The Porcelain Veneers Procedure
Have you ever wanted to have a smile that looks absolutely stunning? One that makes great impressions and looks completely natural as well? This is something that is not impossible, even if you have major stains, chips, cracks, or problems with tooth spacing and alignment. By meeting with a cosmetic dentist, you can learn about many different treatment options that can make your smile look its very best.
One particular option that can make a major difference in terms of the look and quality of your smile is porcelain veneers. Let's look at veneers and the process for getting them right now.
About Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that are placed on the front portions of your teeth in order to conceal aesthetic flaws from view. When in place, no one will be able to notice that you have porcelain veneers since they blend in seamlessly with your natural tooth structure.
Step One - The Initial Consultation
The first step of the porcelain veneers process is the initial consultation. During this exam, your dentist will determine if porcelain veneers are right for you or if an alternative therapy is more ideal.
Step Two - Cleaning the Teeth
If you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers, the next step of the process will involve the preparation of the tooth for treatment. First things first, though, the tooth or teeth in question need to be cleaned. A thorough polishing is in order.
Step Three - Prepping the Tooth
The next step of the porcelain veneers process is the actual prepping of the tooth. Your dentist will need to remove a small amount of tooth structure from the front of the tooth in order to accommodate the porcelain veneer. This is a very small amount, generally just a fraction of a millimeter.
(Note: some types of porcelain veneers may not require any tooth structure to be removed.)
Step Four - Taking an Impression
Once the small amount of tooth structure is removed, an impression is taken of the tooth. It is from this impression that the final dental veneer will be crafted.
Step Five - Crafting the Porcelain Dental Veneer
There are a few different options when it comes to the crafting of the final dental veneer. Some dentists may send the impression to an outside dental lab to be created. Other dentists may have special advanced milling units on the premises that can create the dental veneer. Your dentist will describe this process to you during the consultation phase.
In the case of the dental lab practices, the dental veneer will be ready within a week or two. In the interim, the patient will need to wear temporary veneers.
In the case of the dental lab with an on-site milling unit, the digital impression is sent directly to that milling unit in order to custom create the porcelain veneer. The patient will wait an hour or two for this to be done.
Step Six - Final Adjustments to the Porcelain Dental Veneer
Once the final porcelain veneer is ready, the dentist will check the veneer against the prepped tooth and make any final adjustments to improve fit.
Step Seven - Placing the Porcelain Dental Veneer
When all of the adjustments are made, the porcelain veneer is then carefully adhered in place. Patients will receive detailed instructions for aftercare. Generally, these instructions simply ask that patients follow proper dental hygiene, brushing and flossing regularly and visiting their dentist as normal for regular checkups.
Get More Information About Porcelain Dental Veneers
For more information about porcelain veneers and your many other options available for effective smile makeover treatment, be sure to contact our Nashville cosmetic dentistry center today. Our entire team is eager to discuss these options with you in greater detail and help you smile with absolute confidence.
