What Are Dental Veneers And How Are They Applied

Dental veneers are very thin, custom-made porcelain shells that are applied on the frontal surface of the teeth with the purpose of improving their appearance. With dental veneers, it is possible to change the color, the shape and the size of the teeth, without having to destroy them. Veneers are extremely thin, therefore only about 1/2 mm of the surface of your teeth will need to be removed in order to fix them in position. Only experts at Cedar Park cosmetic dentistry clinics can be trusted for veneers.

Problems that can be fixed with veneers

There are few problems that aren't necessarily hazardous for the dental health, but rather a matter of aesthetics. It's well-known that a beautiful smile can make people more attractive, therefore it's good there is this less intrusive procedure that offers such awesome results. Among the most frequent problems fixed with dental veneers there are:

- Discolorations of the teeth: root canal treatments, certain drugs or excessive fluoride may cause a permanent discoloration of the teeth;

- Teeth that are misaligned or uneven: in such cases, if they don't have other heath implications, these irregularities can be corrected with veneers;

- Gaps between teeth: some people are born with gaps between their teeth. If this bothers them, covering the frontal surfaces with veneers will apparently close these gaps;

- Teeth that are worn down, broken or chipped: such situations may occur either with age or because of various incidents. It's hard to correct them without destroying a big part of the tooth, therefore it's excellent that these patients can receive veneers for a beautiful smile, while preserving the health of their teeth.

Treatment Stages

The first step in getting porcelain veneers is the discussion with the dentist, so things are clear about what faults you wish to correct. The dentist will take x-rays and possibly take impressions of your teeth before telling you whether or not you qualify for this medical procedure.

Once you get approval, your teeth need to go through the preparation stage. This means the dentist will polish away about 1/2 mm of your teeth surface enamel, just about the thickness of the veneers that will get bonded on the teeth.

After this step is done, the doctor will take an impression of your teeth and will send this model to a dental lab where the veneers will be constructed. There are some universal veneers available for purchase, but it is not recommended to use them, because custom ones will fit your teeth much better.

After the veneers are ready, process which may take a couple of weeks, the dentist will temporarily place them on your teeth for a preliminary examination of the end result. After everybody is happy, the veneers are fixed in position with a special cement that binds them with the teeth. There is a possibility to slightly alter the color of the veneers by using a shade of cement which will make the end result look perfect.

The last operation is the application of a special light beam that will make the cement harden or cure very quickly, thus making the veneers become permanent.