and resistant to staining. Dental veneers are bonded onto the front of teeth and are designed to improve their appearance. You can use dental veneers to change the size, length, color or shape of teeth.

Why Should I Consider Dental Veneers?

Porcelain dental veneers are a very versatile treatment, and you might want to consider this procedure if you have teeth that are discolored, and which will not respond to a professional tooth whitening treatment. Sometimes teeth can be internally stained because of tetracycline, or if your teeth were exposed to excessive amounts of fluoride during childhood. Dental fluorosis can cause lacy white flecks or even brown spots on teeth.

Other reasons for choosing dental veneers include covering teeth are worn down or are broken or chipped. Perhaps you have a gap in between one or two of your teeth that you loathe? Dental veneers could be a great solution, closing or minimizing the space in between these teeth. You can also use dental veneers to change the shape of teeth, for example, if you have a tooth that is slightly out of alignment or irregularly shaped, or which is too small. Well-designed dental veneers can create a tooth shape that is much more cosmetically pleasing and flattering.

What is Involved with Treatment?

Usually, the process of having dental veneers requires at least three trips to the dentist. The first appointment is a consultation, while your teeth can be prepared during the next visit. The veneers are tried in and fitted on the final visit. If you are interested in having dental veneers, your first step is to schedule an appointment here at Willow Springs Dental.

Diagnosing and Planning Your Treatment

Our experienced dentist, Dr. Marc McRae, will need to carefully examine your teeth to ensure veneers are the most suitable treatment that will provide you with the desired results. It is important for your teeth to be reasonably healthy, and you must not have any signs of active disease such as gum disease or tooth decay. He may wish to take dental x-rays and could even want to take dental impressions of your teeth to assess your dental health more closely. Also, Dr. McRae will want to talk to you about how you’d like to change the appearance of your teeth, to discover how best to help you. Talking with you will help to decide how many veneers are needed. Some people may only want to have one or two teeth veneered, while others will choose a far more comprehensive treatment, where most or all the teeth visible when they smile will be covered up with dental veneers. The choice is yours!

Preparing Your Teeth

During your next visit, your teeth are prepared to receive your new veneers. Don’t worry, as we use a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Usually, it’s necessary to remove approximately 0.5 mm of tooth enamel which is approximately the same thickness as the dental veneer. We need to remove this amount because if your veneer were fitted directly onto the tooth and without any prior preparation, it would most likely feel very bulky and could look somewhat unnatural. Your teeth will be carefully prepared to ensure your new veneers look and feel entirely natural and comfortable. Once Dr. McRae has prepared your teeth, he will take a detailed dental impression of your mouth which is sent to the dental laboratory. They use the impression and all the other information provided by Dr. McRae to custom-make your dental veneers. The process normally takes two weeks or so, and during this time we can protect your prepared teeth with temporary veneers. Because it is generally necessary to remove a tiny amount of tooth enamel, it’s important to realize that the process of having dental veneers is usually irreversible.

Fitting and Bonding Your Veneers

At your next visit, your temporary veneers are removed, and your brand-new veneers are temporarily tried in your mouth. Dr. McRae will want to make sure the color and fit of each veneer is absolutely perfect. Often, the exact shade of the veneer can be adjusted using colored cement, ensuring the veneer blends in beautifully with your natural teeth. Next, your teeth are prepared for the bonding process, and the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and may be lightly etched to help increase the strength of the bond between the tooth and the veneer. Dental cement is applied to the veneer, and it is fitted onto the tooth. The cement soon hardens, and this process can be accelerated with a special light which helps it to set more quickly. Finally, any excess cement is removed, and Dr. McRae will make any final adjustments if needed.

Are Dental Veneers Tricky to Look after?

No! Dental veneers are very easy to care for, but you must look after them properly to prolong their natural life and to protect the teeth underneath. You can brush and floss your veneers precisely like your natural teeth, and it’s important to treat them as gently as you would your own teeth. This means you shouldn’t use your teeth as tools, you mustn’t bite down on very hard objects like ice, and it’s best not to bite your nails or chew pencil or pen tops. We can check the condition of your veneers at every dental visit. When properly cared for, dental veneers can last 10 years or even longer but eventually they will need replacing.

Dental veneers can be used as a stand-alone treatment or easily combined with other dental procedures. For example, some people will use dental veneers in conjunction with teeth whitening treatments. In this case, teeth are professionally whitened before the veneers are created, ensuring the color of the veneer exactly matches the newly whitened shade of your teeth. If appropriate, Dr. McRae can discuss combining dental veneers with other procedures, giving you the smile that you desire in the most conservative way achievable.