Porcelain Dental Veneers
Porcelain dental veneers are a painless way to permanently whiter and perfectly aligned smile. Porcelain veneers are custom-designed, wafer-thin shells of tooth-like ceramic material that; when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing and chips or cracks.
Porcelain veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment. They create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth. Dental veneers have made attaining a beautiful smile easier than ever. With this non-invasive, highly-effective treatment, patients can achieve dazzlingly white and aesthetically portioned teeth.
If you are considering porcelain veneers, please read the information below and find a cosmetic dentist in your area today.
What Will My Porcelain Veneers Look Like?
The glass-like ceramic that forms porcelain veneers closely resembles natural tooth enamel. This is because, much like real tooth enamel, porcelain veneers are translucent. When light strikes a natural tooth’s surface, it is not immediately reflected off. Instead, it penetrates the tooth enamel and reflects off the opaque tooth dentin that lies just beneath. This translucent effect is what gives teeth their luster. By replicating this, porcelain dental veneers provide patients with bright, natural looking smiles.
Dental veneers can also cover and repair cracked and chipped teeth. Because porcelain veneers are custom made and fitted to your teeth by a skilled cosmetic dentist, you can customize and improve much more than just the color of your teeth. Crooked and chipped teeth can have their appearances improved to give you a beautiful new smile. Any broken teeth can be repaired using dental crowns, or caps, that can be color matched to your dental veneers.
Veneers or Whitening?
Teeth whitening may provide a white smile for mildly discolored teeth. Some people who are interested in porcelain veneers will find that their cosmetic dentist will steer them to the simpler alternative of whitening, perhaps combined with some simple orthodontic alignment.
The placement of dental veneers requires the “shaping” or “prepping” of all teeth being fitted with the custom-designed shells. This process permanently alters the teeth that are treated and is therefore not recommended if your natural teeth are functionally and esthetically adequate.
If you have a severe case of dull or discolored teeth, you may have to opt for porcelain veneers. Veneers do have the added benefits of longevity and a proven ability to enhance the appearance of the mouth, smile, and possibly other areas of an aged face that would be better supported by properly shaped teeth.
Locate a Cosmetic Dentist in Your Area
If you are interested in porcelain veneers and would like to speak with a professional, find a cosmetic dentist near you using Dentistry Now’s online directory.