Are you embarrassed about how your teeth look? If you find it hard to smile for pictures due to gapped, discolored, or damaged teeth, dental veneers might be the perfect solution for you. Dental veneers are incredibly strong, tooth-colored masks that are affixed to the front of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance. Veneers can help Dr. Beth and Dr. Chris to make your smile look perfect without orthodontic care, dental implant surgery, or other invasive procedures.
Reasons for Veneers
Veneers can be used to correct a vast array of dental problems, including:
PERMANENT DISCOLORATION
Dental trauma, root canal therapy, and certain medications can permanently discolor the teeth, giving them a pale gray hue. Years of poor oral hygiene or periodontal disease can leave the teeth yellowed, discolored, and patchy-looking. However, veneers can make your teeth look white, even, and perfect. Veneers can also be dyed to match existing teeth, for a restoration that blends in perfectly.
GAPS
If you have gaps between your teeth, but don’t want to fuss with traditional orthodontic care, veneers can be placed on the teeth on either side of the gap to close the space. The area behind the veneer can be built up with tooth-colored dental bonding material, so the tooth looks and feels just like a normal tooth.
CHIPS OR CRACKS
Physical damage to the teeth can leave you with chips or cracks. Veneers are helpful because in addition to improving the look of the teeth, they can also seal the surface of the tooth and prevent infections.
UNDESIRABLE TOOTH SHAPE
Some patients have problems with unusual tooth shapes, with some teeth being much shorter or longer than they are supposed to be. Veneers can be used to correct the shape of individual teeth, giving your smile an even, natural appearance.
Benefits of Dental Veneers
One of the most powerful benefits of dental veneers is that they are long-lasting, with some patients enjoying their veneers for as long as twenty years. Dental veneers are also incredibly easy to maintain, requiring only normal brushing, flossing, rinsing, and dental exams. Newer versions of dental veneers are thinner than ever before, allowing Dr. Beth and Dr. Chris to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible.
Dental Veneers: The Procedure
Before your new veneers can be placed, Dr. Beth and Dr. Chris will carefully evaluate your teeth and recommend a treatment plan. X-rays will be taken of your teeth to check the underlying bone health and to look for decay.
Once your teeth are determined to be healthy enough to receive veneers, the teeth will be numbed to keep you comfortable during the procedure. To ensure that the veneers lay flat against the teeth and that they aren’t noticeable, a very small amount of dental enamel, less than a millimeter, will be removed. Next, impressions are made of your teeth so that dental technicians can create a veneer that will fit the contours of your tooth perfectly. These impressions are then sent to the lab, where your veneers will be made. Veneers typically take 1-2 weeks to be fabricated.
When the veneers come back from the lab, you will be asked to come in for a second appointment. The teeth will be treated to create a stronger bond with the veneer. Next, a special dental cement is used to attach the veneer to the front of the tooth. Tooth colored, composite resin bonding material is used to perfect the edges of the repaired tooth, and then the entire area is cleaned and polished. As soon as the process is complete, patients can resume their normal activities—with a brand new, gorgeous smile.
For more information about dental veneers, contact us to make an appointment with Clark Family Dental. As cosmetic dentists in New Albany OH, Dr. Beth and Dr. Chris can make your smile beautiful again.
