Veneers

Porcelain veneers are an option if the entire front of a tooth needs to be repaired or cosmetically improved. They can change the color, shape, length, alignment, and spacing of your teeth with thin overlays that include a layer of fine or decorative material. A natural look is achieved with porcelain veneers because of their limited thickness, and there is no metal to conceal.

Veneer Placement

Two visits to our office are necessary for veneers: one to prepare the teeth and take an impression of them, and one to place the veneers. Tooth preparation includes removing a small amount of the tooth’s structure from the front surface of the affected teeth. The amount of tooth structure that needs to be removed will depend upon several factors, including alignment, length, shape, spacing, and any discolorations that are present. 

Once your custom veneers are ready, we’ll make an appointment for you to come in and get them placed. At this visit, the dentist will clean your teeth to ensure that no bacteria or particles are trapped under the veneer. A grinding tool is used to roughen the texture on each tooth that will receive a veneer. This helps the binding material used between your tooth and the veneer remain secure. Lastly, the dentist will use an ultraviolet light to harden the binding material. This concludes the procedure and gives you the ability to leave our office with a brand new smile.

Lumineers

We are proud to offer Lumineers as an option to our clients. Lumineers, also known as “no-prep” veneers, are an ultra-thin, non-invasive option for patients seeking a quicker solution to conceal tooth decay and discoloration. 

The application process requires two appointments following your initial consultation. The first appointment will be shorter than it would be for porcelain veneers because your teeth will not need to be trimmed or prepped. At this visit, the dentist will only need to make an impression or mold of your teeth. Once the mold is sent to a dental laboratory for creation, your custom-made Lumineers will be ready in 2-4 weeks. At your second appointment, the dentist will bond them to your teeth, and your new smile is ready to be seen by the world. 

Aftercare for Veneers

While the recovery process is very short for veneers, allowing you to eat and chew normally following your placement appointment, it is important to take proper care of them. We recommend avoiding chewing on hard objects such as ice or pen caps, refraining from using your teeth to open packages, trying not to chew with your front teeth, eating harder foods with your back teeth, and wearing a mouthguard when playing sports. 

Taking these precautions and maintaining good oral hygiene can result in your porcelain veneers lasting over a decade. If you have questions about porcelain veneers or would like to make an appointment for an evaluation, just give us a call. Our team will be glad to assist in getting your smile to a happy place!