Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin custom made shells that cover the front surface of your tooth to improve their appearance. They are made of porcelain and are bonded in place to improve the color of teeth that have been worn down or stained. Alternatively, they can be used to improve the shape or size of the tooth.
When should you consider dental veneers?
- Your teeth are stained or discolored
- Your teeth are crooked or misshaped
- Your teeth have spaces between them
- Your teeth are broken or chipped
How its done
When performing any kind of cosmetic procedure it is very important to first plan the case properly. Dr. Murrell, Dr. Silvers or Dr. Kolokithas will discuss with you what you want to accomplish and will make suggestions as well. They will look at not just the shape and position of your teeth but the gum tissue as well. If significant changes are planned, they will first take impressions and do a "waxup". All proposed changes will be made first on a model in wax so that you can see and approve the changes.
Two visits to your dentist are typically required for porcelain veneers. At the first visit, three important steps are completed. Although much more conservative than a porcelain crown, teeth that are to receive porcelain veneers still need to be reduced. This allows room for the porcelain. Generally, no more than 1/2 mm of tooth is removed although more may be necessary depending on the situation. In select cases, porcelain veneers can be made without any reduction of your natural tooth. This needs to be carefully evaluated because placing a veneer over a tooth which has not been prepared can result in a tooth that is too fat or bulky and may not look natural. Once the teeth have been properly prepared, an impression is taken of your teeth which will be sent to a laboratory to fabricate the veneers. Finally, temporary veneers will be placed. These temporary veneers will protect your teeth while the permanent veneers are being made. Most importantly, if changes are to be made to the shape and size of your teeth, the temporary veneers will be made to replicate these changes. This gives you another opportunity to approve the changes and "tweak" the changes as necessary. All this information will be communicated to the lab.
At the second visit, the temporary veneers will be removed. The new porcelain veneers will then be tried in, adjusted and bonded in place.
