Sometimes your teeth just don’t do justice to the rest of your face.
Cosmetic dental veneers can cover imperfect teeth and beautify your smile. They’re thin shells, custom-made and bonded to the front of your teeth, improving color, shape, size or length, according to WebMD.
Cosmetic porcelain veneers can be made from porcelain or resin composite materials. While porcelain veneers look more natural and resist staining better, resin veneers are thinner and can be applied without removing as much of your natural tooth’s enamel. Either way, veneers are permanent.
How do you know if cosmetic veneers are right for you?
If your teeth are discolored, worn down, chipped, broken, crooked, uneven or have large gap between them, veneers can cover these imperfections.
An examination by a cosmetic dentist will determine if veneers are right for you. If you have decay, gum disease or a root canal infection, they must be treated before you can receive veneers, according to docshop.com. Patients who grind their teeth may not be good candidates.
Once you are cleared by your dentist, he/she will take x-rays or make impressions of your teeth.
Prepping the teeth involves removal of some surface enamel, then making an impression that is sent to a dental laboratory which creates the veneers, says WebMD. Usually temporary veneers can be applied for the one or two weeks it takes to make the veneers.
Your cosmetic dentist will trim the veneers to fit your teeth. He/she will then roughen the enamel for a permanent bond and apply the veneers with special light-activated cement that hardens quickly.
Veneers normally last 5 to 10 years and can be combined with other dental treatments such as teeth whitening and dental crowns for a brighter smile…read more