WHAT ARE DENTAL VENEERS?
A tooth veneer is a thin, custom-made, tooth-colored shell. It is made of porcelain to give it the same opaque coloring we recognize in teeth enamel, so it does not have a chiclet or fake look. Tooth veneers are designed to cover the front side of your most visible teeth. They are attached by removing a small amount of enamel from the tooth and permanently bonding the veneer to the tooth.
THE VENEER PROCESS
FIRST OFFICE VISIT
For most patients, dental veneers are placed over the course of two office visits.The first visit is the consultation; once the patient has agreed to treatment, we can then take some preparatory steps during this visit.
THE PROCESS
1. Discuss Needs
Dental veneers can be used to disguise a number of problems in teeth. They can be used to hide chips, fractures, gaps, stains, sizing and more. Veneers are ideal for patients who have experienced intrinsic staining that cannot be whitened away such as stains that come from fluorosis or certain medications. Some patients may want a teeth veneer on one, multiple, or even all eight of their front teeth
2. Take Impressions
We will take impressions of your current teeth, including the neighboring teeth, for size and spacing. We will include information such as the needed length, width, and coloring needed for the veneer to work well with your bite and to match neighboring teeth.
Preparing the jawbone for the implants, if needed
3. Prepare the Natural Tooth
The tooth veneer is thin, but will still add bulk to the tooth, we will need to shave and shape the natural tooth to allow space for the veneer. It should be noted that this reduction in enamel and shaping is a permanent alteration to the natural tooth.
Implant placement and bone healing
Once the teeth are prepared, we will place temporary veneers over your teeth to reduce any discomfort either from sensitivity or just due to the changes in your appearance. The impressions are sent to a dental lab for fabrication; it can take one to two weeks to receive the finished product.
Dental veneers can be placed on any eight of your front teeth. Though they are highly durable, they should not be placed on teeth that are more active in the chewing process.
SECOND OFFICE VISIT
Once we have received the completed veneers from the dental lab, we will contact you to schedule your second appointment for placement. We will remove the temporary veneer, clean the area and check the fit. We can make any necessary adjustments to ensure a precise fit and look at this time. After we have determined the correct bite and fit, we will then cement the permanent veneer into place. The cement bond is strong and highly durable, though we will check the bond with every dental exam moving forward.
If your smile isn’t as perfect as you want, there are ways to improve it to give you the confident smile you want. When your smile has cosmetic problems, such as uneven teeth, discoloration, or chipped teeth, dental veneers can be an effective way to improve your smile without having to go through invasive or extreme procedures. Dental veneers in El Paso, TX can improve your smile, self-esteem, and get you on your way to showing the world the side of yourself you want them to see.
DENTAL VENEERS
Dental veneers are thin shells that are placed over the front of natural teeth in order to improve the overall appearance of your smile. They are custom-made to fit over your teeth, and create a uniform look to your smile. Veneers can be a good solution to hide teeth that are chipped, stained, or uneven. By placing veneers over your natural teeth, you will have the benefit of the beautiful smile you are looking for paired with the benefits of keeping your natural teeth.
There are two main types of veneers: composite and porcelain. Composite veneers are made of the same material often used in fillings, which is a resin designed to look like natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are also often used because the material looks very similar to natural teeth, including the way it reflects light. They may be more durable than composite veneers. Both composite and porcelain veneers are very thin so they can be fitted over your natural teeth without looking strange or false.
GETTING DENTAL VENEERS
The process of getting veneers takes multiple appointments. This is to ensure that the teeth are properly prepared and the veneers fit properly over the natural teeth. Generally, the process of getting veneers includes:
- First appointment: Preparing the teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from each tooth that will be covered
- First appointment: Taking an impression of your teeth to ensure that the veneers fit properly over your natural teeth
- Manufacturing the veneers (usually off-site) using the impressions taken
- Second appointment: Veneers are placed on the teeth to ensure fit and, after any adjustments are made, the teeth are cleaned and the veneers are adhered to the teeth
- Any additional adjustments can be made after the veneers are bonded to the natural teeth
If you have uneven, discolored, or chipped teeth, dental veneers can be a great way to improve the look of your smile and help give you the confidence you want. The custom-made veneers simply fit over your natural teeth, and no one will know that your smile is anything but completely natural.
