What is the Porcelain Veneer Procedure?
The field of cosmetic dentistry is ever-expanding, helping millions of people invest in the appearance of their smile. There are many different treatments involved in cosmetic dentistry, but porcelain veneers are one of the more widely known. A lot of people are familiar with porcelain veneers because they know that movie stars rely on them for their star-powered smiles, but did you know that porcelain veneers can also be used to correct moderately crooked or misaligned teeth, gaps between the teeth, teeth that are yellowed or stained, and teeth with fractures, breaks, or chips. Porcelain veneers can last many years with the proper care, thanks to the durability of porcelain; because porcelain is also translucent and can be tinted, restorations made of porcelain are highly natural-looking. The process of placing porcelain veneers can be completed over a couple of dental visits and is pain-free, and you and your dentist will review the details at your initial consultation. It’s helpful, though, to have a general understanding of the porcelain veneer procedure as you consider your options for repairing your smile.
To prepare the teeth for porcelain veneers, the first thing your dentist will do is trim the teeth that are to be treated. If there is any decay present, your dentist will also address this at this time, removing decayed tissue before trimming the rest of the teeth. In order to accommodate dental veneers, your dentist must remove a small amount of your dental enamel – not more than a millimeter – so that the veneers won’t jut out unnaturally once they’re cemented to the teeth. If you have dental fillings in the teeth that will receive veneers, your dentist will assess these fillings, possibly replacing them if they threaten the bond between the veneer and the tooth. In most cases, a sedative isn’t needed for this procedure, though one will be used if the veneers are designed to extend under the gum line where the tissue is more sensitive. It’s also okay to ask your dentist for a sedative if you have anxiety or an aversion to being in the dentist’s chair.
While preparing the teeth, your dentist will also select the proper shade of porcelain for your veneers, based on the color of the adjacent teeth, and they will also design the layering of the porcelain so that the veneer matches the other teeth in translucence. Once the teeth have been trimmed and the oral cavity has been thoroughly cleaned, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and gums. Using this impression, they will craft a model of your mouth that the dentist and dental technicians will use to design your porcelain veneer treatment. While your porcelain veneer is being prepared, you’ll have a temporary veneer applied to protect your teeth while you wait, which usually takes a week or two. Once the veneer has been completed, your dentist will assess its fit, trimming and removing it several times to make microscopic but vital adjustments. Your dentist will assess your bite with each adjustment, making sure that the veneer will feel as good as it looks and won’t interfere with your bite or cause discomfort. Once the porcelain veneer is perfect, your dentist will polish its surface and your tooth’s surface and then etch both surfaces with acidic gel, facilitating bonding between both surfaces. This gel is washed off after about 15 to 20 seconds, and a bonding agent is applied to the veneer. The coloring is injected into the veneer, between its microscopic layers, and the entire veneer is cured, or made permanent, with a high-wattage blue light that hardens the bond. After all the porcelain veneers have been placed, your dentist will clean and floss your teeth, and you’ll be good to go with your shiny new smile.