Dental veneers (sometimes called as dental porcelain laminates or porcelain veneers) are wafer-thin and customized shells of tooth-colored materials designed for covering the front portion of the teeth for improving one’s appearance. These shells are bonded to the front surface of the teeth thereby changing their length, size, shape or color.

Types of problems that dental veneers McLean can fix

• Teeth those are irregular in shape, uneven or misaligned (for instance, bulges or craters in them)

• Teeth that are worn down

• Teeth having gaps between them (for closing the space between the teeth)

• Teeth are broken or chipped

• Discolored teeth due to the presence of large resin fillings, excessive fluoride, other drugs, stains from tetracycline, root canal treatment or due to other causes

The Process for Getting a Dental Veneer

Usually getting a dental veneer McLean requires three visits to the dentist – one for consulting and the rest two for making as well as applying the veneers. Multiple teeth or one tooth can simultaneously undergo the veneering process that is described below.

Planning for Diagnosis and Treatment

The first step requires your active participation. You must explain to your McLean dentist the result you want to get. During this appointment, your dentist will be examining your teeth for making sure veneers are appropriate for you and will be discussing the process involved as well as the limitations. Your dentist may take X-rays and will make an impression of your teeth and mouth.

Preparation

For preparing a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will be removing about half a millimeter of enamel from the surface of your tooth, which is an amount equal to the thickness of the veneer that is to be added to the tooth surface. Before the enamel is trimmed off, the dentist will numb the area by using local anesthesia. Next, an impression or a model of your tooth is taken. This impression is being sent to the lab for creating your veneer. Usually, after two to four weeks, the dentist will be getting the veneers back from the laboratory. Temporary dental veneers can also be placed for vert unsightly teeth.

Bonding

Before the veneer is cemented permanently to your tooth, your dentist will be temporarily placed on your tooth for examining its color and fit. As required the veneers are repeatedly removed and trimmed to get the perfect fit and the color of the veneer can also be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. For preparing your tooth to receive the veneer, the tooth needs to be cleaned, polished and etched that will roughen the teeth to allow for strong bonding. Specialized cement is applied to the veneer and then the veneer is placed on your tooth. After the veneer is properly positioned on the tooth, the dentist will be applying a special light beam to the veneer that will activate chemicals in the cement which in turn will harden or cure very fast. The final steps require removing any excess cement, analyzing your bite and making any final adjustments in the veneer if required. After a few weeks, you must visit your dentist for follow-up for checking how your gums are responding to the presence of your veneer as well as examining the veneer’s placement.

Advantages of Dental Veneers

• Veneers provide a conservative approach in changing the shape and color of the tooth. They generally do not require extensive shaping before the process that crowns require, yet offer a more aesthetic and stronger alternative.

• Provides a natural tooth appearance

• Veneers made of porcelain are resistant to stain

• One can choose the color of a porcelain veneer so that the dark teeth appear whiter.

• Gum tissue can tolerate porcelain well

The lifespan of Dental Veneers

They generally last between seven to fifteen years. After this period, you need to replace the veneers.

Any special care required for Veneers

No special care is required. Just maintain good oral hygiene practices like flossing, brushing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash. Although porcelain veneers are stain-resistant you must avoid stain-causing beverages and foods (for instance, red wine, tea or coffee).