Dental Veneers

By Mia Pham, DDS

Dental veneers are used to correct both color and tooth shape problems. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of specially-shaped porcelain that are bonded over the front of your teeth. Composite resin veneers are applied directly to your teeth and sculpted to the desired shape. Both procedures can be performed without anesthesia. Veneers require a tooth reduction (where the thickness of the tooth is reduced).

In cases of serious tooth discoloration, dentists recommend dental veneers or crowns as opposed to bleaching.

Like teeth whitening, dental veneers are most popular among patients between 20-50 years of age. This demographic represents a majority of the American workforce. Those in the workforce are becoming increasingly interested in enhancing their looks for both personal and professional reasons.

Since 2000 the number of patients getting porcelain veneers has increased by 250%.
Veneers can be a solution for

Severely discolored or chipped teeth,
Misshapen or crooked teeth,
Teeth with small holes or pits, or,
Unwanted or uneven spaces.

The Procedure

Your dentist will take a mold of your teeth, which will serve as the model to create your veneers. These custom veneers are then glued directly onto your teeth. Temporary veneers are worn until the permanent veneers are ready. During the temporary veneer stage, you should advise your dentist of any adjustments or changes you would like made to the size or shape of your veneers.

Your natural teeth are reduced and lightly buffed to prepare for the application of the veneers. The tooth reduction is necessary to accommodate the small added thickness of the veneer. The permanent veneers are first placed onto the teeth without cementation to verify the perfect fit and the color. The color cannot be changed once the veneers are permanently adhered to the teeth. The teeth are then cleansed with chemicals to achieve a durable bond. An ultraviolet light is used to harden the glue or cement between the teeth.

You may want to discuss the possibility of using “try in” veneers with your dentist. “Try in” veneers are secured to your teeth with temporary cement. The temporary cement is the same color cement that is used for the permanent attachment. During this “try-in” phase, you should look at the veneers in natural light in addition to office or home lighting.