19 Dec

Dental Veneers

Lifetime Family Dental in Gilbert, AZ wants everyone to have the best smile possible. It’s more than our job; it’s our passion. The better you look, the better you feel about yourself and the more enjoyment you will have in life. A magnetic smile with a winning personality draws favor that leads to success. One of the ways to achieve a brilliant smile is with dental veneers.

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain or composite resin that are bonded over individual teeth in order to improve the appearance of the tooth. Attached to the front of the tooth, they are used to fix cosmetic problems of chipped or broken teeth. They can also be applied to gapped or irregular shaped teeth to create a symmetrical appearance in a smile. Often, veneers are the only solution for discolored teeth that whiteners can’t fix.

Traditional vs. No-Prep

Veneers are mostly made from two different materials that require different methods of preparation and attachment.

Porcelain is the traditional material used in veneers. It requires the surface of the tooth to be ground down for proper fit and adhesion. Occasionally, the dentist will need to remove enamel, thus exposing the interior of the tooth. This usually requires a local anesthetic.

No-prep veneers are made from composite resins and require much less surface preparation. It is usually only the enamel that needs to be etched, and no anesthetic is normally needed.

Application

Your teeth need to be healthy in order for veneers to be effective. The dentist will examine your teeth and take x-rays to determine if there is gum disease, decay, or a need for a root canal. If everything is in order, your dentist will grind a thin layer of enamel from the teeth that will receive the veneer. Then he/she will make a mold of your teeth and send it to a lab which will make the veneers.

After about two weeks, your veneers will be ready for bonding. The dentist will check for any imperfections in the veneers before thoroughly cleaning your teeth to rid them of any bacteria. Then the dentist will grind a bit more enamel off and cement the veneer to the tooth. Depending on the number of teeth that need a veneer, you should be walking out the door with a new smile in about two hours.

Aftercare

There are no special aftercare instructions after you receive your veneers. Continue to brush and floss twice a day as you normally would. Any slight feeling of roughness will disappear in a few days.

Just as with natural teeth, you want to avoid injury to veneers. If you suffer from bruxism, wear a nightguard while you sleep. If you play sports, use a mouthguard. With proper care, porcelain veneers will last 15 years or more. Composite resin veneers will last about 10 years.

There are other ways to achieve a brilliant smile, but veneers are a very low maintenance, cost-effective solution. We also have flexible payment plans. So, if you want a straighter, brighter smile, give us a call at Lifetime Family Dental and we will set up a consultation to see if dental veneers are right for you.

 

 

Images used under creative commons license (Commerical Use) 12/19/19  Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash