Getting To Know Porcelain Veneers
Posted on: 11 July 2016
If you are concerned about the look of your teeth, having porcelain veneers in place may be great options to make them appear more attractive. Here is a bit of information about porcelain veneers to help you understand their application:
What does the dentist do to prepare and install porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers usually require two separate dental appointments. During the first appointment, your dentist removes a small amount of tooth enamel from the tooth or teeth that will receive veneers. The removed enamel is to help ensure that the veneers fit flush against the front surface of your teeth. This is especially important to help the veneers look natural to preserve the alignment of your bite.
Your dentist will also take a mold or impression of your mouth during the initial visit. This impression is needed as a guide for the lab technicians who will be designing and fabricating your veneers to fit the contours of your mouth.
Since a portion of your tooth enamel is removed during the initial visit, temporary veneers may be installed until your permanent veneers have been received. It may take the laboratory a week or two to complete the veneers, but once they are sent to the dental office, your dentist can schedule an appointment to install them. During the installation, the temporary veneers that were placed during the first visit are removed, and the permanent veneers are bonded to your teeth.
Are there veneers available that do not require any tooth enamel to be removed?
New technology has produced prepless porcelain veneers that do not require the front surface of the teeth to be altered for the veneer placement. Prepless veneers can be installed and removed without changing the underlying tooth structure.
How long do porcelain veneers last?
Porcelain veneers can last between seven and 20 years. In fact, some veneers may last even longer. Veneer replacement may not be necessary due to damage to the porcelain material. Instead it can be due to changes along your gum line.
As a person ages, his or her gums may recede. This can result in a bit of your natural tooth enamel being displayed between the top of a veneer and the gum line. To ensure that the veneers remain natural-looking, slightly larger veneers may need to be designed and placed to cover the newly revealed tooth material.
To learn more about porcelain veneers and how they can benefit you, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist.
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