How to Are Veneers Right for Me

Are Veneers Right for Me?

Over time, teeth are discolored.  Tobacco, food, chemical damage, and even simply the aging process may all be to blame.  Cosmetic dentistry has developed a wide range of procedures to correct this, including the always-popular teeth whitening process.  However, many patients may be better served with high-quality veneers.  If you don’t like the color or shape of your smile, veneers may be right for you.  To learn more, you should consider visiting a practice with experience in veneer dentistry.  Austin is home to several high-quality offices, so it should be fairly easy to find one that’s right for you.

What Are Veneers?

A veneer is a restorative prosthetic, made from porcelain or a composite material, which is applied to a tooth in order to improve its appearance.  Unlike whitening or bleaching, veneers can correct the appearance of damaged teeth, and are an important tool for cosmetic dentists.

Traditional porcelain veneers are fabricated in a dental laboratory by a specially trained dental technician to the unique specifications of your teeth.  Composite veneers, however, can often be assembled in-office by your cosmetic dentist, meaning they can be fabricated and applied much more quickly.  Ultimately, you should discuss your needs with your dentist before you decide which route to take.

What Can Veneers Correct?

In many ways, veneers fill the service gap left by simple whitening or bonding.  A wide number of imperfections can be corrected by plastic or porcelain veneers, including:

·         Disproportionate teeth, whether they are too large or too small

·         Teeth with uneven or unattractive surfaces

·         Oddly shaped teeth

·         Cracked or pitted teeth

·         Teeth that have small holes

·         Crooked teeth

·         Teeth that have an odd appearance

Simply put, veneers can correct a diverse range of cosmetic deficiencies, and can be used on as many or as few teeth as desired.

How Are Veneers Applied?

The first step in the veneers process is a consultation appointment, during which the dentist discusses your concerns and desires with you, and then makes the necessary impressions to ensure that the veneers are a perfect fit for your teeth.

Because veneers very slightly increase the size of the tooth, the existing tooth will need to be slightly buffed down to make room.  This is usually a fairly painless process, and the reduction of tooth size is barely perceptible.  After buffing, temporary veneers are applied to the teeth, and give you the opportunity to experience a trial set.  You should tell your dentist about any flaws or issues you have with the temporary veneers, so that they can be corrected on the final set. 

When the permanent set is completed, the temporary set is removed and the permanent ones replace them.

Lumineers

Lake Austin Family Dental is one of several Austin cosmetic dentist offices that use Lumineers, an advanced form of veneer that requires very little preparation of the tooth and does not require a temporary set of veneers.

Lake Austin Family Dental

We may be able to help you if you are looking for an experienced cosmetic dentist.  Austin is home to many high-quality cosmetic practices, and Lake Austin Family Dental is among the best.  Contact us today to learn more.