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Porcelain
veneers are among the most beautiful restorations possible
in dentistry today. Porcelain mimics natural teeth
in color, translucency, and surface texture. It does not discolor
and is highly resistant to wear, so it can last up to fifteen years.
Nothing exceeds porcelain for life-like and long term beauty. A
porcelain veneer is a very thin wafer the thickness
of a fingernail that we are able to bond to your tooth with very
little reduction of normal healthy tooth structure.
We can change the color, spacing,
alignment, length, and shape of your teeth with veneers;
therefore, they are the best way to give you exactly the smile your
want.
With a great smile, you are confident
you are putting your best foot forward in the world.
The Porcelain Veneer Procedure
Applying veneers usually takes three visits. At the first visit,
the doctor’s examination determines the right choice of treatment.
Veneers may not be the right choice for someone
with severe bite problems or who grinds their teeth, or if a significant
amount of the tooth has been weakened through decay or fracture.
Secondly, the teeth are prepared for the veneers
by removing enamel, about the thickness of an egg-shell. If needed,
a local anesthetic will be used. The removal is needed so the veneer
will not stick out further than the other teeth. An impression will
then be taken of the prepared teeth, which will be used to make
the veneers.
In two to three weeks the veneers to be fabricated
and ready for cementation. The veneers are bonded
to your teeth using a blue light that hardens the bonding cement.
Finishing and polishing brings to life a restoration that is undetectable
by others.
Taking Care of Your Veneers
How long the veneers last The porcelain itself
wears as well or better than your natural teeth depending a lot
on how well you take care of them. The bond between the porcelain
and the tooth is very strong. However, the uncovered part of the
tooth can still decay. So you need to brush and floss daily, and
not eat too much between meals to protect your teeth. And because
the cement attaching the veneer can stain, you
should avoid excessive drinking of tea, coffee and red wine.
Porcelain veneers are not designed to withstand
excessive forces or sharp impacts. You should avoid biting your
fingernails or ice, or any other such hard items because doing so
can break or dislodge a veneer. If you take good care of your teeth,
your veneers will last between ten and twenty years.
Bonding vs. Veneers
A big advantage of bonding is that it is less costly
than veneers. Since the bonding
material is less dense than porcelain, it will
discolor over time and under exposure to heat and staining liquids
and foods. Smokers especially will find this to be so. In spite
of the negatives in comparison to porcelain, many
procedures have a high degree of satisfaction in both function and
beauty.
Choosing between bonding and veneers
is a choice of investment in a long or short term benefit. Veneers
last longer, require less maintenance and maintain their original
feel and appearance for the life of the restoration and in that
respect; it just depends on the desired quality of the experience.
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