Porcelain Veneers

Everyone wants a beautiful smile, and some people are born lucky enough to have it. You may not have to do anything other than show off your pearly whites. If so, that is amazing, and you should be proud of that.

However, other people don’t have such good luck when it comes to their smiles. You may notice slightly crooked teeth or other issues. The years can also play a role in wearing down your teeth and making them look older or stained.

What can you do about it? When you choose Ivory Dental in Albuquerque, we can help you change your tooth’s appearance as necessary. There are various services and treatments we offer, and you can always come in and talk to the dentist about what’s best for you.

Many people already know that they want dental veneers. This cosmetic procedure can change the tooth’s appearance and give you what you want for your smile.

Call to schedule an appointment or continue reading to learn more about porcelain veneers and their benefits.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are most often called porcelain veneers, but you may hear them referred to as porcelain laminates, too. These thin shells go over the fronts of your teeth. Before we adhere them to your tooth, we customize them to meet the color and tooth shape you prefer.

With that, they cover the front surface of the tooth to improve its appearance. Most people only use dental veneers for the teeth that show when smiling. However, you can cover every tooth with a dental veneer if it’s necessary or you want to.

These shells are then bonded to the tooth to change its appearance. This includes the size, length, color, and shape. We use them in different ways to meet your specific needs.

Types of Veneers

Most people want to use porcelain veneers because they resemble the natural tooth best. However, we can also make veneers from resin composite materials.

Those who want the veneer to resist stains most should consider porcelain. Plus, they reflect light, which is what your natural teeth do. Therefore, they are the most popular choice, but they can cost a bit more than the resin composite.

If you’re unsure of what you need, you can make an appointment at Ivory Dental. The dentist can discuss your options and help you select the right material for your veneers.

What Can Porcelain Veneers Fix? What Are the Benefits/Drawbacks?

Porcelain veneers can be used to fix:

• Small gaps between the teeth
• Misaligned, irregularly shaped, and uneven teeth
• Worn teeth
• Broken or chipped teeth
• Discoloration from too much fluoride, root canals, medication-related stains, and more

The benefits of porcelain veneers include:

• More natural appearance
• Tolerated by the gums more easily
• Stain-resistance
• Teeth can appear whiter depending on the color
• Stronger, durable, and look better than other materials
• Doesn’t require as much shaping when compared to crowns

However, there are a few drawbacks of porcelain veneers you should be aware of, such as:

• Impossible to remove veneers or reverse the process once it’s bonded to the tooth
• Costs more than resin bonding
• Can’t be repaired if chipped or cracked
• Tooth sensitivity possible because of enamel removal required
• Might not always perfectly match natural tooth color
• Can’t alter the color of the veneer once made (unable to use whitening products after veneer application)
• Doesn’t protect from cavities
• Not suitable for those with tooth decay, gum disease, or anyone who clenches/grinds their teeth

Learn More about the Veneer Procedure

Usually, when you get porcelain veneers, you require three different visits to the dental office. We often offer a consultation first to ensure that veneers are the best choice for you. Once you’ve done that, we must create and apply them. To make it easier on our patients, you can get veneers placed on multiple teeth at the same time.

The first step is the consultation. We ask you what you want to achieve from the veneers. It’s possible that your goals are unrealistic; we can discuss what to expect and what’s possible with the treatment.

Our dentist examines your teeth to ensure that you’re a suitable candidate for porcelain veneers. If you are, we can talk about the limits of veneers and their procedure. In some cases, we also take X-rays at this time and make an impression of your mouth and teeth.

Typically, this is all we do during that first visit. We like for you to go home and think about veneers and if they’re the best choice for you. If you decide otherwise, we can discuss other treatments to help you achieve the results you want.

Preparing

During the second visit, we prepare the tooth for your porcelain veneer. The dentist must reshape the tooth surface, scraping off a bit of the enamel. Those with sensitive teeth can have a local anesthetic applied.

Next, the dentist creates a model of your tooth. It’s sent to the dental lab where it’s made. This can take a month to complete, but we offer temporary veneers. That way, you can have your beautiful smile until we can bond the permanent veneers to your tooth.

Bonding

When we get the veneers from the dental lab, we can schedule you for the third appointment. The dentist adds the veneer to the tooth now. He examines the fit and color, removing or trimming it to achieve the best results. Once that’s done, and everyone is satisfied, he cements it permanently to your tooth.

It’s possible to adjust the color of the veneer with the cement shade, as well.

Before cementing it to the tooth, our dentist must prepare it by etching, polishing, and cleaning it. This roughens up the tooth a bit to adhere to the veneer strongly.

We use special cement, and once it’s on correctly, the dentist shines a special light to activate the chemicals and hardens the veneer.

Ready to Change Your Smile? - Let Ivory Dental Help

In most cases, veneers can last 15 years. However, it depends on various factors, and when they wear down, you must replace them. We can give you a better timeline of the lifespan of your veneers when you come in for the consultation. That way, you know what to expect.

With that, you don’t have any special maintenance to do on the veneers. Just continue flossing and brushing like normal. We do recommend that our patients use an antiseptic rinse each day. On top of that, you should avoid coffee, tea, and red wine.

Veneers can resist stains, but you should be careful because you can’t whiten them later.

Still, Albuquerque residents are sure to enjoy all of the cosmetic procedures we provide at Ivory Dental. You can request an appointment to determine if porcelain veneers are the best choice for you. If not, we are sure to find something that meets your requirements. Beautify your smile today!