What Are Porcelain Veneers And How Are They Applied

23 September 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If your smile is not as bright as you would like, you may be considering some form of cosmetic dentistry. If your teeth are less than perfect to begin with, you might want to consider porcelain veneers.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers, also referred to as porcelain dental laminates, are incredibly thin porcelain shells that are created and customized to fit right over the surface of an individual's teeth. Veneers can provide a subtle or drastic change by altering the size, color, and the shape of a person's teeth.

Veneers are virtually undetectable because they mimic the look of natural tooth enamel. Dental veneers can also be made from a material other than porcelain. Composite resin veneers are less expensive alternatives to porcelain veneers. Composite resin veneers or white fillings are set directly onto the tooth and set with a blue light. With light reflecting properties that reflect natural teeth, porcelain veneers are considered to be more realistic than composite resin veneers. They also resist stains and can last as long as twenty years.

Applying Veneers

Getting porcelain veneers applied over your teeth may require several trips to your dentist.  The first visit is simply a consultation. During the visit, talk to your dentist about what kind of look you're trying to achieve. Consider bringing in a picture of a celebrity or magazine model so that your dentist can get an idea of the look you're interested in. A thorough examination of your teeth will be done; in some cases an X-ray may be required. During this appointment your dentist will determine what size and shape veneers are appropriate according to your teeth, mouth, and jaw structure.

Before the veneers are applied, the dentist has to shave off a half millimeter of enamel from the tooth's surface. Next, an impression is made of your teeth and sent off to a laboratory to produce a set of custom porcelain veneers.

In the final stage, the custom veneers are formed to your teeth and then bonded to your teeth using special dental cement.

Porcelain veneers can transform your smile. They are an effective means to correct imperfections such as chipped, misaligned, discolored, and otherwise imperfect teeth. In order to achieve a natural and attractive look, be sure to consult with your dentist to choose the correct size, shape, and length of the veneers so that they complement your facial structure. To find a dentist, contact a clinic like Valley Oak Dental Group Inc.