Instant Smile Makeover: Porcelain Veneers
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain Veneers can transform a smile in as few as two dental visits. Handcrafted from durable porcelain, custom shaded to blend with your existing teeth, porcelain veneers are semi-translucent shells that your dentist can permanently bond to your front teeth. They will completely transform your smile, and they may change your life!
Porcelain veneers can mask stained, chipped, cracked, worn, or otherwise damaged teeth in the smile zone. Porcelain veneers can also close gaps and cover misshapen teeth. They change the appearance of a smile by altering color, shape, size, and overall appearance of teeth. Dental patients across the globe have experienced increased confidence and success through smile makeovers with porcelain veneers. You deserve the smile of your dreams, and veneers can give it to you!
Why should you choose porcelain veneers?
A whiter, straighter, more aesthetic smile can make a patient appear years younger and boost self confidence. Many patients choose porcelain veneers over crowns, bonding, or braces.
- Crowns require more aggressive tooth reduction than porcelain veneers.
- Bonding is not as strong as porcelain veneers, and when natural dentition discolors, the bonded areas will be very noticeable.
- Because porcelain veneers are thin and allow light to reflect from natural underlying dentition, they look completely natural.
How are porcelain veneers applied?
Your dentist will first measure your facial features, discuss your ideal smile, and record data to send to the dental lab. You may want to bring photos of smile styles you prefer. Once your new porcelain veneers are hand made in a dental lab, your dentist will secure the porcelain veneers to your existing dentition in a second appointment.
Porcelain veneers are thin, about .3 to .5 mm. To ensure a smooth and natural appearance, your dentist may remove a small amount of existing tooth enamel before securing the veneers. Anesthesia will be administered before tooth reduction to ensure your optimal comfort. Once your custom-made porcelain veneers are affixed, you can enjoy your brilliant new stain-resistant smile for years.
Are there any downfalls to having porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are permanent and cannot be reversed. But some new products, like Lumineers, do not require tooth reduction. Candidates for porcelain veneers must have good occlusion, as well as healthy teeth and gums. Porcelain veneers can last for years if they are cared for properly. Patients should not chew on hard substances, like ice, and habitual fingernail biting can wear down porcelain veneers (as well as natural teeth). Proper oral hygiene and semi-annual dental hygiene appointments are also important for longevity.
