Important Facts to Know Before Your Veneers Procedure

As dental restorations go, veneers are a simple way to give your smile a quick facelift. That does not mean that veneers are a small commitment, like changing your haircut. Veneers are usually far more permanent. This is reason enough to read up on veneers before you put them in.

What veneers can and cannot do

Veneers are a fairly non-invasive treatment that corrects a variety of superficial dental faults. They can hide surface-level cracks and breaks. Veneers also hide intrinsic stains and the discoloration that comes from a dead tooth or a root canal. A more extensive use of veneers is for disguising slight dental misalignment and small gaps.

Along with cosmetic applications, porcelain and zirconia veneers have the strength to reinforce teeth with moderate cracks or breaks. However, there is a limit to how far a veneer can protect the outer structure of a tooth. Teeth with more extensive damage require aggressive solutions like onlays and dental crowns. Here is more information about the fitting and maintenance of veneers.

1. The process may take two or more visits to the dentist

More so when the dentist recommends porcelain or zirconia veneers. A dentist will use the initial visit to evaluate the patient, come up with a diagnosis and craft an optimal treatment plan. If both the patient and dentist are willing, the dentist will perform the next step in the same visit.

During the second visit, the dentist will prepare their patient’s teeth by removing a thin layer of enamel. The goal is to make room for the veneers and to roughen the surface of the teeth to provide a firm grip for the restorations. Lastly, the dentist will take an impression of the patient’s teeth in preparation for the next step.

Next, the dentist sends the mold to a dental lab where a dental technician crafts the veneer. It takes between one and three weeks for the dentist to receive the veneer from the lab. That is when they call their patient in for a fitting. It bears mentioning that composite or same-day veneers allow the patient to go home with a brand new smile after a single dentist’s visit.

2. There are different types of veneers to choose from

Composite veneers are made from the same material that dentists use to fill teeth, fractures or small chips. There is no wait time for composite veneers, which makes them affordable and convenient. The only downside of this type of veneer is its shorter lifespan of five to ten years.

In contrast, porcelain or zirconia veneers are tougher and more durable. However, most dentists depend on dental labs for the fabrication of these types of veneers. This translates into a wait time of one to three weeks. Both types of veneers are also more expensive than composite equivalents.

3. Most times a thin layer of enamel needs to come off

The dentist will file away a small amount of enamel to make room for dental veneers. Only certain types of brand-name veneers allow for installation without the removal of enamel.

4. This means that veneers are usually permanent

Enamel does not grow back like bone. Once the dentist removes it, the tooth will forever need to have a covering to prevent tooth sensitivity. The only way to avoid this is to pay a little extra for ultra-thin, ultra-strong brand-name veneers.

5. The treatment is painless and minimally invasive

Fitting of a dental veneer is a painless process that requires little or no anesthetic. The most invasive part of the process is the removal of enamel, which does not hurt because the outer tooth has no nerves. Only patients with tooth sensitivity or anxiety need anesthetic or sedation dentistry.

Thanks to veneers, you can now lead with a brilliant smile

A nice smile makes a good first impression and there is no reason why you should not have one of your own. Contact our practice and talk to our dentist. They will be happy to take you through veneers as an option for a smile upgrade.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.