How Do Veneers Work?

How Do Veneers Work?

If you’re considering a smile makeover, dental veneers are second to none. But how do veneers work? Is the dental veneer procedure itself very time-consuming? Understanding the advantages of porcelain veneers (Encinitas) can enhance your aesthetic outcome and help you feel more confident about your investment.

How do Teeth Veneers Work?

Unlike fillings or crowns, dental veneers don’t repair decaying or compromised teeth. They’re strictly used for cosmetic purposes. With porcelain veneers, Encinitas patients are able to specify what they want their smile to look like. Including tooth size, shape, and color.

Rather than going inside or completely around the tooth, dental veneers are bonded over the front, visible surfaces that you see whenever you’re smiling. Each one slightly overlaps the sides and biting edge of its respective tooth, leaving the back of the tooth exposed.

When to Use Dental Veneers

Porcelain dental veneers are ideal when you want to quickly enhance your smile’s appearance without any bleaching or braces. The complete smile makeover can usually be performed within about two weeks after your initial smile design and treatment plan is ready.

Our cosmetic dentist in Encinitas recommends veneers for teeth that are healthy (no active cavities), structurally sound (no large fillings or crowns), and free of periodontal disease. You don’t want to place veneers on unhealthy teeth; they are strictly used on patients who already have healthy smiles.

If You’re Considering Porcelain Veneers

Before you get dental veneers, Dr. Cortadi will meet with you to evaluate your teeth and gums, then discuss what it is you’d like to change about your smile. If you qualify for veneers, we can determine how you’d like your new smile to look when it comes to shape and color.

Depending on how many teeth show when you smile, you might need anywhere from 6 to 10 veneers across your upper front teeth.

Finally, we’ll work up a care plan that details the process, fees, and financing options available for your cosmetic veneer treatment.

The Dental Veneer Procedure

Once you’re ready to begin the smile makeover process, we’ll schedule you for two separate veneer appointments.

The Prep Visit. Your first dental veneer treatment appointment will be where we prep your smile for the final veneer design. Dr. Cortadi will gently reduce the thickness of your veneers across the very front of your smile, creating space for the porcelain layer without adding too much bulk. Numbing medication will be used to ensure you’re comfortable at all times.

Once each of the teeth is prepped, we’ll take a series of impressions for our lab to use in your veneer design process. Your lab orders will have specific instructions on how each veneer is to be handcrafted, down to the exact hue and whether any imperfections are purposely placed into the porcelain for a more natural appearance.

Finally, Dr. Cortadi will place thin temporary veneers over your prepped teeth to minimize any sensitivity before your next appointment.

NOTE: On occasion, we may need to schedule another appointment for a “wax up” or “try-in.” This is usually reserved for more complex cases, where we need you to be fitted with a temporary veneer mock-up before the permanent versions are created in the lab.

The Placement Visit. Now that your porcelain veneers are ready for delivery, we’ll have you return to our office about two weeks after the prep appointment. During this visit, we will remove any temporary veneers and permanently bond your porcelain ones into place. At that point, your smile transformation will be complete!

Care and Maintenance of Dental Veneers

The better you care for your new porcelain veneers, the longer they typically last. A properly maintained set of veneers can last for well over ten years in most cases, but it varies from person to person. It’s extremely important that you brush and floss around your veneers daily, schedule regular checkups and cleanings, and sleep in a nightguard if you’re prone to clenching or grinding your teeth.

Porcelain Veneers | Encinitas

Ablantis Dental offers attractive, custom porcelain veneers to transform your smile into your most loved accessory. Contact our cosmetic dentist in Encinitas today to reserve a consultation!