Dental veneers can help lead to a more beautiful smile!
Dental veneers are becoming more popular every year as adults invest in the beauty of their smile in addition to the health of it. Whether you are curious about dental veneers or preparing to have them placed on your own teeth, here is what you need to know about the basics of dental veneers.
Dental Veneers 101
Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain placed on teeth to make them appear like your natural smile but add additional strength. Unlike tooth enamel, they are more durable and able to stand up to more use without decaying. Dental veneers are designed to perfectly match the surface of your teeth and they are bonded directly to the surface of your original tooth’s enamel.
What Are Dental Veneers Used For?
Unlike crowns or braces, veneers are a less intrusive way to get a beautiful smile. Dental veneers can also be used to close small gaps or correct minor misalignments in your smile. Some patients opt for dental veneers to help brighten and straighten their teeth in a shorter amount of time. Dental veneers have a wide variety of functional and cosmetic dentistry applications.
Porcelain Veneers
The most common type of dental veneers is made from porcelain. Porcelain veneers are ideal for fixing the shape or color of your teeth and have a typical lifespan of 10-20 years. Depending on your dentist, they can cost between $800-$2,000 a tooth.
Installing Dental Veneers
The installation process for dental veneers typically spans one or two appointments, depending on whether or not the dental veneers themselves were made in advance. The typical process is:
- Cleaning the tooth and choosing the right shade for the veneer. Your dentist will take a small amount of enamel from the tooth to allow for space for the dental veneer.
- An impression of your tooth will be made and a temporary dental veneer will be used as a placeholder.
- Once the porcelain or composite dental veneer has arrived, your tooth will be smoothed and cleaned with pumice and water. The dental veneer will be etched, rinsed with water, and dried. Adhesive will be put onto your tooth and the cement and veneer will be put into place.
- The dental veneer will be cured for a minute on each spot that it meets the tooth structure.
- Your dentist will remove any extra material from the surface and polish the veneer so that it looks brand new.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Oral Health Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest.