How Do Veneers Work?

Veneers are a popular choice for chipped teeth, gaps between teeth, teeth that are stained and misshapen teeth. In fact, getting veneers may be one of the best things you can do for your smile.

Custom-made to match your other teeth, veneers are wafer-thin shells made from tooth-colored materials to change the color, shape, size, or length of a tooth. Your dentist bonds the veneers to the front surface of your teeth to improve your smile permanently. The veneer wafers are ultra-thin, so they are comfortable and have a natural feeling. Veneers are also surprisingly sturdy, so you can eat, talk, and smile with confidence.

Prior to placing a veneer, your dentist will reshape the surface of the tooth and remove a small amount of enamel to create enough room for the thin veneer. Typically, the dentist removes less than a millimeter of enamel, or about the thickness of the veneer.

Types of Veneers

There are two main types of veneers – porcelain and composite – and each provides benefits and requires a different procedure for placement.

Porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers are custom-made from medical-grade ceramic shells, which mimic the light-reflecting properties of your natural teeth. Ceramic is also strong and long lasting, so your smile lasts for years. Porcelain veneers resist stains too.

Your dentist will make enough room for the veneers by removing a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of the treated tooth; this step helps make the veneers fit better and look more natural. Your dentist will also decide the perfect color shade of your veneer so that it closely matches the nearby teeth.

Next, your dentist will make a mold, or impression, of the prepared tooth. Your dentist will send this impression to a dental lab, where technicians will custom-make the porcelain veneers to fit your teeth. It may take several days to create your veneers, so your dentist may give you temporary veneers to wear in the meantime.

Your dentist will place the veneers at your next visit. First, your dental professional will place the veneers on the treated tooth to check their fit and shape. After making any necessary adjustments, your dentist will clean your teeth then bond the veneers to the surface of your tooth. Your dentist can make further changes at a follow-up appointment.

Composite resin veneers

Your dentist makes composite resin veneers from tooth-colored filling material bonded directly to your tooth. Composite resin veneers cost less than veneers, and require the removal of less enamel than for crowns or porcelain veneers. Your dentist may place composite resin veneers in a single visit, so these veneers may require fewer trips to your dentist. Composite veneers are not as strong or wear-resistant as are their porcelain counterparts, but your dentist can repair composite veneers quickly and easily.

Prior to placing composite veneers, your dentist prepares and shapes the tooth or teeth. Next, your dentist chooses a dental bonding material that closely matches the color of your natural teeth. Your dentist then applies the bonding material and sculpts the composite so that it looks like the nearby teeth. The dentist then shines a special light onto the treated area; the light hardens the composite material and bonds it firmly to your teeth. Lastly, your dentist smoothes and polishes the composite veneer so it looks like a natural tooth.

What You Need to Know Before You Get Veneers

Getting veneers is a big step – veneers are a permanent solution to misshapen, discolored, and irregular teeth, which means the process cannot be undone. Once your dentist has prepared your teeth by removing a layer of enamel, you will need to complete the process to protect your teeth.

Furthermore, your teeth and gums must be healthy enough to support veneers. Your dentist can treat gum disease or tooth decay prior to placing veneers.

Veneers are not for everyone, so discuss your options with a dentist. Dental veneers may not be a good option if you grind your teeth, for example, although your dentist may recommend wearing a plastic dental night guard while you sleep to help you avoid chipping or breaking your veneers. Veneers also require regular dental appointments to keep your teeth and gums healthy enough to support the veneers.

For more information, call Williams and Daily Cosmetic Dentists in Raleigh, NC, to schedule an appointment.

Williams & Daily Dental is a family and cosmetic dentist located in North Raleigh, NC with a team of dedicated dentists enthusiastic in their commitment to their patients. We offer dental implants, Invisalign teeth straightening, in-office and home teeth whitening options, and Oral-B electric toothbrushes. Contact Williams & Daily at (919) 846-9070 for more information and to schedule an appointment today.