Porcelain Veneers – Portage, IN
Rejuvenate your smile with this popular cosmetic treatment
Do you have some “issues” with your teeth that prevent you from enjoying your smile? At Advanced Dental Concepts, our dentists are experts at creating beautiful porcelain veneers. This cosmetic dentistry treatment is a great way to improve the color, shape or size of your teeth. With porcelain veneers, we can design a new smile that strengthens and enhances the beauty of your teeth.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Quite simply, veneers are ultra-thin coverings of dental porcelain that Dr. Hayes or Dr. Mousa adhesively bonds to the front side of teeth that show most when you smile. Each veneer is individually designed and handcrafted, because each one is custom made to fit a specific tooth. We don’t want you to have a smile that looks like it is made out of little blocks of white porcelain. Great care is taken to ensure that your teeth and smile look natural.
Are You a Good Candidate for Veneers?
Most people qualify for porcelain veneers. As with any cosmetic dentistry treatment, however, we’ll first need to make sure your oral health is in good condition. We’ll check for signs of tooth decay and gum disease. If you do have cavities or weakened gum tissue, then these will need to be taken care of before we can begin prepping your teeth for veneers.
What Can Veneers Hide?
Porcelain veneers can be used to correct a number of smile flaws. These include:
- Chipped or mildly fractured teeth
- Stained and discolored teeth that do not respond to whitening
- Teeth that are worn down
- Misshaped teeth
- Teeth that have wide gaps between them
In addition, porcelain veneers can be a fast way to make crooked teeth look straight. That’s why they are sometimes called instant orthodontics. Of course, veneers are not like real braces that move teeth into proper alignment. They can, however, be the right choice if you and your dentist in Portage decide that hiding a slightly rotated tooth is good enough.
How Do I Get Porcelain Veneers in Portage?
The entire process of placing veneers only requires two or three appointments. At the first visit, a thin layer of enamel is removed from the front of your teeth in order to make room for the veneers. Then, we take an impression of your prepared teeth, which is used to make temporary acrylic veneers that you’ll wear while the permanent set is crafted in the dental lab.
In a couple of weeks, your veneers arrive. Each one is checked before bonding to make sure it is the right size, shape and color. If needed, we can make small alterations in the office. Then, the temporaries are removed and your customized veneers are permanently bonded to your teeth. With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, porcelain veneers can last for up to 10 years.
Veneers FAQs
Are Veneers Permanent?
No, veneers are not permanent because they eventually need to be replaced. However, they are considered to be irreversible. To ensure that the veneers fit properly on the teeth, small amounts of enamel need to be removed. Removed enamel does not grow back so teeth that have been prepared in this way will always need to be covered with crowns or veneers.
How Many Veneers Do I Need?
The goal of veneers is for all of your visible teeth to match. Ultimately, you will receive the appropriate number of veneers to accomplish this goal. Some people get a single veneer to cover one tooth while others get anywhere from 6 to 12 veneers for a more dramatic smile makeover. During your consultation with us, we will discuss your goals to determine the best number of veneers for you.
Do Veneers Feel Like Real Teeth?
Many patients report that properly placed veneers feel completely natural inside their mouths. They don’t even notice them when eating or speaking. This is because veneers are carefully crafted to fit perfectly on your teeth based on impressions made after a small amount of enamel has been removed. The enamel removal prevents the restoration from protruding uncomfortably. Porcelain is very smooth, so it doesn’t cause irritation to the soft tissues in the mouth.
Is It Painful to Get Veneers?
Before your procedure starts, we will numb the area with a local aesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel any pain. However, you might experience some sensitivity for a time after your veneers are first placed. This is more likely if you are getting multiple veneers at the same time. The good news is that this is temporary as your mouth adjusts to the restorations. It can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and saltwater rinses.