Veneers are a great option to hide chips, stains and other smile stealers in a minimally-invasive procedure. Here’s how it works:
During your consultation, your dentist will examine and evaluate your teeth. They’ll also take X-rays and impressions of your teeth. They’ll then send them to the lab to customize and create your dental veneers Sunset Hills MO.
Customizing Your Veneers
Veneers are a great solution for enhancing your smile and boosting confidence. To help achieve your desired outcome, you must first discuss your concerns and goals with your dentist to determine the best options for shape, size and color.
During this consultation, your dentist will evaluate your teeth and jaw structure, as well as take X-rays to create a comprehensive treatment plan. You will also be able to review sample veneers to help you make an informed decision.
The next step is the preparation stage, where your dentist removes a thin layer (less than a millimeter) of enamel from your teeth. This helps the veneer shells blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. A local anesthetic is often used during this process to keep you comfortable.
After your teeth are prepared, skilled technicians at a dental lab will hand-craft custom veneers based on the precise impressions and color match taken at the consultation. This allows them to create a natural, radiant smile designed just for you.
Preparation
Creating a beautiful smile with dental veneers Sunset Hills MO requires a lot of planning. The best way to ensure a natural-looking outcome is to start with a detailed consultation. During this appointment, your dentist will take your current shade of teeth into consideration as well as your desired result. This will help them create a custom veneer that fits seamlessly into your smile.
Once you’ve determined if you are a good candidate for dental veneers, your dentist will make impressions of your existing teeth to send to the lab. They’ll also remove a small amount of your tooth’s surface to allow for a strong bonding process with the cement.
There are several types of dental veneers available, including bonded porcelain, pressed ceramic and lithium disilicate. Stacked porcelain tends to offer the most authentic appearance, while lithium disilicate offers superior durability. Some clinical studies suggest that a prep design with incisal overlap yields better aesthetic and predictable results.
Placement
After understanding your goals and expectations, your dentist will devise a treatment plan. They will take photographs and may use models to show you how your smile could look with veneers.
During the first appointment, your dentist will prepare your teeth. This involves removing a very thin layer of enamel – less than the thickness of your fingernail. This is necessary to allow the shells to lie flat and avoid a bulky appearance. Local anesthesia is often used for this step to ensure your comfort.
Your dentist will then create a mold or impression of your teeth and send this to the laboratory. They will also etch the surface of your tooth, which helps the veneers adhere better. Once your dentist receives the veneers, they will schedule you for the next visit to place them. You will likely wear temporary restorations in the meantime to protect your teeth while you await your new permanent dental veneers sunset hills mo.
Maintenance
As with other dental procedures, veneers need maintenance to last. Patients should practice a regular oral care routine, including daily brushing and flossing with non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush and regular visits to their dentist for teeth cleaning and checkups. This keeps plaque and gum disease from impacting the natural tooth that holds the veneers in place. If a patient notices a chip in their veneer, it is important to visit the dentist right away as these cosmetic tools are not durable and can only be repaired with dental bonding or composite materials.
Other preventative measures include avoiding chewing on hard objects like pens and ice and not using your front teeth to open packages or snap fingernails. Smoking is also a major no-no as it can discolor the veneers over time. If a patient plays contact sports or grinds their teeth at night, it is a good idea to speak to the dentist about getting a mouth guard to help protect their dental veneers and natural teeth.
