Veneers

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of teeth to change their appearance. Veneers are used on uneven surfaces, oddly shaped, chipped, discolored,  unevenly spaced or crooked teeth. Little or no anesthesia is necessary. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and they highly resist permanent staining from coffee & tea.

Typically, this process is three appointments: diagnosis and planning, tooth preparation, and bonding.

The tooth preparation visit usually lasts one to two hours. The teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the  added thickness of the veneer. Normally, about one half mm of the tooth is removed; this may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken and sent to a laboratory for veneer fabrication.

During the bonding visit(one or two hours) the veneers are placed, with water or glycerine, on the teeth to check their fit and looks. During this phase veneers can be adjusted with various shades of cement, to match color. When applying the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals for bonding. Then a special cement is applied between the veneer and tooth and hardened with a laser.

During the 2 wk period of adjustment following the procedure, you may notice the change of size and shape. It is very important to brush and floss daily. After one to two weeks, a return  follow-up appointment is necessary.

Porcelain veneers are close replacements for natural teeth but not perfect. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection as  in natural teeth as well.

Dental Group of Alek Zand DDS – Dr. Zand on Google