Answers to Common Questions About Dental Veneers

What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers are paper-thin pieces of porcelain. They are used to replace the damaged enamel on your teeth. These porcelain strips are so incredibly thin that they literally take on some of the aspects of the enamel they are replacing. For example the porcelain veneers are extremely hard, matching the fact that dental enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Dental veneers are also extremely brittle, and like enamel you need to exhibit relative caution with what you bite down on. Dental veneers are extremely natural looking, allowing us to craft the perfect looking tooth by replacing a small portion of your enamel with this porcelain strip.

Do dental veneers work for everyone?
The better way to answer this question is to state that in a tiny percentage of the population there exists conditions that prevent dental veneers from being an ideal solution. However, in the vast majority of the patients we see there are no such issues, and dental veneers are a perfect solution. To determine if you are an excellent candidate for veneers, we will schedule a first consultation and examination. This examination, not only, looks for larger problems that could lead to you not qualifying for dental veneers, but also for smaller challenges that may need to be fixed as they could complicate your dental veneer placements. For most patients, they have no issues, and we can proceed while for others it is typically a small challenge that is easily addressed prior to continuing down the road of attaching the veneers.

How are dental veneers attached?
Once we have determined that you are an excellent candidate for veneers, we will begin the attachment process. To make sure that the veneers are a perfect fit, we will shave away a tiny portion of your enamel. Typically this is a few millimeters. What this does is allow us to place the veneers flush with the rest of your teeth so that you have that smooth, natural look. Next, we will place a temporary veneer on the tooth, using a water-based glue to secure it in place.  This needs to be worn while the dental lab creates your permanent veneer using the impression we have taken of your mouth along with measurements.  This typically takes a week or two so you will need to be careful with what you eat.

When the dental lab is done, you will come back in to have the temporary veneer removed and the permanent veneer bonded in place. We will then fit the veneers, molding and shaping them to be an exact fit for the area of enamel we are replacing. At this time, we will also make sure that the enamel is a perfect match, color-wise, to what you have selected. Once all of this is done, and we have made sure to double check your bite, we will adhere the veneers to the tooth using dental cement.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist

Learn More About the Process of Dental Veneers

Wafer thin, dental veneers gain most of their strength from the tooth that it is bonded to. These porcelain devices are attached to the tooth using dental cement, which ensures that they have the same level of support that normal enamel would have. It is an interesting fact that enamel is the body’s hardest substance and also its' most brittle. Similarly, dental veneers are brittle by themselves but strong when they are attached to the teeth. Once cemented into place your veneers will have most of the strength and durability of a naturally occurring tooth. This is important since dental veneers can be used to effectively fix such a wide variety of challenges. Everything from minor chips in the tooth to slightly misaligned teeth and even unsightly gaps can be repaired using dental veneers, so it is important that they are malleable and strong. 

While dental veneers do get their strength from the bonding, making it critical that the teeth are well prepared, the bonding itself is among the last steps that we will perform. Before you reach the bonding stage, there are several phases of preparation that go into making a dental veneer that fits perfectly in your mouth. This will involve a minimum of two visits to the clinic to prepare and ultimately to fit you with your new veneers. Since veneers are designed to give your teeth the best look possible we will be doing things like matching the shade of your teeth and ensuring that the shape of the new veneer is precisely right. 

Step one: Preparing for dental veneers. 
We will make a careful match of the shading and color of the surrounding teeth to ensure that the veneer is made to match the rest of your teeth. Next, we will take an impression, which is done using impression putty. The impression is used to manufacture a custom dental veneer to fit exactly on the tooth in question. In order to make room for the dental veneers, we will need to trim some of the enamel off of the tooth that will be holding the veneer. Typically this is between 0.5 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and is exactly the same thickness as the veneer itself so that the tooth remains uniform. In some cases, the dentist may need to trim more, up to as much as 1.5 millimeters. During this trimming, any decay that may have occurred will also be removed from the tooth. 

Step two: Attaching the dental veneers.
Once the dental veneers return from the lab, they will need to be attached. This is an important visit, as we will need to make sure the dental veneers are an exact fit. To do this, the veneers will be placed, removed, trimmed and shaped, and then replaced until we are satisfied with the fit. The color and shading will be double checked, and once the shape and color are perfect, dental cement will be used to bond the dental veneers in place. 

Learn How to Take Care of Your Dental Veneers and Make Them Last for Years

If you have dental veneers, it is important to take care of them so that they can stay in good condition.  They are supposed to last for five to ten years. Whether or not they do, depends on whether or not they were installed correctly in the first place and how well you take care of them on a regular basis. 

There are some simple steps you can take in order to keep your veneers in good condition.  This starts by making sure that you are practicing good oral hygiene.  Make sure to brush your teeth using a soft toothbrush and do so throughout the day.  You also need to floss daily and use an antiseptic mouthwash in order to kill any lingering bacteria.  Get your teeth cleaned at the dentist office twice a year in order to kill any lingering bacteria and get cavities treated.  This is an important step because veneers are placed onto the surface of your natural teeth so if the tooth becomes infected it will impact your veneers. 

You should also watch what you put into your mouth.  Don’t bite your nails, chew on pencils, chew ice or hard candy since these can cause your veneers to either fall off or chip.  You can eat all of your favorite foods but avoid things that are known to be too hard for your teeth.  Use caution when deciding what you want to eat so that you don’t bite down on anything that could harm your dental veneers. 

When visiting our dental office ask us to look to see if there are any signs of you grinding your teeth.  If there are, then you need to wear a night guard when you sleep.  This will prevent your upper and lower teeth from touching which will stop the grinding and any clenching that you may be doing.  This is important because grinding can cause your dental veneers to become chipped or even fall off.  It can also give you a headache as well, so a mouth guard can help you to feel better in general. 

It is very easy to care for your veneers.  Just practice good oral hygiene and treat them like you would the rest of your teeth.  This will keep them in good condition.  As an added benefit, you don’t have to worry as much about your teeth becoming stained.  Veneers are stain resistant so if you are used to your teeth becoming yellow fairly easily; this will help.  They key to remember is that you need to whiten the rest of your teeth before your veneers are placed.  Since they don’t stain easily, they also don’t whiten like normal teeth.  By whitening the rest of your teeth first, the veneers will be created in the perfect shade of white and your entire smile will look amazing. 

To learn more about the process or how to keep them in good condition, give us a call. 

Dental Veneers Can Restore Teeth That Are Damaged While Playing Fall Sports

Fall is here and with it comes sports and oral injuries, many of which can be corrected with dental veneers.  It is so common for athletes to have their teeth knocked out or broken that the American Dental Association has advocated athletes wearing mouth guards in order to prevent these injuries.  In fact, over 200,000 high school and college football injuries are prevented every year due to mouth guards.  This gives a glimpse into how many athletes end up in the dentist chair with a cracked tooth. 

Fortunately, we can repair our patient’s teeth to their full functionality using a variety of cosmetic dentistry techniques.  This is important because in the past when someone injured a tooth there was a high likelihood that the tooth would need to be pulled or that it would become infected.  Now, this is very rarely necessary thanks to modern dental techniques.

One of the most common ways for restoring a damaged tooth is to use dental veneers.  A veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of the existing tooth and can be used to fix one that has been cracked or chipped.  As an athlete, it doesn’t take much to chip a tooth. A recreational softball game is a lot of fun in the spring and summer, but it easy to get distracted and have a flying ball accidentally collide with your face.  These are the types of accidents that are extremely common, no matter how careful you are.  If this happens to you, call us right away to schedule an appointment so that your life isn’t interrupted due to a damaged tooth. 

How the process works.

After an injury, we will examine your teeth and let you know what steps we recommend for repairing it. If dental veneers are the best option, we will take a mold of your mouth so that a permanent veneer can be created in a lab.  The veneer will match the size, shape, and color of your other teeth so that it blends in perfectly.  In the meantime, we will prepare the tooth by removing a portion of the enamel from the surface.  This is done so that when the veneer is placed, it will lay flat with the gums and not stick out in any way.  It can take a few weeks for the dental lab to create your veneer so during this time frame a temporary one will be worn.  The temporary is attached using glue that is meant to come off, so you have to be careful with what you eat, how hard you brush your teeth and your activity level.  As an athlete, you may need to take it easy for a couple of weeks but we can advise you further after discussing what sports you are involved in.  

Once the permanent veneer is ready, you will come back to our office so that we can remove the temporary at bond the permanent one to your existing tooth.  The result is a beautiful looking, natural tooth that is also durable.  This allows you to get back to the game without worrying about your teeth. 

A Cosmetic Dentist Explains the Difference Between Crowns and Dental Veneers

If your tooth needs to be restored, dental veneers are a common option for doing so.  There are multiple ways to restore a tooth, with dental crowns and veneers being extremely popular.  Both options can be used restoratively and to improve the appearance of a tooth by covering dark stains, holes, chips, and cracks.  There are many similarities in the process but also several key differences.

Here is what you need to know.

Primary Uses.  Dental crowns are typically used when a large portion of the tooth has been removed, or the tooth has become cracked to the point that it is no longer stable.  Veneers, on the other hand, are frequently used to cover dark stains, make teeth even in length, close gaps, and correct a tooth that has been chipped.

Appearance.  Crowns are made from one of three main types of materials: all-metal, porcelain-on-metal, and all-porcelain.  Metal crowns are the most stable while the all-porcelain crowns look the most natural and are better for front teeth.  Dental veneers are made either all-porcelain or all-ceramic so that they look completely natural.  A cosmetic dentist can make recommendations for how to have the most natural and beautiful looking teeth.

Structure.   Dental crowns fit completely around the tooth like a cap.  This is why they can provide additional strength.  Veneers are a thin shell that fits on the front of the tooth, so they are better for cosmetic purposes, but don’t protect like a crown does.

Preparing the tooth.   In both scenarios, the tooth needs to be prepared which involves removing a portion of it in order to make room for the crown or veneer.  With dental crowns, more of the tooth has to be removed since the crown surrounds it on all sides.  A veneer requires only a minimal amount of enamel to be removed.

Temporaries.  Patients need to wear a temporary crown or veneer in between the time that the tooth is prepared, and the permanent one is ready.  This is used to protect the tooth and help it to hold its shape.

Permanent ones are created in a lab.  The dental lab will use a mold or impression of your teeth to create a crown or veneer that is perfectly sized and shaped.  With a crown, this will be created in the material that you have selected ahead of time.  The color will also be matched to your surrounding teeth.

Bonding.  In both cases, the new device will be bonded with the tooth using glue and a light beam.  This will secure the crown or veneer in place so that a person can eat and speak without fear of it becoming loose.

Maintenance.  Once the tooth has healed, it can be maintained just like natural teeth.  Brushing and flossing are necessary along with teeth cleanings twice a year.  This will keep your teeth in good condition. 

If you are looking for a solution for restoring a tooth or improving the appearance of your smile, a cosmetic dentist can help.  

Learn more about crowns and dental veneers by calling Vista Dental Care and Specialty Center today.

The Many Benefits of Dental Veneers

Those who are looking to improve their teeth should try dental veneers.  This is an excellent option that makes transforming your smile while keeping your natural teeth possible.  As a cosmetic dentist, Vista Dental Care and Specialty Center provides a variety of options for restoring teeth and improving a person’s smile – dental veneers are one of them. 

If your tooth has been damaged in an accident it can be saved with help from a cosmetic dentist.  Previously, damaged teeth may have been pulled but now they are saved whenever possible.  This is a better and healthier solution that a cosmetic dentist can offer to patients.  Millions of people damage teeth in car wrecks, an accident at work or at home, a slip and fall accident, and more every year.  If you have a damaged tooth, visit a dentist right away to see how they can save your tooth.

When a cosmetic dentist uses dental veneers to save a damaged tooth they place the veneer on top of the existing tooth, so the root structure still needs to be intact.  The process is fairly straightforward.  A veneer is a thin shell that goes on top of a prepared (filed down) tooth in order to prefect its’ appearance and provide the stability the tooth needs in order to fully be prepared. 

Dental veneers can also be used for cosmetic purposes.  A dentist can use them to close gaps in between teeth, make teeth even in length, cover dark stains, and even straighten teeth.  This is an excellent option for those that don’t like their smile but want to keep their natural teeth in place. Veneers provide a dentist with the ability to improve a person’s smile without the need for oral surgery. 

To determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure, schedule an appointment with Vista Dental Care and Specialty Center. Our dentist will examine your teeth and gums, discuss the goals that you have for your smile, and determine if veneers are the best way to achieve them.  If it is decided that you could benefit from a dental veneer, a mold will be taken of your teeth so that the dental lab can create your veneers.  They will be matched in size, shape, and color to your existing teeth.  This way they will look completely natural once placed

.  

The teeth must be prepared before a dental veneer can be put in place.  This typically involves the dentist filing down the existing teeth and placing grooves on top of them.  Filing down the tooth is an essential step for ensuring that the veneer lays flat so that it fits perfectly with the gums.  The grooves serve to hold the cement glue in place so that the tooth and veneer can bond together. 

The entire procedure can be completed in two or three visits over the course of a month or two. It is reasonably fast for the dramatic results that dental veneers produce.  Once the veneers are secure and fully healed a person can eat all of their favorite foods and speak normally.  To learn more about our dental veneer services, call and schedule an appointment today.

How to Tell if Dental Veneers are Right for You

Many people benefit from dental veneers and how they can improve a smile.  Veneers are a natural looking solution for turning dated, worn, or damaged teeth into something strong and beautiful.  They are created in a lab using a mold of your mouth so that they will always be the perfect fit and look great.

There are several types of cosmetic dentistry procedures so before you decide which one is right for you it is important to consider what your overall goals are.  Here is information you can consider prior to speaking with your dentist.

Do you want a whiter smile?

If your biggest complaint is that your teeth look yellow, you should start by having your teeth professionally whitened.  This is an easy way to brighten your smile and your appearance.  Professional teeth whitening solutions are much stronger than what you can purchase in the store so the results are significant and can whiten teeth by up to eight shades.  Once you are done with your procedure you will be able to tell if there are lingering stains that won’t come off.  When this is the case, dental veneers may be a good option.  They can be placed on top of stained teeth and made to match the white shade of the surrounding ones.

Is your tooth damaged?

If your tooth has become cracked, chipped, or damaged in some way, it is important to fix it for your appearance and for your health.  The type of damage will determine what type of procedure you will need.  Most basic issues like cracks and chips can be corrected with dental veneers.  Since veneers are placed on the front of your tooth they will provide a natural looking appearance without the damage being visible.  If the damage comes from a severe tooth infection that needs a filling or root canal, a dental crown may be a more viable option since it surrounds the tooth entirely and can provide additional strength and durability.

Have you lost a tooth?

If your tooth has fallen out, or is about to, dental veneers won’t be able to help.  Veneers require an existing tooth in order to be placed.  They cannot sustain on their own.  People that have lost a tooth can still have it replaced but a dental implant or bridge is a better solution.  Both will stay in place and give a patient the functionality that they are looking for.  Partial and full dentures can also be worn when there is tooth loss.

Do you want to close a gap?

Small gaps in between your teeth can be corrected with dental veneers.  This is an excellent way to improve your smile and your appearance without waiting for braces to work and then be removed.  Instead of taking a couple of years to close a gap, it can be done in a single procedure with stunning results.

To learn more about cosmetic dentistry and the options that are available for your smile, give us a call.

Dental Veneers Can Correct a Chipped or Uneven Tooth

As a cosmetic dentist, we use dental veneers to solve a variety of dental problems.  Patients can use them to correct a chipped or uneven tooth and even to close gaps in between teeth.  They are natural looking and extremely versatile, making them an ideal option for patients of all ages.

Fixing your teeth after an accident.

If you have been in a car accident or had a sports injury, your tooth may have become cracked or chipped.  This is fairly common, and millions of people are in accidents every year.  In order to protect your teeth, you should have regular teeth cleanings, brush and floss daily, and use a fluoride toothpaste.  This will strengthen your teeth so that they are less likely to undergo a major injury during an accident.  The goal is to keep your teeth as strong and as healthy as possible so that when an accident does happen, the resulting injury is minor enough to allow you to keep your tooth.

When you schedule an appointment with our family dentist office we will examine your damaged tooth, the gums that surround it and the teeth nearby.  When your tooth becomes damaged the area around, it may also become impacted. It is important to identify all of the damage that has occurred before going forward with a plan to correct it.  Many times we will recommend dental veneers to fix the problem.

Veneers can be used for many things including correcting a chipped or cracked tooth.  They can also be used to close gaps in your teeth and make your teeth even.  The process of having veneers placed is easier than you may think.  They are a synthetic front that is placed on top of your existing tooth.  Your natural tooth and root system remains which makes the process faster than having a dental implant installed.

If veneers are the best option for correcting your damaged tooth, we will take a mold of your mouth and have the lab create a veneer that is perfectly matched in both size and shape to your existing tooth. This will ensure that your veneer will look like your natural tooth, and no one will know that it was ever damaged.  You may also want to do the surrounding teeth at the same time in order to cover up stains or correct any cosmetic issues that have been bothering you.

On the day that your dental veneers are placed we will file down your teeth to make sure that sure that the veneer will lay flat and in line with your gums.  This is extremely important and the reason why you should work with an experienced cosmetic dentist.  Grooves will also be placed onto the surface of your tooth to ensure that the cement glue doesn’t slide off.  Your completed veneer will be placed on top and bonded to your existing tooth.  Once secure you will be able to go home and enjoy your beautiful smile.  

Dental Veneers for Seniors

If you are a senior dental veneers can help you to restore the youthful look of your smile.  It is normal for people to have yellow and dull looking teeth as they age.  Teeth are one of the main signs of age.  You can apply wrinkle cream and even have cosmetic procedures but if your teeth look dull, you will still look older. 

We can transform your smile and give you that youthful appearance back.  A bright white smile is often the first thing people will notice when they look at you.  It can be welcoming and inviting.  Unfortunately, many people are embarrassed by their smile and tend to hide it from the world.  If this is you, let us give you a new smile and restore your confidence.

Dental veneers are a fantastic solution for improving your smile because they can fix a variety of problems while using your natural teeth.  Here is how the process works.

·         Consultation with a cosmetic dentist.  In your initial consultation, we will examine your teeth and gums to identify any potential health issues and discuss the goals you have for your smile.  By understanding what you want to accomplish, we can create the right treatment plan.

·         Teeth cleaning.  Before you have veneers placed your teeth should be cleaned and any oral health issues corrected, such as fixing a cavity.

·         Teeth whitening.  The veneers will be made in a lab and matched to your existing teeth.  If veneers are only covering some of your teeth, it is important to have your existing teeth whitened first so that all of your teeth will be bright and beautiful.

·         A mold is taken of your existing teeth.  The mold will be sent to the lab so that they can create your new veneers in the right size and shape.

·         Your teeth are shaved down.  Any tooth that is going to have a veneer placed on it needs to be shaved down so that the veneer will lay flat with your gum line, otherwise your veneer would stick out and look unnatural.

·         Groves are placed on your teeth, and glue is used.  The groves help the glue stay in place.

·         Veneers are installed.  The veneers are placed directly onto the glue which will hold them in place.  Once the veneers are secure you can go home.

Your teeth and gums may be sensitive for a few days so you will need to eat soft foods and may want to avoid drinking anything too hot or too cold.  Once you are completely recovered you will be able to eat all of your favorite foods and drink both cold and hot items.  Dental veneers don’t require any additional maintenance.  All you need to do is brush and floss like normal along with using an antiseptic mouthwash. Visiting the dentist twice a year will also keep your new teeth healthy. 

Within two visits, dental veneers can restore your smile and your confidence.  We are experts and will make the process simple and easy.  Schedule your consultation today!