The Porcelain Veneers Procedure
There are times when teeth are damaged to a point where dental bonding is no longer an option. Still, the damage may not be severe enough that a dental crown or an extraction is warranted. For damage such as breaks, cracks, chips or decay that is considerable but not severe, porcelain veneers are often an excellent repair option.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are dental appliances that involve the placement of a prosthetic over a reshaped, healthy tooth. While some of the natural tooth needs to be reshaped in order to place the veneer, the dental veneer allows the patient to maintain a lot more of their healthy, natural tooth than other replacement options like dental crowns.
Why Veneers?
While having a dental veneer is excellent for your self-confidence—as it helps to complete your smile—the advantages go far beyond cosmetic. Having a damaged tooth can lead to decay and infections. It can also damage other areas of the mouth. Because of this, it is important to repair a damaged tooth. The longer you wait to repair your damaged tooth, the higher the chances are of the damage becoming worse, and the higher the chances you have of bacteria growing and spreading. Because of this, it’s important to set an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can after a tooth is damaged.
The Placement Process
Once you have set an appointment with your dentist to go over your options for the repair of a damaged tooth, they will take a look at the extent and nature of the damage. From there, they can consider different repair options. If they decide that porcelain veneers are the right option, they will start the placement process. It is important to understand that the placement procedure for porcelain veneers is different to composite veneers. While composite veneers may be placed same-day, porcelain appliances need to be fabricated in a lab. Other than that, though, the procedure is very similar.
Your dentist will begin the placement process by reshaping the natural tooth to better hold the veneer. Once the tooth is reshaped, they will make an impression that is sent to a lab for the prosthetic to be created. Once the prosthetic is complete, it will be sent back to your dentist for placement. Your dentist will check to ensure the fit of the veneer, and the overall look. They will also check the durability, and how it withstands the force of your bite. Once they are happy with the fit, look and durability, they will place the veneer.
Aftercare
Once your veneer is placed, it is extremely important to take proper care of both your veneer, and the healthy tooth underneath. This includes brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day. It also includes visits to the dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings. If you have a damaged tooth, set an appointment with your dentist to see if a porcelain veneer is the right repair option.
Contact Lansdowne Dental Care about our award winning Porcelain Veneers Today!
Learn More About Veneers : What's the Difference Between Composite Veneers and Porcelain Veneers?