Porcelain Veneers: What You Need to Know Before Getting Them
Dental problems like cracks, chips, and discoloration affect your dental appearance. Furthermore, uneven and misaligned teeth can impair your dental structure as they put pressure on your jaw. Fixing these problems, therefore, will improve your appearance and dental health too. Fortunately, you achieve the results you are looking for with porcelain veneers near you.
What are Porcelain Veneers and Who Can Use Them?
Dental veneers or porcelain laminates are thin, custom-made shells designed to cover the front part of the teeth to change their appearance. The porcelain veneers are commonly used over composite ones because they are resistant to stains and are also tooth-colored.
While veneers are effective in restoring the appearance of the teeth, they are not ideal for everyone. A dentist near you will recommend porcelain veneers if you have healthy teeth and gums. Veneers are not a great choice for people with active gum disease, weakened teeth, or have thin enamel. You may also need other dental restoration if you clench and grind your teeth because it makes the shells crack and chip.
When Are the Veneers Used?
Our dentist in Roswell can recommend dental veneers to fix a range of imperfections like:
- Discolored teeth because of a root canal or large fillings
- Worn down, chipped, and broken teeth
- Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
- Gaps between the teeth
- Small teeth. They are not necessarily a problem, but they can affect your smile. Veneers can lengthen the teeth to be of the same size. But, before you settle for the shells, consult the dentist about veneers before and after for small teeth.
What Can You Expect During the Procedure?
Getting dental veneers to require two trips to the dentist, and the process includes:
- Treatment planning and examination
The dentist will first do a comprehensive assessment to check the extent and severity of the damage. He will also discuss the goals you want to achieve and share information about the procedure and what you can expect. He may show you a preview of the porcelain veneers before and after.
- Teeth preparation
The teeth need a little preparation to make it easy for the shells to bond. The dentist will take out a small amount of the tooth surface depending on the thickness of the veneers to be used. Next, Dr. Judd Shenk will take an impression of the teeth to make the permanent veneers. Since it takes three to four weeks, the dentist will cover the teeth with temporary veneers to protect them from sensitivity.
- Bonding of the veneers
The dentist will first examine the color and fit of the veneers and then make adjustments if necessary. He will clean the teeth, prepare and roughen them to make the bonding process easy and fast. A block of dental cement is applied to the veneers and is positioned on the teeth. The excess cement is trimmed out and the teeth polished. The dentist can schedule a follow-up appointment to check the gums and the placement of the shells.
Are Veneers Reversible?
No, the veneer process is not reversible. The veneers can be removed when they get damaged, but the dentist will replace them with a new set. The reshaping of the teeth is not reversible, and therefore you cannot change the treatment.
How Do They Compare with Crowns?
Dental veneers and crowns fix almost similar problems, but they differ in thickness and where they are applied. The veneers are thin and are fixed on the front part of the teeth. The dental crowns, on the other hand, are thicker. Also, they encase the entire tooth up to the gum line.
How Can You Care for the Veneers?
Porcelain veneers last for about ten years with proper care. Taking precautions can make them last a bit longer. Avoid chewing hard objects or using your teeth as tools. Also, wear mouthguards when playing contact sports.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Shenk Dental Care for more information about dental veneers and what you can expect during and after the procedure.