The Porcelain Veneer Procedure

When a tooth is damaged, it can be both annoying and unattractive. If you have a tooth that has been chipped, cracked or broken, or if you simply have a tooth that is discolored, you’ll want to consider different repair options. An excellent option to repair the above issues and more is a porcelain veneer.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are tooth restorations that replace the visible portion of the crown of a tooth. Unlike dental crowns, dental veneers don’t replace the entire crown.

Why Veneers?

Dental veneers are an excellent option for patients that would like to repair moderate damage that is both unappealing and potentially threatening to their oral health. Veneers can help a patient to recover their full, gorgeous smile, while also having similar support to what they had before the tooth was damaged.

Composite or Porcelain?

Once your cosmetic dentist has decided that a veneer is the right choice for your needs, you may be given a couple of different options for materials to choose from: composite and porcelain. While composite is more affordable upfront, porcelain is more durable and longer lasting. Because of this, many patients opt for porcelain over composite.

The Porcelain Procedure

The porcelain placement process can be a little more in-depth than the composite procedure as it requires multiple appointments and the use of a dental laboratory. Still, porcelain is worth the added effort.

The porcelain veneer placement process begins with a trip to a cosmetic dentist for a consultation. While your general dentist may be able to perform the procedure, not all general dentists feel comfortable with placing veneers. If this is the case for your general dentist, consider asking for a referral.

Once the consultation is complete and your dentist has decided that you are a good candidate for the placement of a porcelain veneer, they will begin prepping the tooth. This will involve reshaping the tooth to allow the placement of the porcelain veneer. After the reshaping, your dentist will take an imprint to be sent to a lab to fabricate the veneer. Your dentist will also decide on the shade of the restoration and will ensure that it looks as similar to the natural tooth as possible. Once the lab has completed the veneer, they will send it back to your dentist. Your dentist will then check the look of the veneer and will make sure that it fits properly. If both the dentist and the patient are happy with the fit and look of the veneer, they will bond it with a bonding agent and resin cement.

Speak with Your Dentist

Depending on the severity of the damage to a tooth or the discoloration, there may be different options for the repair of the tooth. If the damage is minimal, dental bonding may be the right choice. If the damage is too severe, your dentist may need to place a dental crown. Speak with your dentist about which repair option is right for your needs, and which materials work best for your budget.

Learn More About Porcelain Veneers : The differences between porcelain and composite