Porcelain Veneers

What are porcelain veneers?

When teeth are stained, chipped, cracked, crooked or misshaped, cosmetic correction can be made to make them look straighter, close spaces between them, change their color or shade, and their change their shape and size. This is done with very thin covering shells made of porcelain ceramics or composite resins that are designed to mimic the look, translucency and feel of natural enamel on teeth. The veneer shells cover mainly the front side of teeth.

Veneers are made by dental professional laboratory technicians. A small amount of the tooth enamel surface is removed from the front and some of the edge of the tooth to accommodate the veneers shells. The shells are then bonded, glued, with special tooth bonding agents to the front surface of the tooth.

Veneers are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility.

Will they look like normal teeth?

When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options.

The Procedure

This procedure will require three appointments:

• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Preparation
• Bonding

Diagnosis and treatment planning:

You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. Drs. Young and Chegini will review the corrective limitations of this procedure and help you plan your new smile.

Preparation:

The second appointment will take one to two hours. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the added thickness. Approximately one half of a millimeter of tooth is removed. This may require little or no local anesthesia.

Then a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. Sometimes to protect the teeth a temporary set of veneers are placed until the permanent ones are ready in one to two weeks.

Bonding:

At the time of your third appointment, Drs. Young and Chegini will first place the veneer on your teeth with water or glycerin to check their fit and color. At this point the color of the veneer can still be adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is determined, and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. A special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately one to two hours.

Care and follow up:

Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after one to two weeks.

Maintenance of your new Veneers:

Brush and floss as you normally would. Don’t be afraid that you will damage your veneers by brushing and flossing. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best esthetic success of your veneer.

You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneer. This is due to the amount of enamel left on the tooth after preparation. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate after one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists please call the office.

If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. Drs. Young and Chegini may recommend a soft night guard for you to wear to minimize stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.

We hope that your new veneers fulfill your esthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.