Are you looking for a quick way to improve the appearance of your teeth by correcting minor problems? If you answered yes, veneers may be for you. Our Rittenhouse dentists offers veneers for the correction of tooth discoloration and minor cracks and chips.
What Are Veneers
Veneers are extremely thin wafers of porcelain or composite material that are affixed to the front teeth in order to improve the appearance of your smile. While veneers are considered a cosmetic procedure, they can also be used to correct minor imperfections of the teeth. This includes slight cracks, chips, uneven teeth, small spaces between the teeth and worn enamel. Since they are an extra layer added to the teeth, they also add a certain level of protection against future tooth damage. Once the veneers have been placed on your teeth, you can expect them to last between 10 to 15 years. Since veneers require the tooth surface to be roughened in order to ensure proper adhesion to the tooth, if it ever breaks or loosens, it will have to be replaced.
How Veneers Are Placed on the Teeth
Getting veneers typically takes two appointments. The first appointment is used to examine your teeth and determining the correct color shade of the veneer and determining the sizes of veneers that you need. At the end of the appointment, our Rittenhouse dentists will order your veneers from the laboratory.
Your second appointment will be scheduled after your new veneers have arrived at our office. If your teeth are extremely sensitive, a local anesthetic may be applied, but most people do not need any medication for tooth pain. During this appointment, our Rittenhouse dentists will roughen up the surface of your tooth, ensure each veneer fits on the intended tooth and apply a small amount of dental adhesive to your tooth. The veneer is then pressed against the front of the tooth. This process is used for each veneer that is to be placed. Once all the veneers have been affixed to your front teeth, a special light will be shined in your mouth to facilitate the curing process.
Once the dental adhesive has cured, the veneers may be filed and smoothed in order to ensure they fit your tooth correctly, do not affect your bite and look great. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to ensure your veneers are comfortable, and that you are not experiencing any problems.
To see if veneers would be right for your smile, call our Rittenhouse dental office today to schedule a smile consultation.