Having a Beautiful Smile with Dental Veneers

Porcelain veneers are typically used to improve the appearance of worn, discolored, or slightly misaligned teeth. They have long-term prognosis and allow the patient to regain their confidence when smiling. The veneers are only placed on anterior teeth and are never used within the posterior regions of the mouth.

The demand for this in cosmetic dentistry offices has increased in recent decades due to recent public exposure of their beneficial use and ease of placement. This minimally invasive procedure often does not require the use of anesthesia and provides immediate results; fabrication of the veneers occurs outside the mouth, thus minimizing the level of discomfort often associated with dental procedures. It can even be completed in as little as two visits.

Porcelain veneers are a good alternative to more invasive procedures such as crowns. The shade is chosen before the preparation of the tooth. The tooth structure is then altered using a high-speed hand piece and strategically modified to improve the anatomy of the dentition. A thin layer of ceramic material is constructed and placed over the facial and incisal surfaces of the tooth, and permanently cemented with a luting cement for lasting strength and durability. The cement tightly seals the veneer to the tooth and avoids any invasion of bacteria.

If only minor changes are needed to improve the patient’s smile, other methods of treatment in cosmetic dentistry may be presented such as vital bleaching or retainer system orthodontics.