Our smile is an important part of your appearance, but achieving the perfect smile sometimes requires some extra dental work. Porcelain veneers are a tool dentists use to improve the color of your teeth and fix uneven spots. The process of dental veneers begins with a trip to your dentist to learn more about your options. When meeting with a dentist about dental veneers, they will share with you the following dental veneer procedure.
Step by Step for Getting Dental Veneers
The Consultation
During your dental veneer consultation, you can discuss the changes you’d like to see in your teeth and your smile. Be as specific as possible to ensure that the dentist can help you achieve the look you want. For example, if you have a chipped tooth that you’d like to fix, point it out to your dentist. After listening to your list of desired improvements and carefully examining your teeth, the dentist can provide a potential plan for getting dental veneers, if that is the best option for you. This examination will likely include x-rays and a dental impression and possibly photographs.
The Procedure for Dental Veneers
At the beginning of your appointment for dental veneers procedure, your dentist may decide to numb the sections of the mouth where the work will be done. Once your mouth is sufficiently numbed, the dentist will remove a very thin section of the targeted teeth. A dental mold is then taken off the trimmed teeth to send to a lab for creation of the veneers. This part of the process usually takes a couple of weeks. Depending on the location and look of the trimmed teeth, your dentist may apply temporary veneers while you wait for the final restorations.
Applying Porcelain Teeth Veneers
Once the porcelain veneers are ready to be placed, your final appointment will be scheduled. Before permanently bonding the dental veneers, the dentist will check to make sure that the color and fit of the veneers is correct. Next, the dentist will prepare your tooth for bonding by cleaning and etching each tooth. After applying a layer of cement, the veneer is bonded to the tooth. After a test to make sure you are biting down feels normal, your dentist will polish your dental veneers and you are finished. It’s time to enjoy your new smile.
Caring for Cosmetic Veneers
Cosmetic veneers don’t require any special care beyond consistent brushing and flossing habits. However, avoiding certain foods, such as sticky candy, can improve the longevity of your veneers. Your dentist will usually ask you to come back to the office several weeks after applying the veneers to check on the fit and make adjustments if necessary. Visiting your dentist twice a year for your regular checkup can help your veneers last longer and look amazing.
Dental veneers can improve your smile and boost your self-confidence. The process for applying veneers is simple and only requires a couple of trips to the dentist. If you’d like to learn more about the cosmetic veneers and other dental services, call Wekiva Dental at 407-869-7333 today for a consultation.