At Tidewater Family Dentistry, we love to see our patients leave with even more confidence than they had before! We are pleased to offer cosmetic dental services such as dental veneers that improve the look of your smile and help you attain that bright and beaming smile you’ve always wanted. Dental veneers are one option for patients looking to improve the appearance of their teeth!
What Are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are a cosmetic dental restorative procedure that consists of shells of porcelain or composite resin shaped and bonded to the front of your natural teeth to improve their appearance. We have seen veneers tremendously improve clients’ confidence when they had previously been self-conscious about imperfections in their teeth.
Who is a Candidate for Veneers?
Veneers are an excellent way to improve your smile. Patients often inquire about veneers who have:
- Surface discoloration of their teeth
- Chipped, broken, or worn-down teeth
- Uneven or misshapen teeth
- Unusually small or shortened teeth
- Tooth spacing issues, such as gaps (which veneers can close)
What Can I Expect from Dental Treatment with Veneers?
It will take a few weeks to make your custom veneers, but the treatment process is straightforward, usually involving several office visits. Here are the steps your treatment typically involves:
- Preliminary Consultation. Here, you will discuss your reasons for requesting veneers and set up a plan for the procedure. Your dentist may complete a clinical evaluation and take X-rays of your mouth and teeth.
- Taking an impression of your teeth. Your dentist will send it to a dental laboratory for preparation. This takes approximately one to two weeks.
- Removal of a very thin layer (about .5 millimeters) of your tooth enamel to make room for your veneers may be required. Your dentist will discuss with you whether you wish to have the enamel removed using a local anesthetic. (The newest type of veneers, known as minimally invasive veneers, do not require the removal of any enamel.)
- Fit veneers to teeth. When your veneers come back from the lab, you will return to your dentist’s office to ensure that they fit correctly. Your dentist will test the fit on each tooth you are having fixed and repeatedly trim each veneer as needed. Your dentist will affix your veneers to your teeth with special dental cement. The color of the dental cement selected adjusts the color of each veneer. Ultraviolet light is then shined on your new veneers for 60 seconds so that the dental cement hardens during the procedure.
- Follow-up visit. Your dentist will request that you come back into the office for a follow-up visit after a few weeks of wearing your new veneers to make sure they remain properly placed and your gums have acclimated to the new restoration. Comfortable veneers last the longest.
If you are interested in dental veneers, please contact us at Tidewater Family Dentistry or call us at (757) 874-6712 today.
