Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain dental veneers make a great cosmetic treatment option for those bothered by minor cosmetic complaints, such as small chips and tooth discoloration. But as with any cosmetic dental treatment, you must carefully weigh your choices and make the best decision for yourself to satisfy your individual treatment goals.
What are porcelain veneers?
A porcelain veneer is one type of dental veneer – the other being composite. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that your dentist can bond to the outer surfaces of your teeth to improve your smile.
What are composite veneers?
Composite veneers are a less expensive alternative to porcelain veneers, but they have some notable drawbacks. For one, composite is not as strong and durable as porcelain. It has more of a tendency to crack, and composite also stains more easily than porcelain.
Composite veneers are applied as a malleable material similar to that used in tooth-colored dental fillings. Your dentist applies them in a series of layers, curing (hardening) the material using a special light. Finally, they sculpt and polish the composite to a smooth finish.
Porcelain Veneers Advantages
As mentioned earlier, porcelain is a much stronger material that lasts longer than composite. Porcelain is also a highly stain resistant material, making it perfect for anyone who wants a lasting white smile.
Will they look like normal teeth?
Of the two types of dental veneers, porcelain most closely matches the appearance of normal teeth. This includes both the color of porcelain and its reflectivity.
What To Expect
To create your unique porcelain veneers, your dentist will consider factors like:
- Color of your natural teeth
- Shape and size of your teeth
- Overall proportions of your teeth and smile to your face
To begin, your dentist will need to remove a small amount of tooth enamel to make room for your veneers. Your dental team will create impressions of your teeth to allow for the creation of a mold, which is sent to a dental lab to create your permanent porcelain veneers.
In a couple of weeks, your porcelain veneers should be back from the lab. You would return for a follow-up appointment to have your veneers bonded permanently to your teeth.
You can now proudly display a beautiful and confident smile that should last for many years to come.
How durable are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers can last anywhere from 12 to 25 years, depending upon how you care for them and the foods that you eat. This makes them about three times as durable as composite. You can prolong the life of your porcelain veneers by avoiding eating hard and crunchy foods that could damage them.
Schedule Your Consultation
The first step in getting porcelain veneers is meeting with your dentist in a consultation. If you would like to begin that process, please contact us at your earliest convenience to schedule your porcelain veneers consultation.