What are the Benefits of Porcelain Veneers?
When teeth are chipped, cracked or discolored, it can make you self-conscious about your appearance. In many cases, porcelain veneers can restore your bright, beautiful smile.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers are very thin shells, not much thicker than a fingernail, made of porcelain. They are affixed to the surface of the teeth with a special bonding agent. Although the individual veneers are thin and fragile, they become strong and durable when they bond with the tooth surface.
Porcelain is translucent, meaning that light can pass through it. Natural tooth enamel is also translucent, so porcelain veneers reflect light in a similar way. For this reason, veneers are virtually indistinguishable from the natural surface of your teeth.
Benefits of Veneers
In addition to their natural appearance, porcelain veneers offer several other advantages over crowns, teeth whitening, or other cosmetic treatments. Veneers are versatile, and can be used to treat:
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Pitted teeth
- Discolored teeth that do not respond to tooth whitening treatment
- Minor misalignment or small gaps
The thinness of porcelain veneers is also an advantage. Rather than completely reshaping your tooth to make room for a crown, your dentist can remove a very thin layer of enamel from the front surface of your teeth. In some cases, this treatment is so minimal that it can be performed without anesthetic. The veneers are then custom molded as well as custom colored to exactly match your teeth. The result is a new tooth surface free of imperfections.
Veneers are durable, and can last many years if they are taken care of. If you have veneers, you should be sure to follow your dentist’s recommendation regarding care. This can include:
- Avoid staining agents
- Use a soft toothbrush
- Be sure your dental hygienist knows you have veneers
- Avoid biting on hard substances to prevent chipping
With carefully maintained veneers, you can keep your smile bright and beautiful for many years to come. To find out more about treatment with veneers in Las Colinas, please contact our office to make an appointment or to speak to one of our experienced dentists.
Porcelain veneers: Smile with confidence
Even minor irregularities or discolorations in your teeth can make you feel self-conscious about your smile. If your teeth are slightly crooked, cracked, chipped, pitted, or extensively discolored, you might feel very uncomfortable exposing them when you smile, laugh or simply talk.
Veneers can help correct these minor problems, giving you a bright, beautiful smile and restoring your self-confidence about your appearance. Veneers are easy to apply, and can be much less expensive than other cosmetic dentistry options.
Veneers are made of a very thin shell of porcelain, about the thickness of a fingernail. This porcelain is custom-made to fit your teeth, and the color is carefully matched to your teeth so that the veneers are virtually indistinguishable from the enamel surface of any untreated teeth.
Typically, dentists place veneers in a two-step process. First, the teeth are prepared. This usually involves removing a very thin layer of enamel from the tooth surface. The dentist then makes a cast of your teeth. This will be sent to an off-site lab where your veneers will be carefully constructed to exactly fit your teeth. The dentist will place temporary veneers to protect your teeth in the mean time.
When the final, custom-made veneers arrive, you will visit the dental office again to have them permanently bonded to your teeth. A special adhesive allows the porcelain to create a strong bond with the teeth. Veneers are strong and durable and can last many years if properly cared for.
To find out what veneers can do to help restore confidence to your smile, please contact a dentist who has experience with veneers in Grand Prairie.