If you have a dark spot on a tooth or any other form of discoloration that makes you self-conscious about your smile, veneers can be an excellent treatment option. Veneers are minimally invasive and give you a completely natural look.
How Veneers Work
Cosmetic veneers are very thin porcelain shells, about the thickness of a fingernail. Because they are made of porcelain, they reflect light in a similar fashion to your natural enamel, giving you a natural-looking luster. They are affixed directly to the front surfaces of the teeth with an adhesive that bonds to the enamel, making them strong and durable. Only a very small amount of enamel is removed to make room for them. In fact, some veneers are so thin that no enamel needs to be removed at all.
Veneers are usually placed in a two-step process. First, a mold is taken of your teeth from which your final veneers will be constructed. Then the teeth are prepared for the veneers—enamel is removed as necessary to make room for them. The dentist places temporary veneers on the teeth to protect them while the final veneers are being manufactured at an off-site lab. When the final veneers arrive, you return to the dentist to have them permanently affixed to your teeth.
Conditions That Can Be Treated with Veneers
Veneers can be used to treat a wide range of cosmetic issues with the teeth. These usually involve surface problems on the front top teeth. Although veneers can treat a wide range of issues, in some cases another treatment will provide better results.
Some of the most common applications include:
- Severe discoloration such as a dark spot on the tooth
- Cracks, chips, or pitting on the tooth surfaces
- Small gaps between the teeth
- Minor misalignment
- Asymmetrical or misshapen teeth
If you have issues with your teeth that make you self-conscious about your smile, consult with our cosmetic dentist to see if veneers are a good option for your treatment. Contact our office today!
