Over the course of a lifetime, practically everyone will have to deal with at least a few cosmetic issues with their teeth. While many of those blemishes can be avoided with good oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist, imperfections can still develop at any time. At some point, you might look in the mirror and realize that you are unhappy with your smile because of deep internal stains, chips, cracks, or tooth displacement. If you are currently struggling with any of those issues, then it is time for you to take a closer look at porcelain veneers.
What Can Be Treated?
One of the biggest benefits of veneers is the fact that they can be used to mask a variety of imperfections. As you can see from the smile gallery, they are particularly useful at masking deep stains or teeth that are generally dingy. Many patients also have this procedure carried out because their teeth are misaligned or uneven. Unfortunately, no amount of brushing or flossing can fix those two issues, and that means you will most likely need professional assistance. Veneers can typically be used to cover up practically any cosmetic issue that is impacting the color, size, or placement of the teeth.
Getting Started
After you have looked through the smile gallery and carried out a little bit of research online, you can then schedule your first appointment with the cosmetic dentist. During that consultation, your dentist will need to look over your teeth and gums to ensure that you are healthy enough for this procedure. They must also go over your medical history and any medications that you are currently taking. Luckily, this is a very safe treatment, and you will most likely make an excellent candidate as long as you don’t have any serious oral health problems.
The Procedure
The procedure itself is going to be carried out over the course of two visits to the dental office. The first visit should take one or two hours to complete, but it might last longer if extensive alterations must be made. The first thing that the dentist will do is carefully remove a small amount of enamel from each tooth to make room for the veneers. Once the enamel has been removed, impressions will be taken of the teeth. Those impressions can then be sent off to a manufacturer who will create each custom veneer. Before you leave the office, the dentist is also going to place temporary veneers over the teeth.
After the veneers have been made, you can schedule your second appointment. That session is going to be much quicker, and the dentist won’t need to do anything more than remove the temporary veneers and attach the long-term veneers with a powerful bonding agent. At that point, you can treat your veneers just like natural teeth. While those devices are very durable you must still keep them clean and avoid chewing on hard objects.
How Long Do They Last?
Modern veneers can stand up to quite a bit of wear and tear, and most patients enjoy them for 10 years or longer. That being said, they sometimes last for up to 20 years with the proper care and maintenance. If a veneer ever becomes damaged in any way, then you can easily schedule a follow-up appointment to have it replaced. You should also schedule regular dental checkups so that your dentist can inspect them for any signs of damage.
