When you’re ready to achieve your dream smile, our Elmhurst cosmetic dentists are here to help you evaluate all of your treatment options. The more that you know about aesthetic options going into the process, the more empowered you’ll be to move forward with an effective treatment plan. In today’s article, we’re reviewing one aesthetic solution in particular: the dental veneer.
The Basics
A dental veneer is a thin porcelain restoration; it is only as thick as a contact lens. A veneer is designed to be permanently bonded to a patient’s natural tooth structure. Every veneer is crafted from porcelain, and custom shaped, sized, and shaded to fit the patient’s needs.
The Treatment Process
The first step is to determine which teeth can benefit from dental veneers. Veneers can be used individually, to address single teeth, or in combination to achieve a larger dental transformation.
Once we’ve identified the teeth in need of treatment, we’ll prep the teeth by shaping them; this ensures that the veneer will fit comfortably in the smile. Then, we take an impression of the prepped teeth—this data is necessary so that the veneer can be created to fit the patient’s smile.
When the veneers are complete, you’ll come back in for them to be dry-fit, and then permanently bonded into place. The entire process takes just two to three dental appointments.
Common Uses
Porcelain veneers are used to correct a number of common aesthetic and function dental issues:
- Cover stained, yellow, or dark enamel
- Correct worn down, damaged teeth
- Close gaps in the smile
- Rebuild diminished or chipped tooth structure
- Make crooked or crowded teeth appear better aligned
Veneer technology is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to achieve an aesthetic smile transformation. This treatment can be used in isolation, or in combination with treatments like dental bonding, professional whitening, and even Invisalign.
Want to learn more about porcelain veneers? Give our Elmhurst veneer dentists a call!