You’ve probably heard of veneers, but do you know what they are? A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain or composite bonded to the front surface of a tooth. You can use veneers in Summit to improve the appearance and shape of teeth and correct minor alignment problems. Veneers can even help with bite issues if your jaw’s misalignment is causing some teeth to become worn down from contact with one another.
Veneer options vary from tooth-colored to white, but no perfect color or shade will work for everyone without consulting your dentist first.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain that cover the front surface of teeth to improve aesthetics or create an entirely new look for discolored, broken down, or misaligned teeth. They can also be used as part of orthodontic treatment to correct minor alignment problems. Dental practices offer various dental veneer options to choose from, including porcelain veneers, composite resin veneers, and gold alloy teeth.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored material that can be bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They help improve the appearance and shape of your teeth, correct minor spacing problems between teeth, cover or repair chipped or stained teeth and close gaps in the smile. Porcelain veneers are durable and long-lasting, so they don’t require any special care other than what you would typically give to your natural teeth.
To place porcelain veneers, the dentist will first remove a small amount of enamel to allow room for the shell by using either hand tools or an air-driven tool called a micro drill.
The dental assistant then prepares your teeth by applying cotton rolls between each tooth and fitting you with rubber dams.
Following this, the dentist applies a mild anesthetic to your gums and gives you protective eyewear.
Finally, they will bond the porcelain veneer in place using strong dental cement. It takes less than 30 minutes for both upper and lower teeth.
Composite Resin Veneers
Dental composite resins are the latest advancement in tooth-colored restorations. They restore decayed teeth, close gaps between teeth, and improve a person’s smile by covering discolored or stained teeth with laminates that look natural.
Composite resins offer many of the same benefits as porcelain veneers but are more affordable and can be used to improve your smile in one or two visits.
They work by applying the resin material directly over a patient’s teeth to seal out stains caused by coffee, tea, or smoking.
Decay detection is done with x-rays to ensure no cavities need treatment before the dentist prepares the teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to fit in the resin.
The dental assistant then fits you with rubber dams and applies a mild anesthetic before your dentist bonds them into place using strong dental cement. It typically takes less than 30 minutes.
In conclusion, no matter the type of dental veneer, it’s essential that you take care of your smile and see a dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings to help prevent further damage to your tooth surface. If you have any questions about veneers, contact your dentist or schedule an appointment.
