As one of the simplest yet most misunderstood restorations, veneers are considered the most effective treatment for creating a whiter, brighter, and straighter smile. These thin shells fit over the teeth, protecting the enamel from damage and giving the tooth’s surface a fresh new start. Depending on your dentists, they’ll have their ways of applying veneers to your teeth, but we’re here to walk with you step-by-step to help you learn more about veneers and how they work.
How Do Dentists Apply Veneers To Your Teeth?
Dentists work through specific procedures to ensure your teeth are healthy and clean. When discoloration, chipping, and cracked teeth are present, your dentist will provide the best restoration options. So, how are dental veneers applied to your teeth? When dentists apply veneers, they work through a simple process:
- Evaluation: Before anything, your dentist will determine the best treatment for your smile, depending on your oral health, family history, and other conditions.
- Tooth Reshaping: If veneers are considered a good choice for your smile, during your next visit, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel along the front of your teeth, about 1.5mm, and will remove any signs of decay and cracks in the meantime.
- Veneer Shading: Your dentist will then help select the best shade for your veneers based on their expertise and your personal preferences. It takes about two to three shades lighter on average to make a huge difference.
- Impressions: Once selected, your dentist will make an impression of your mouth using impression material or a digital scanner to send the data to their laboratory for fabrication.
- Final Fitting: Once the veneers have arrived from the lab, it’s time for the final fitting of your new smile. The veneers are cemented onto your teeth using a special bonding glue that sets them permanently in place.
What You Should Know About Dental Veneers
If your dentist has determined that veneers are your best choice, then here’s what you need to know about veneers:
- Dental Veneers Are Permanent: Veneers are thin porcelain shells cemented on the tooth’s surface. To place the veneers, your dentist will remove a small portion of your enamel to prepare the tooth’s surface.
- Dental Veneers Are Supposed to Look Natural: While veneers look quick to give you the glossy, Hollywood smile, most dentists focus on providing patients with a more natural look to their restorations by adjusting the veneer’s tooth shade to match your natural teeth.
- Dental Veneers Are Made Specifically For You: While the standard smile looks great, many dentists try to shape the shells to your natural smile, meaning areas that appear too big or too small will be adjusted to ensure that your smile is truly yours.
- Dental Veneers Aren’t For Everyone: Some people may not benefit from veneers at all, even if they face similar problems with their teeth. If you’ve been recommended veneers, it means that you’ll be able to benefit the most from using these restorations for your oral health.
If you want to learn more about veneers and how to maintain them, why not visit our dentists at Superb Dental Care? Our team of dentists will be glad to help you with any concerns you may have with your dental health and will always work hard to ensure that you receive the best quality care possible.