What Are Veneers?
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic used to recreate the natural look of teeth while providing the strength and resilience of natural tooth enamel. They can be used to change the color, shape, or size of your teeth by covering spots or stains and creating straight lines. Veneers are cemented over the front of your teeth, and they are commonly used to improve the appearance of teeth due to damage or discoloration. Even with damaged teeth, the installation is relatively easy as veneers can adhere to uneven or chipped surfaces. If cared for properly, they can often last anywhere from seven to 20 years. This longevity is extremely important since veneers are typically irreversible due to a small amount of enamel being removed during the procedure.
Benefits Of Veneers
- Whitening. For those with teeth that are resistant to whitening, veneers can make even the darkest teeth appear bright white.
- Resistant to Stains. Even tough stains such as coffee, tea, and cigarette smoke won’t affect the coloring of your veneers.
- Quick Fix. Veneers can potentially be a quick fix for issues such as minor twists, overlaps, or small gaps.
- Teeth Remain Largely Intact. As opposed to crowns, your teeth are only altered minimally to fit the veneer.
How The Procedure Works
Veneers typically take at least three appointments: one for diagnosis and treatment planning, one for preparation, and one for bonding.
Diagnosis & Planning
At your first visit, your dentist will explore your options to help you determine if veneers are the best plan for you and your dental care. For most people looking for whitening or alignment correction, veneers can be a great option. Your dentist may be hesitant, though, if you grind your teeth, have gingivitis, or have tooth decay. Whatever you decide, after this first visit, you’ll leave knowing what the plan is for your oral procedure.
Preparation Visit
The preparation visit lays the foundation for your veneers procedure. During this visit, a small buffing may occur and a dentist will form a model of your teeth to be sent to a dental lab, where a technician will create your veneers.
Procedure Visit
On the day of your procedure, the veneers will be installed and the color is adjusted to find the best fit. To apply the veneers, a small layer of the original enamel must be removed, usually just a millimeter, to create room in your mouth for the most natural fit. This process can be done with little or no anesthesia.
The bond between your tooth and the veneer is critical to ensure the best appearance but also is essential for the correct veneer function. A light-sensitive resin is placed between the original tooth and the veneer and then hardened using a special curing light.
Adjustment
After your procedure, there will be a two-week period of adjustment as your veneers settle in your mouth. During that time, the size and shape of your teeth may change.
Moving forward with your veneers, it’s important to maintain regular oral health by flossing and brushing. This will keep you from having larger dental issues in the future, and it is best to extend the life of your veneers.
Veneers At Tower Dental Associates
At Tower Dental Associates, we make our patient’s comfort our number one priority. Each patient is treated like a close member of our family. We enjoy working together and getting to know our patients to better serve you. If you think you could benefit from veneers, contact our dentist office in Gainesville, FL and our team will be happy to help you schedule your first appointment.
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