What Are Veneers?
Veneers are a dental restoration that is used to correct the appearance of teeth affected by minor imperfections. These include such things as:| • | Small chips or cracks that only affect the outermost layer of your teeth. |
| • | Minor alignment issues such as gaps or slight overlapping. |
| • | Small or oddly shaped teeth. |
| • | Discoloration that cannot be whitened. |
Veneers are thin shell-like structures that are designed to bond to the fronts of your affected teeth, effectively covering over the flaws and giving you back your beautiful, confident smile.
The Benefits of Using Porcelain
Typically, veneers can be made from composite resin or porcelain. While composite resin costs less, it is also more susceptible to damage and staining. All of our veneers are made from porcelain. This material is much stronger than composite resin. It is also stain-resistant, even more so than your natural tooth enamel. In addition to these benefits, porcelain perfectly matches the enamel of your teeth. It can be stained and finished to perfectly match the color of your natural teeth, and the material mimics the way in which enamel reflects light. There are several other benefits of porcelain veneers as well.| • | The material is biocompatible, meaning that it will not irritate your gums. |
| • | With proper care, porcelain veneers can last 15 years or more. |
| • | Because the material perfectly blends in with the rest of your natural teeth, restoring your smile, your confidence will greatly increase. |
What to Expect From a Veneer Placement Procedure
The process for getting porcelain veneers usually requires two separate visits. Your first visit is reserved for preparing the affected teeth and taking impressions. Preparing the teeth, done under a local anesthetic, involves removing a small amount of the enamel from the fronts of each tooth that is to receive a veneer. This creates space so that the veneers fall perfectly in line with the rest of your teeth, helping to create a more natural appearance. After the teeth have been prepared, impressions are taken and sent to our lab. The lab uses these impressions to create custom porcelain veneers for you. When your porcelain veneers are finished and then returned, you have your second appointment. During this visit, we check your veneers to make sure that they feel comfortable, look natural, and blend in with the rest of your surrounding teeth. If no adjustments are needed, the veneers are then bonded into place, giving you back your beautiful smile. You do not have to let small imperfections in your teeth keep you from smiling like you want to.Call Jillian Prather Family Dentistry today at (918) 401-9933 to schedule your consultation and find out if porcelain veneers are right for you.
