A Complete Guide to Dental Veneers

A tooth veneer is a thin, tooth-colored shell that covers a damaged tooth’s surface. Veneers are used to change the appearance of broken, chipped, misaligned, or discolored teeth. They’re more conservative than dental crowns, as they don’t require extensive enamel reshaping.

If you have dental flaws that leave you feeling self-conscious, you may benefit from dental veneers service. Most patients require only two to three appointments to complete their smile transformation using veneers.

To find out if you’re an excellent candidate for cosmetic veneers, please contact Great Neck Dental Associates today.

When Do You Require Veneers?

Veneers can rectify a wide range of aesthetic dental problems. You may require veneers if you’re experiencing:

• Severe tooth discoloration. Staining that results from large fillings, root canal treatment, certain medications, or excessive fluoride cannot be fixed via teeth whitening. In such cases, your dentist may recommend veneers.
• Worn teeth. If you grind or clench your teeth, the enamel may wear off. Veneers can rebuild the teeth’s appearance.
• Chipped or broken teeth.
• Misaligned, misshapen, or uneven teeth. Minor dental misalignment can be corrected using cosmetic veneers.
• Gap teeth. Veneers can be used to seal gaps between teeth.
• Uncharacteristically small teeth. Some individuals naturally have atypically or unusually small teeth. Veneers can also improve the size of your teeth, leading to better aesthetics.

Types of Veneers

Veneers can be manufactured from porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain veneers are incredibly stain-resistant. In addition, because of its translucent, light-reflecting properties, porcelain mimics the appearance of natural teeth, resulting in superior aesthetics.

Composite veneers also do a great job at hiding dental imperfections. In addition, composite veneers are more cost-effective compared to porcelain veneers.

Your dentist is best placed to guide you in choosing between composite resin and porcelain veneers.

Composite Veneers vs. Dental Bonding

Many people often confuse dental bonding with composite veneers. Both dental procedures utilize composite resin, a material composed of synthetic resins (plastic), ceramic compounds, and other inorganic components.

However, dental bonding differs from composite veneers in that dental bonding addresses or corrects part of a tooth while composite veneers cover a tooth’s entire surface.

Veneers Treatment Process:

Below are the steps involved in the veneers treatment process:

Initial Consultation

Your first visit involves a comprehensive assessment of your dental health. For this process, the dentist uses visual observation and dental imaging. Subject to your needs, the dentist may recommend other treatments besides veneers. For example, if your bite is significantly crooked, the dentist may suggest getting braces before moving forward with veneers. If you’re an excellent candidate for veneers, the next treatment step involves scheduling your second appointment.

Teeth Preparation

On your follow-up visit, the dentist trims off some of your tooth enamel to make room for the veneers. To complete this task, the dentist uses local anesthesia to manage pain. Next, the dentist takes a mold or impression of your teeth and sends this to the dental lab.

Placement of Veneers

The third visit to the dentist involves bonding or permanently cementing the veneers to the affected teeth. Next, the dentist cleans and etches your teeth, as this allows the veneers to attach firmly to the tooth’s surface.

After ascertaining that the veneers are an excellent match in terms of size and shape, the dentist cements the restorations in place. Once placed on the tooth, the dentist uses a curing light to facilitate the hardening of the dental cement. Finally, the dentist removes any excess dental cement while also making any other necessary adjustments.

Your dentist may request a follow-up appointment after a couple of weeks to monitor your veneer teeth, gums and check for any veneer placement issues.

Benefits of Veneers

Significant advantages of veneers include:

• Cosmetic veneers transform your smile naturally. It’s nearly impossible to tell veneer teeth apart from natural teeth.
• Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant.
• Porcelain veneers don’t cause any allergic reactions as they’re well-tolerated by gum tissue.
• Veneers can correct minor bite problems thus helping patients forego more complex procedures.
• Veneer teeth are low-maintenance. They only require regular brushing and flossing.
• Dental veneers are friendlier to tooth structure as they require minimal tooth enamel trimming.

Book Your Smile Transformation Appointment

Are you ready to restore your smile using dental veneers in Great Neck, NY? Reach out to Great Neck Dental Associates today to enjoy personalized dental veneers service.