One of the most sought after cosmetic dental treatments today is porcelain veneers. Using this treatment, cosmetic dentists can recreate people’s long-lost smiles, help them regain their confidence, and acquire a new outlook in life.
Like most dental treatments, the success and lifespan of porcelain veneers depend on a variety of factors. This article aims to discuss that to give you helpful information if you wish to reconstruct your smile with porcelain veneers.
Porcelain Veneers
A dental veneer covers a tooth’s visible surface to alter its appearance. It is a cosmetic dental treatment that uses various materials to make the changes. The most common veneers available today are made of porcelain.
The popularity of porcelain as the primary material for veneers stems from its easy manipulability. Cosmetic dentists can make porcelain veneers thin enough to make them comfortable to use while being thick enough to cover any teeth defects. Porcelain veneers can also be easily crafted to form natural-looking teeth.
Attaching Porcelain Veneers
The whole process, from the crafting to the actual attachment, takes several days. But it starts with a consultation.
During the consultation, your dentist will check on the current state of your teeth and discuss how you want the veneers to look and how the whole procedure will look—mainly which tooth or teeth will be covered to hold the veneers in place.
After clarifying the details, the dental specialist will prepare your teeth by removing enough enamel to make way for the veneers. They will scan your mouth to get a three-dimensional rendering of the preparation that they will send to a cosmetic lab technician. The dental technician will work on a temporary veneer for the next few days.
On your next visit, you will be fitted with temporary veneers. This is your opportunity to have a feel for them and check if they’re comfortable for you so that the dentist can make necessary adjustments. They will take note of any required modifications before relaying the information to the lab for final fabrication.
The visit after that involves another veneer fitting with the adjustments. If you like how they look and feel, your dentist will use a special composite resin to bond your natural teeth with the veneer. It ensures that it won’t fall out when you chew, drink, or speak.
Possible Porcelain Veneer Issues
Although porcelain veneers may feel permanent, you may need to get a replacement if you don’t look after them properly. Here are some issues that may require porcelain veneer removals and replacements.
- Formation of new cavities in the underlying teeth
- Veneer chipping and breakage because of excessive teeth clenching and grinding
- Veneer-teeth detachment or debonding caused by heavy forces applied to the underlying teeth
Keeping Porcelain Veneers Pristine
Taking care of your porcelain veneer replacements is relatively easy. You only have to practice great oral hygiene and protect your teeth against heavy forces.
Brushing and flossing your teeth and gums regularly can fend off the formation of new cavities. Seeing your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleaning is excellent for maintaining your dental health.
Protecting your teeth against excessive grinding and teeth clenching can be tricky, especially if you do it unknowingly in your sleep. To mitigate this issue, you can pop in a mouthguard before going to bed. It won’t hinder your breathing, and it will save your veneers from all the grinding. Most importantly, don’t use your teeth as tools to open bottles, sachets, and whatnot.
Conclusion
Dental veneers are treatments that can bring back a smile to your face—literally. Using porcelain as a medium, cosmetic dentists can reconstruct your smile.
However miraculous it may seem, porcelain veneers are not permanent. They can be removed and replaced if you don’t take care of them. But if you want to keep your smile, you have to practice proper dental hygiene and protect your teeth against heavy forces.
When you need an experienced cosmetic dentist who can beautifully install dental veneers in Marietta, GA, look no further than Kabani Dental. We offer a broad range of cosmetic and family dental services that can bring back your smile. Contact us today!