Veneers

Veneers are wafer–thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded onto the front side of the teeth. They represent the perfect cosmetic solution for stained, chipped or slightly misaligned teeth. They are also called porcelain veneers, dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates.

Benefits
• Veneers create a very lifelike tooth appearance
• They are resistant to staining.

Who is this procedure for?
• Patients with permanently stained or discolored teeth
• Patients with broken or chipped teeth
• Patients with stained or washed out fillings
• Patients with diastemas (spaces between the teeth).

Who should not consider this procedure?
People who suffer from bruxism, clenching teeth or grinding teeth. In these cases veneers can be cracked or chipped.

What happens before the procedure?
Having veneers is a very simple procedure and it requires only little preparation. In some cases a tiny amount of the outer enamel surface of the teeth may need to be removed, to make sure that the veneers can be bonded permanently in place later. It is also done because the tooth needs to stay the same size after the veneers are bonded. Local anesthesia may be used, but it is rarely necessary. The dentist then takes impressions of the teeth that are used by the dental technician to make the veneers. A shade guide is used to pick a natural color for the veneers.

What happens during the procedure?
During the second visit the veneers are tried in and if they are satisfactory they are bonded in place. First they are placed on the teeth with water or glycerin to check the fit and the color. Next the teeth are cleansed with chemical substances to get a durable bond. A special glue (cement) is used for the bonding. At the end a light beam is used to harden the cement.

What happens after the procedure?
Once the veneers are fitted there are only minor adjustments that can be done. That is why dentists choose to wait for about a week before they make any changes. During this third visit they check and polish the veneers if needed.