Porcelain Veneers
Dental Services by Michael J. Spitzer, DDS
About Veneers
Have you ever felt self-conscious because of your smile? Do you feel uncomfortable in pictures due to a chipped or cracked tooth? Teeth that are badly stained, shaped, or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth. Porcelain veneers may be the right restoration to help you restore your smile and confidence.
What are porcelain veneers?
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 that 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.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Covers Imperfections and Dramatically Improves Appearance
Porcelain veneers are a great option for fixing small cosmetic imperfections visible when you smile or talk. Porcelain veneers are made to fit each tooth accurately and give a natural look and feel.
Prevent Tooth Discoloration
Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and can stay white for up to 10 years with proper oral hygiene care.
Low Maintenance
Although dental veneers are stain-resistant, you must brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily to maintain good oral health. Porcelain veneers are non-porous and can resist stains and cavities better than natural tooth enamel.
Process for Porcelain Veneers Treatment
Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.
During the tooth preparation visit, 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 from the teeth and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final "bonding" visit, 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 the period of adjustment that follows, you may notice a change in the size and shape of your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It is not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.
For certain patients, no preparation of the teeth may be necessary.
If you are looking for dental veneers in Costa Mesa, CA, or surrounding Coastal Orange County area, schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Spitzer today. With decades of experience in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Dr. Spitzer blends his artistic eye with dental expertise for exceptional clinical outcomes.
A healthy, confident smile starts here.
Address
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
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Phone & Fax
(949) 642-2019 fax