Cosmetic
Porcelain Veneers
What Are They?
Veneers are a wonderful way to improve your smile. They are custom made for each patient to achieve a natural and attractive result. Veneers are thin porcelain restorations that cover the fronts and usually the tops of unsightly teeth. They are each handmade by a master ceramist from tooth-colored, high-tech materials to portray a natural, bright smile. Although an individual veneer can be made, they are usually done individually on a series of teeth to accomplish the esthetic goals of the patient.
Unattractive gaps, and stained, misshaped or crooked teeth can be corrected with veneers. Also, traditional unnatural appearing crowns can be replaced with veneers. If these conditions apply to your mouth, veneers may be your best option. Veneers are intended to be a long term solution for your smile and they will not change color over time. In most cases, the veneers are just as beautiful as the day they were placed ten years later.
Before veneers are placed, records of your teeth, gums, lips and face will be taken. With these records a plan is established on models for what the veneers will look like. This not only establishes natural esthetics, but also insures the end result will have the proper function teeth should have.
Once the plan has been established, the teeth are reshaped initially to allow for the added thickness of the veneer. This way, the final veneer will appear natural. An impression is taken of the reshaped teeth. With this impression, our ceramist is able to customize your smile with beautiful hand crafted porcelain veneers. The veneers are then applied individually to each tooth with a very strong, yet invisible bond. The whole process usually takes between 6 to 8 weeks.
According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, there are several advantages and benefits of veneers:
Advantages of Veneers
- Tooth-Like Appearance: Since veneers are individually sculpted for each patient, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth.
- Stain-Resistant: Custom-made veneers resist stains from coffee, tea and cigarette smoke because they are made of high-tech, extremely polishable materials.
Benefits of Veneers
- Only a minimal amount of the natural tooth must be altered to fit the veneer.
- Veneers can be matched to make even the darkest teeth appear to be bright white.
- Minor twists and overlaps, as well as small gaps, can be quickly corrected through the use of veneers.
Once veneers are placed, several considerations must be addressed. First, maintaining your veneers is important. In general, regular dental visits are advised, so that problems that may surface in the veneers or their bonds can be detected early and addressed with minimal effort. In order to ensure a long term esthetic appearance of your veneers, our hygienists have been trained in specialized cosmetic dental techniques which will enhance the polish of the veneers.
Additionally, veneers are an irreversible procedure. Although our patients are extremely happy with their smiles when the veneers are completed, they are aware that the process has altered their teeth. Finally, these veneers can break, much like natural tooth enamel can break, so opening and tearing things with your teeth as well as biting into hard substances is not advised.
Veneers are an amazing way to achieve a beautiful, natural smile. Many of our patients feel it has truly enhanced their lives.
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Download PDFToday you have had your teeth prepared for the fabrication of artistically hand made porcelain veneers. The veneers that you left the office with are temporary. You will have these temporaries for about 4 weeks. These temporary veneers are made of a high quality acrylic resin. They serve two purposes. First they provide us with a trial of what the final veneers will be like in your mouth in terms of size, shape and function. Although the color of these temporaries is natural and white, it is not the exact color we selected for your veneers when we are finished. Also, because of the material used, temporaries tend to feel thicker and rougher than natural teeth, even though they look natural to your friends and family. Your veneers will feel as smooth and thin as your natural teeth. Although temporary veneers appear separate and individual, you will find that they are all attached together when you try to floss. All of your individual teeth will be separate when we are finished with the veneers.
Sometimes patients have cold sensitivities with their temporaries. This is typically mild and final veneers will not have this problem. Most patients find that if they are mindful of cold drinks they have no problems. Some patients find the temporaries can crack. Please be mindful to not aggressively bite into things during this period. If your temporaries should break, call our office and we will determine with you if you need to be seen for a repair.
For the next few days your teeth may be tender. Over the counter ibuprofen or Tylenol is recommended as needed.
Home care is critical during this phase. You will be given a rubber tip instrument and mouth rinse. Please run the rubber tip along the gum line of the temporaries as you were shown and rinse with the mouth rinse two times per day. This will insure healthy gums when you return for the bonding of the final veneers, which is essential to a successful bond.
If you have any questions, please contact our office.
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Care and Maintenance
Congratulations! High quality state-of-the-art dental veneers have just been placed on your teeth. You have many years of natural and beautiful smiles ahead of you.
There is usually minimal discomfort and adjustment associated with new veneers. If you have any type of sensitivity or tenderness, give your teeth a few days to adjust. Over the counter ibuprofen or Tylenol may help if you feel you need it.
Your bite has been finely adjusted for optimal function. Dr. Bernal recommends you return to our office for a follow up visit in one to two weeks. At this appointment, a final analysis of your bite will be performed and any adjustments will be made. You may feel your bite is right on, but there might be slight misalignments that could jeopardize the success of your new veneers.
Maintaining your veneers is important. In general, regular dental visits are advised, so that problems that may develop with the veneer bond or on the teeth the veneers are bonded to can be detected early and addressed with minimal effort. In order to insure a long term esthetic appearance of your veneers, our hygienists have been trained in specialized cosmetic dental techniques which will enhance the polish of the veneers. Please be mindful that these veneers can break, much like natural tooth enamel can break--opening and tearing things with your teeth as well as biting into hard substances is not advised. In some instances with patients who grind or clench their teeth excessively, a night time bite guard will be recommended to protect your veneers.
If you have any questions about the care of your veneers, please ask us. Enjoy your beautiful new smile!
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