Dental veneers are a kind of cosmetic dental product designed to enhance the appearance of your teeth. Dental veneers are small pieces of material which cup over the outward-facing surface of teeth, improving the color, shape, and overall symmetry of your smile.
Veneers can be made from a variety of materials, each with distinct properties. Porcelain veneers, for example, are highly stain-resistant – an excellent option for people who consume a lot of high-tannin drinks like tea and wine. Another type of veneer material, resin, is usually cheaper than porcelain but not as good at mimicking the way teeth reflect in the light.
Why You Might Choose Porcelain Veneers
There is a range of reasons why you might choose to use porcelain veneers. Let’s take a look.
- Chipped Or Misaligned Teeth. Chipped or misaligned teeth can make you uncomfortable or less confident. Porcelain veneers, however, can reshape your teeth to make them look perfect.
- Discolored Teeth. Although teeth whitening technology has come a long way in recent years, some stains, such as those caused by antibiotics or excessive fluoride usage, cannot be removed with standard teeth whitening products. In these circumstances, veneers are a great option for hiding discoloration and perfecting your smile.
- Worn Down Teeth. Teeth can become worn down for all kinds of reasons: acid exposure, aging, and abrasion. Special veneers can attach to the teeth, restoring them to their natural length.
- Closing Gaps. Gaps can form between the teeth for many reasons: cycles of plaque buildup, natural growth of the jaw, and injury. Veneers can extend teeth laterally to close gaps.
The Procedure For Getting Veneers
At Hanson Dental, in Buffalo, MN, we use porcelain veneers to enhance your natural, beautiful smile. The process of fitting veneers is easy. Here’s what to expect:
Step 1: Planning
The purpose of the planning stage is to tell us about the results that you’d like. During this consultation, we will work with you to manage your expectations, tell you about what you can achieve with veneers, and what the process will involve. The planning stage may also include taking X-rays to check for potential issues and taking impressions of your teeth.
Step 2: Preparation Of The Teeth
The next step is to prepare the surface of the teeth for veneers. Veneers cannot be placed directly onto teeth. Instead, the teeth must be shaven down around ½ a millimeter before application. Don’t worry: we will provide local anesthetics to eliminate the risk of any pain.
Because your teeth are uniquely shaped, your veneers must be individually made. We send the mold of your teeth off to the dental laboratory. It usually takes between two and four weeks for your new veneers to return.
Step 3: Fitting The Veneers
The final stage, known as “bonding,” is where your new veneers are placed over your teeth. Your teeth are thoroughly cleaned and then the veneers bonded using a combination of light and special adhesives.
At Hanson Dental, you can get beautiful porcelain veneers to enhance your smile. Call us today at 763-682-9796 to book a consultation.
Image credit: Viktoria Ovcharenko / iStock / Getty Images Plus