Porcelain veneers are medical-grade ceramics that look much like natural tooth enamel. They cover the natural tooth surface and offer instant transformation to a patient’s smile. They are custom-made for each patient to ensure proper fit and appearance.
Dentists use veneers for cosmetic corrections such as misalignment and teeth that are discoloured. Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure due to their lifelike appearance and functionality.
Veneers may have become popular a couple of decades ago, although its first usage dates back to almost one hundred years ago, during the dawn of the film industry. In the late 1920s, a renowned doctor in Hollywood invented veneers and applied them on actors’ and actresses’ front teeth temporarily to create an illusion of a brighter smile on screen. In no time, this soon became one of the trademarks of Hollywood beauty. The downside of this invention was the porcelain could not stick on the tooth’s surface permanently. Eventually, in the late 1960s, Dr. Michael Bunocore paved the way for adhesive dentistry. The teeth are slightly etched to create a stronger bond using a mildly acidic solution between the surface and dental sealants. Finally, in 1982, J.R. Calamia and R.J. Simonsen applied the techniques that Dr. Bunocore had used to apply porcelain veneers onto the teeth. Since then, people have had access to a head-turning Hollywood smile.
You may find that your smile is not as bright as you want it to be. If this sounds like you, chances are, you are currently looking for ways to improve it and are considering cosmetic dentistry options such as porcelain veneers. You may have heard how it can dramatically transform your smile and improve your overall appearance.
You are certainly not the only one who is curious as to why porcelain veneers are so popular. Here at 5 Corner Dental, we give you the information on benefits of such treatments and provide you with high quality results.
Versatility
Porcelain veneers are thinly cut porcelain designed to fit individual needs and improve color, size, shape, and tooth position. You may or may not need a full set of veneers as some dental concerns only involve minor cosmetic imperfections such as:
- Mildly misaligned or shaped tooth
- Severe tooth discoloration
- Obvious chipping or damage
- Uneven gaps
One Simple Approach
Tooth-colored restoration, cosmetic bonding, and teeth whitening are a few of the cosmetic dental procedures you can undergo to enhance your smile’s appearance. However, with porcelain veneers, you get to efficiently optimize the result by addressing all your dental concerns and getting an excellent product in a short period without the hassle of going through all those treatments. Now you get to have a perfectly uniform smile that looks natural and beautifully bright.
Dramatic Results
The end result of porcelain veneers always exceeds expectations. Before curating a treatment plan, Dr. Mehrzad Hakimi will take the time to discuss with you your desired outcomes, including the areas of your smile that you want to change or improve. He ensures to work proactively with you towards reaching your smile goals.
To learn more about veneers simply schedule an appointment with us, 5 Corner Dental, for a consultation so you can be one step closer to achieving that Hollywood smile.
To determine whether you are the ideal candidate for porcelain veneers, your dentist will first evaluate your overall oral health and then discuss with you all treatment options available, depending on your specific needs and wants.
As much as possible, we opt for the least invasive option as treatments that involve tooth preparation are irreversible. Therefore, your dentist will discuss with you all the other possible and less invasive alternatives that could bring the same desired outcomes.
If you both decide that the best option is for you to get veneers, the next step would be to review any further treatment details and prepare your teeth for the procedure so the veneers look and fit correctly over your teeth.
Your dentist must understand your purpose of getting veneers. That is why during the consultation, we encourage you to actively give your input in the ‘smile design process’ by expressing how you want your smile to look. These details include your preferred shape, color, length, and width.
Can Cover Chips, Cracks, and Discoloration
A gap between teeth is one of the small cosmetic issues that porcelain veneers can quickly solve. They can also cover chips, cracks, discoloration or other imperfections you wish to improve. During the consultation, your dentist will carefully evaluate and decide whether you are the right candidate for veneers.
Requires Little Enamel Removal
Losing a tooth’s enamel is permanent. The good thing about veneers is that it only removes a thin layer of the tooth without needing anesthesia since is it a noninvasive procedure.
Can Increase Confidence in Your Smile
The procedure for veneers requires two visits to the dentist. Your dentist will file your front teeth down on your first visit, making sure only a little enamel is removed, but enough to make room for veneers to stick over them. At the end of the process, you will thank the gods (and your dentist, of course) for that Hollywood trademark smile.
Low Maintenance
Veneers are non-porous, making them stain resistant. This means that they do not seep stain into the inside of the teeth like natural tooth enamels do. Regardless, you must maintain proper oral hygiene, such as brushing your teeth at least twice daily and flossing once a day. Avoid eating hard foods on your veneers to prevent any potential chips. Maintaining healthy and aesthetically appealing teeth takes minimal effort with dental veneers.
Less Invasive
Unlike other dental procedures, veneers are not invasive. Your dentist will only have to remove a tiny portion of your teeth to make room for veneers to stick, plus you will not need to be given anesthesia when undergoing this procedure.
If you are someone who feels less confident or even uncomfortable with having discolored or cracked tooth or teeth, now is your time to visit the dentist and see if porcelain veneers suit your needs.
Long-Lasting Solution
Porcelain veneers give you long-lasting protection from decay and discoloration. With proper dental health care, avoidance of staining beverages, and biting on hard food, they can last for more than a decade!
Porcelain Veneers Look Natural
Porcelain veneers are sculpted based on your original teeth to ensure the shape and color mimics the enamel. Aside from that, it gives you a natural feel and protects cracked teeth, allowing you to drink and eat naturally and comfortably.
Step 1: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
The first step is to be proactive in discussing with your dentist the outcome you want to achieve. During this process, your dentist will evaluate your teeth and see whether or not dental veneers are appropriate for you. After that, the procedures and limitations will be discussed before taking an X-ray and impression of your teeth and mouth.
Step 2: Preparation
Tooth preparation for veneers involves your dentist filing down your tooth surface. The thickness being filed down is nearly equal to the thickness of veneers added to the surface. However, before filing down the enamel, your dentist will decipher if you need local anesthesia administered on the treated area. After that, he will make a model impression of your tooth and send it to a dental lab technician to design your veneers. The process takes around two weeks before you can have the final product. In the meantime, some patients can utilize temporary veneers.
Step 3: Bonding
Your dentist will put the veneers temporarily on your tooth surface to see whether it fits perfectly and is comfortable to wear. He may even trim or adjust them as needed until the perfect fit is achieved. He also makes sure that the veneers are the same color as the cement to be used. After that, he will etch your original tooth to roughen it to allow for strong bonding. This process is vital before permanently cementing the veneers on your teeth. As soon as a veneer is correctly positioned on your tooth, a special light beam will be applied to activate the chemicals in the cement. The activation causes the cement to harden or “cure” quickly. Finally, he will assess your bite and remove any excess cement, then make final adjustments as necessary. Before you leave the office, your dentist will schedule your next visit so he can examine the veneer’s placement and how your gums are responding to it.
Veneers are very thin pieces of durable, tooth-shaped porcelain that are custom-made by a professional dental laboratory. They are bonded onto the front of teeth to create a beautiful and attractive smile. Veneers can completely reshape your teeth and smile. They can often be alternatives to crowns and the ideal solution in treating many dental conditions, especially where aesthetics is involved. As with most dental restorations, veneers are not permanent and may someday need replacement. They are very durable and will last many years, giving you a beautiful long lasting smile.
If you are self-conscious about your smile, call us at (604) 574-4000 to set up a consultation to see if porcelain veneers are right for you. We can’t wait to be a part of your beautiful smile journey!
To prevent veneers from damaging your teeth, the treatment should be performed only by a qualified dentist who has been highly trained in cosmetic procedures.
Porcelain veneers are not considered as a permanent dental solution. The process is irreversible as it requires tooth etching before the veneers are cemented. However, the good thing about it is you do not have to worry about stain seeping into your tooth chips anymore. It is also relatively more affordable and less invasive compared to other dental treatments. Veneers have the potential to last many years with proper care.
Your dentist can numb the area where the enamel is being filed down in case it may feel a little sensitive. Other than that, there should be no discomfort in every phase of the procedure.
As the saying goes, ‘Too much of anything is a bad thing.’ That is why even though veneers are stain-resistant, excessive drinking of coffee, tea, and soda can eventually stain the bonding agent that cements your veneers over your tooth. Rest assured, though, that porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, so as long as you drink these drinks in moderation, you should be good.
The stickiness of chewing gums is not enough to threaten the robustness of your porcelain veneers. They are designed to be durable enough to withstand normal biting and chewing. Now you can have beautiful, protected teeth without having to give up chewing gum.
Depending on the level of care and maintenance you dedicate to giving your veneers, porcelain veneers can last from 12 to 25 years. This lifespan is longer than that of composite veneers. Try to avoid hard food so you may prevent structural damage and lengthen the lifespan of your porcelain veneers.
The cost of getting porcelain veneers depends on the number of teeth you want to be treated and the place you have the procedure done.
If your front teeth are chipped, discolored, gapped, misaligned, damaged, or irregularly shaped, then the porcelain veneers procedure is an option for you.
If you had fallen and chipped your tooth when you were little, that tooth likely is grey in appearance now. In that case, you can get a veneer, even for just one tooth.
Modern veneers are remarkably thin, but they still need a little space to fit naturally over your front teeth. That is why shaving off a bit of enamel is a must in this process.