Veneers
Porcelain veneers are one of the most popularly chosen cosmetic dentistry treatment options, thanks to their impressive ability to mask imperfections and completely transform the appearance of a smile with comparatively minimal dental work needed.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are wafer-thin, tooth-shaped shells of porcelain designed to be permanently fixed to the front surfaces of a patient’s teeth. Veneers completely cover the outward-facing visible portion of a person’s teeth to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
What Kinds of Concerns Can Veneers Address?
Porcelain veneers can help address some tooth sensitivity that occurs as a result of exposed dentin. However, they are otherwise considered to be a purely cosmetic treatment because they do not strengthen the teeth or provide any sort of restorative, orthodontic, or health-related benefits.
That being said, their cosmetic power is great, as they can cover up a variety of aesthetic imperfections.
Porcelain veneers can improve the look of a smile with the following benefits:
- Improve the symmetry and balance of a smile
- Change the apparent shape of the teeth
- Fill in gaps
- Make crooked teeth appear straighter
- Mask discoloration and stubborn stains
- Create an even tone/color across a smile
- Cover up chips, cracks, or breaks
- Hide old, silver-colored amalgam dental fillings
The Process of Getting Veneers
Getting porcelain veneers begins with a consultation during which one of our dentists talks with you about your treatment goals, the aspects of your smile you would like to improve, your ideal smile, and what you can expect your teeth to look like after treatment.
We then take a three-dimensional digital impression of your teeth to design your custom-made set of veneers. This information is then sent to a lab where your personal set of veneers is manufactured.
Once your veneers are ready for placement, we schedule a placement appointment. This appointment begins with administering a local anesthetic that reduces tooth sensitivity and ensures you do not experience any discomfort during your appointment.
We then prepare your teeth for the placement of the veneers. This preparation involves shaving off a thin layer of your tooth enamel to make room for your veneers to fit naturally over your teeth. The preparation also ensures that a secure bond can form between the veneers and the surface of the teeth. Once prepped, we bond the veneers to each tooth using dental glue.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Since dental veneers are a permanent treatment, they will last a long time. Porcelain is an incredibly durable material, and porcelain veneers can last 10 to 15 years with the proper care. If a veneer becomes damaged, our dentist can simply replace the damaged veneer with a new one.
To prolong the life of your veneers, avoid chewing on hard objects, wear an athletic mouthguard to protect your teeth during physical activities, and go to sleep wearing a nightguard if you suffer from sleep bruxism.
Porcelain Veneers and Lumineers in Bucyrus
At Oakwood Dental, we are fully equipped to provide patients with a variety of options in porcelain veneers and cosmetic treatment with Lumineers and several other cosmetic services.
If you have a relatively healthy smile and strong teeth and would like to completely revamp the appearance of your smile to create a whole new look or make a few minor adjustments to mask small imperfections, then porcelain veneers might be the perfect cosmetic dentistry service for you.
To learn more about porcelain veneers, Lumineers, and a variety of additional cosmetic dentistry treatments available at Oakwood Dental, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Bucyrus today.