Same-Day Smile | Contemporary Dentistry and Implantology | Peabody, MAYou’ve taken good care of your teeth. You brush after meals and you floss faithfully. But your teeth have some imperfections–they’re discolored or chipped–and that makes you less than satisfied with your smile. If that describes you, then dental veneers may be the answer you’re looking for.
What Veneers Can Fix
Dental veneers can be used to mask a variety of dental imperfections, including
- Teeth that are stained and are resistant to whitening by bleaching
- Chipped or worn teeth
- Misshapen or crooked teeth
- Gaps between the upper front teeth or minor overlap
Dental veneers can also resolve minor bite problems. We will evaluate your bite when you come in for a consultation.
What Are Veneers?
A porcelain veneer is an ultra-thin ceramic layer that replaces your original tooth enamel. Veneers are slightly translucent, which gives them the natural look of real teeth. Since the porcelain is hard, strong, and durable, it is highly resistant to elements that could stain or chip a natural tooth.
The process of placing veneers takes about two to three visits. We’d start by creating a model of the tooth or teeth on which the veneers will go. We’ll make a provisional set of veneers out of plastic. Once we agree on the form and shade of your veneers, we’ll send the specs to skilled technicians who will make them by mixing porcelain powder and water. Several layers are then built up to look like real enamel.
To apply the veneers, we remove a very small amount of your original tooth enamel (usually less than a millimeter.) When the veneer is ready, we’ll add resin on your natural tooth and place the veneer. Then we’ll use a special light to harden the composite and bond it to your tooth. Once the veneer is bonded to your tooth, we’ll smooth and polish it to look like your natural teeth. That’s all it takes!
We will take care to make sure your bite feels right before you leave the office. It may take a couple of days to get used to the feel of your veneers, just like it would with a dental bridge or cap.
The Benefits of Veneers
Dental veneers offer a lot of benefits:
- They can brighten even the darkest teeth.
- Since veneers are customized for every patient, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between them and natural teeth.
- They’re stain resistant.
- They’re strong and resist chips and cracks.
Are You a Good Candidate for Veneers?
Dental veneers are a great option for anyone who wants to look their best by replacing teeth surfaces that are cracked, discolored, stained or misshapen. By scheduling a consultation with us, you can find out just how easy it is to fix some of these common issues.
Teeth and gums must be healthy before you get veneers. We’ll examine your mouth, and if possible, treat any issues before the veneers are placed.
If you are prone to clenching or grinding your teeth, you may have to wear a plastic dental guard while you sleep. Although veneers are durable, grinding may cause them to chip or break. Your dentist can fit your with a dental guard after the veneers are placed.
Veneer Follow-up and Maintenance
The maintenance of dental veneers is quite simple: Treat them as you would your original teeth, with routine brushing and flossing. Although the surface of the veneer is strong and durable, brushing and flossing keeps problems from happening within the surrounding gum.
Make an Appointment
We can talk to you more about dental veneers. Just set up a consultation with us and we’ll answer any questions you have and give you the recommendations for getting a movie star smile! Call us at 978-278-1760 or send us a message using our online form.