Dental veneers are a great way to improve the aesthetic appeal of your teeth. Made from porcelain or composite resin, veneers are very thin tooth-colored shells that your cosmetic dentist permanently cements to the front surface of one or more of your teeth. Veneers look like your natural teeth.
Veneers can help you get the teeth you desire. People with chipped teeth, misshapen teeth, or gaps between their teeth often choose veneers. Cosmetic dentists often recommend veneers to give teeth a more uniform and appealing shape.
Dental Veneers Correct a Variety of Cosmetic Dental Problems
You might choose dental veneers if you have:
- Stained teeth that cannot be whitened by bleaching
- Chipped or worn teeth
- Misshapen or crooked teeth
- Uneven spaces between your teeth
- A large gap between your upper front teeth
Types of Dental Veneers
Dental veneers may be made of porcelain or a composite resin material. Each material has its benefits and drawbacks. Your cosmetic dentist can help you decide which is best for you.
Porcelain veneers
Made from a thin shell of porcelain custom-made to fit over one of your teeth. Benefits of porcelain veneers include:
- Strong and long-lasting material
- A natural-looking surface
- Stain resistance
- Less preparation of the tooth compared with a crown or a cap
Steps to placing porcelain veneers
Your cosmetic dentist prepares your tooth or teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of the teeth. This step makes room for the veneers so that they fit well and look natural.
The dentist makes a mold, or impression, of the prepared teeth. Your dentist will also choose the perfect shade of veneer to match the rest of your teeth.
Your dentist then sends the impression to a dental laboratory, which custom-makes the veneers to perfectly match your teeth. Because this step may take several days, your dentist may provide you with temporary veneers to cover the prepared teeth.
When your porcelain dental veneers are ready, your dentist will place the veneers on your teeth to check their fit and shape. After making any adjustments necessary, your dental team will clean your teeth then bond the porcelain veneers to the surface of the treated teeth. Your dentist can make any further changes at a later appointment.
Composite resin veneers
A composite resin veneer involves bonding tooth-colored filling material to your teeth and sculpt the resin into the perfect shape. Benefits of composite resin veneers include:
- Less preparation – your dentist needs to remove less tooth enamel compared with porcelain veneers or crowns
- Few visits to the dentist, as your dentist may be able to place these veneers in just one visit
- Less expensive than porcelain veneers
- Being easier to repair if they get damaged
Steps to placing composite resin veneers:
- After reshaping or preparing your teeth, your dentist applies the composite material using a color that is best for you; your dentist then sculpts the material to the desired shape and size
- Your dentist then shines a special light onto the composite resin to harden the material and bond it to your teeth
- The cosmetic dentist smooths and polishes the veneer to make it look like a natural tooth
Dental Bridges in Stuart Florida
At Stuart Prosthetic Dentistry, Dr. Olin Tyler is both a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) and is also a Certified Prosthodontist. He personally creates many of the prosthetic teeth he places. Dr. Tyler has years of experience in creating prosthetic teeth using the most innovative digital advancements in prosthodontics. To schedule a consultation call 772.286.1606 or request an appointment online.