Do chipped, stained or crooked teeth keep you from beaming your smile to the world? Does the thought of major cosmetic dentistry make your teeth itch? Then porcelain veneers might be the answer for you. The great thing about veneers is they allow a conservative approach to long-lasting, major cosmetic change.
Porcelain veneers are thin layers of tooth-shaped porcelain that are affixed to the surface of your natural teeth to enhance their shape, color, length or size. They are custom-made from a model of your teeth to fit precisely and look completely natural. Veneers are color-matched to your teeth and they have enamel-like qualities with very little opaque, making your smile beautiful and natural.
Because veneers are as thin as contact lenses and cover only the face of the tooth, they require very little or no removal of tooth material. People with good occlusion and healthy teeth are the best candidates for veneers. Veneers are usually best for people who want to change the shape of their teeth more than a little bit, as with bonding, but not enough to require a crown.
It usually takes two visits to prepare and place veneers. In the first visit, your dentist will discuss the shape and size of your teeth and remove a tiny bit of tooth structure, to make room for the veneer to fit over it without sticking out. This includes shortening the incisal edge and sanding a tiny bit of the tooth. The dentist will then make an impression of your teeth and send it to a lab, where knowledgeable laboratory technicians will create the veneers from strong, natural-looking porcelain.
On the second visit, your dentist will check the veneers’ fitness and color and permanently cement them over your teeth. While veneers are strong and long lasting, they require proper oral hygiene and the same care you would show your natural teeth. Please no opening bottles with your teeth or chewing ice.
For more information, please call Dr. Sun at 661-799-8800, visit www.DrSunDDS.com or go to her dental office at 23450 Lyons Avenue, Suite B, Newhall.