Porcelain Veneers in Mystic, CT
Teeth that are badly stained, shaped, or crooked may be improved by a veneer
placed on the surface of the affected teeth.
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of
your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with
uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced,
or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life
expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent
staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.
Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model
provided by your dentist. Veneers are usually irreversible because it`s
necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate
the shell.
Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by
tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and
are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps
between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider
porcelain veneers.
Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and
treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.
During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the
teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the
veneer. Usually, about half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may
require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the
teeth and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers
are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerin on the teeth to check
their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are
resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to
match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed
with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is
sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser,
causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.
During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the
change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss
daily. After one or two weeks, you`ll return for a follow-up appointment.
Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect
replacements. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of
porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural
teeth.
Are you interested in learning more about veneers?
Call James P. Watts, DMD's dental office in Mystic, CT
at
(860) 536-6446
to schedule an appointment today!