Dental Veneers for a Smile Makeover

Cosmetic dentistry is becoming far more popular, and one of the most commonly used dental procedures in a smile makeover is dental veneers. Veneers are made from extremely thin slips of porcelain, custom made to fit over the front, and possibly the biting surfaces of your teeth. Dental veneers are an excellent way of perfecting a smile while still being a relatively conservative treatment. They can be used to correct the following:

• Teeth that are chipped or worn
• Teeth that are damaged or which have slight decay
• Teeth that are extensively discolored and which cannot be corrected through whitening
• Rotated teeth or teeth that are only slightly out of alignment
• Misshapen teeth
• Closing or minimizing gaps in between teeth

What is the Procedure for Getting Dental Veneers?

The first step in getting dental veneers is to book a consultation. This planning stage is especially important if you intend to have quite a few veneers. Your teeth and gums will be examined to make sure they are healthy, and your dentist will discuss what can reasonably be achieved through having veneers. It is quite possible your dentist will want to take x-rays, and they may take impressions of your teeth.

You may need to have just one or two teeth veneered, or can choose for something more radical. If you intend to have a complete smile makeover then you may need to budget for eight to ten veneers on your upper teeth, and possibly some veneers on your lower teeth, depending on how visible they are when you smile. Once a suitable treatment plan has been decided upon, then your dentist will prepare the teeth.

You’ll be given a local anaesthetic so approximately 0.5mm of tooth material can be removed from the front surfaces of your teeth. This is necessary to ensure the finished veneers have sufficient strength, and are not too bulky in the mouth. After the teeth have been prepared your dentist will take an impression of your mouth to send to the dental laboratory. It takes approximately two weeks for veneers to be constructed, after which time you’ll be able to return to the dental office to have them fitted.

Your dentist will make sure they fit accurately, and will show you how they look before permanently cementing them in place. If you are not happy with their appearance then this is your chance to speak up, as they can still be altered at this stage. Once the veneers have been permanently cemented onto your teeth they should be relatively strong. You’ll need to take good care of them, as they are no stronger than your natural teeth. With good care they should last up to ten years, or possibly longer, but eventually will need replacing.

If you wish to have your teeth whitened, then it is essential to have this cosmetic dental procedure carried out first. This is because it is much easier to match the shade of your new veneers to your newly whitened teeth, than to attempt to do it the other way round.