Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are not only used to fix cavities or broken teeth but can also be used to improve the look of healthy teeth. Veneers are applied to the entire front surface of the tooth.
Bonding and veneers make your teeth look better by changing their colour, shape, angle or spacing. We can fix broken, chipped, or cracked teeth that have spaces between them or that are discoloured. Cosmetic dental treatment can improve your smile and give you more confidence.
What are veneers?
Veneers are very thin shells that are attached to the front part of teeth. They are often made of porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain veneers are durable and long-lasting and do not change colour or stain. Generally, porcelain veneers take at least two dental visits to apply.
How do you put porcelain veneers in place?
With porcelain veneers, we may give you a local anesthetic (freezing) then remove a thin layer of the enamel from your teeth to make room for the veneers. We then make a mould of your teeth to custom-make your porcelain veneers.
In the meantime, we place temporary veneers to replace the portion of your tooth that was removed. These are worn until your porcelain veneers are ready. The temporary veneers are very fragile and need to be treated gently during eating and cleaning as they come loose very easily.
On your next visit, we remove the temporary veneers and put a mild chemical on your teeth to make them a little rough. This helps the porcelain veneers stick to your teeth better. The porcelain veneers are then glued to your teeth one by one, using composite resin cement.
Who can get veneers?
Not everyone is a good candidate for veneers. Here are some reasons why we may suggest treatments other than veneers:
- If a tooth has decay or is in an area with periodontal disease (gum disease). These problems must be treated first.
- If a tooth has little enamel left, a veneer will not stick to it properly.
- If too much of the tooth is missing, a crown may be another option.
- If you grind or clench your teeth. This habit is called bruxism and can chip or break porcelain veneers.
What else should I know?
Like your natural teeth, your veneered tooth needs to be brushed and flossed daily. Stains or cavities can form under the veneer if they are not fully placed or sealed onto your tooth. Once you have veneers, you cannot reverse the treatment because part of your enamel has been removed. If a veneer chips or peels off, or if a cavity forms under a veneer, it must be redone. The other option is to put a crown on the tooth. Constantly grinding or clenching your teeth may cause your bonding or veneers to chip or break. Porcelain veneers and bonded teeth can be chipped if you are not careful when biting or tearing into hard or chewy foods. Do not bite hard objects like ice cubes or fingernails. Your dental plan might not cover cosmetic dental treatments like bonding or veneers. You may be responsible for those costs yourself.
