What Are Veneers?

Posted on: Mar 7 2019
By: Crystal Newkirk

What are Veneers?

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), a veneer is a “thin piece of porcelain used to re-create the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel.” They are custom made to the contour of your teeth and are bonded to the tooth’s original enamel during a series of in-office procedures.

Why are Veneers Used in Dentistry?

Veneers are a less intrusive option than crowns or braces. According to the British Dental Health Foundation, veneers can be used to close gaps or correct small misalignments. Patients also choose veneers as a cosmetic dentistry solution to enhance the brightness of their teeth and to straighten their smile, correcting issues like discoloration, fractures, or chips.

Porcelain Veneers

The most commonly used material for veneers are the conventional porcelain veneer and Lumineers and composite resin veneers. AACD, porcelain veneers are preferable for correcting issues of shape or color and can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years.

Placing Veneers

The typical process takes one to two appointments. If the veneer is prefabricated it usually takes one appointment and if the laboratory is creating the veneer it takes two appointments. We will focus on highlighting placement of the porcelain veneer created by the laboratory or in our case, our onsite dental lab:

Local anesthesia is not usually required when placing veneers. However, depending on the patient’s sensitivity, it can be used if needed. The dentist will clean the tooth and determine the correct shade for the veneer. The dentist will remove a very small amount of the enamel of the tooth to provide room to place the veneer on the tooth.
An impression of the tooth will be made for the laboratory and a temporary veneer will be placed on the tooth with spot etching in the center of the tooth away from the margins.
After the laboratory has delivered the porcelain veneer to your dentist, the temporary veneer is removed, the tooth is cleaned with pumice and water. The veneer is then etched, rinsed throughly with water and air dried. The adhesive is placed on the preparation and then the cement and the veneer is placed for exact fit and contour.
The veneer is then light cured for 60 seconds on all surfaces of it to attach it to the tooth structure.
Your dentist will remove any excess material and polish the margins of the veneer.

Many dentists will schedule a follow-up visit to check for comfort; a comfortable veneer will be a long-lasting veneer.

Need help finding out if veneers are right for you?

We’d be glad to help! Contact our team at Uptown Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry today! Uptown Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, located in Houston, Texas, is proud to offer our patients a highly educated prosthodontist with over 15 years of experience.

DISCOVER THE UPTOWN DIFFERENCE.

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