What Are Dental Veneers?

cosmetic dentistryVeneers are a cosmetic dental restorative material that consist of shells of porcelain or composite resin that are shaped and then bonded to the front of your natural teeth to improve their appearance. At Denison Dentistry, we have seen veneers tremendously improve a patient’s confidence when they had previously been shy or embarrassed about their smile. One of the first things someone notices about you is your smile, and dark stained or crooked teeth can affect the way that someone responds to you. Having nice straight teeth can help you to be more successful in both your professional and personal interactions. An added benefit of veneers is that you can have straight white teeth in a very short time compared to the time it takes to have your teeth straightened orthodontically.

Who is a Candidate for Veneers?

Candidates for veneers include anyone who has healthy teeth, but wants them to be straighter and whiter, and is not interested in having braces. A candidate for veneers is also someone who has small or miss-shaped teeth, or who has spaces between their teeth that they want to close. Veneers are an excellent, effective and safe way to improve your smile. Veneers can potentially help patients who have:

  • Surface discoloration of teeth
  • Chipped, broken, or worn-down teeth
  • Uneven or misshapen teeth
  • Unusually small or shortened teeth
  • Tooth spacing issues, such as gaps (which veneers can close)

What Can I Expect from Dental Treatment with Veneers?

It will take two weeks to make your custom veneers, but the treatment process is straightforward, usually involving three office visits. In some cases, Dr Denison can make the veneers in one visit using a Cerec CAD/CAM instrument. Here are the steps your treatment typically involves:

  • Preliminary Consultation. Here, you will discuss your reasons for requesting veneers and set up a plan for the procedure. Dr. Denison will complete a clinical evaluation and take X-rays of your teeth.
  • Taking an impression of your teeth. Dr. Denison typically sends the case to a dental laboratory for preparation. This takes approximately two weeks but in some cases Dr Denison can make the veneers in one visit.
  • Removal of a very thin layer (about .5 millimeters) of your tooth enamel to make room for your veneers. Dr Denison will discuss with you whether you wish to have the enamel removed using a local anesthetic. (The newest type of veneers, known as minimally invasive veneers, do not require removal of a thin layer of your teeth’s enamel.)
  • Fit veneers to teeth. When your veneers come back from the lab, Dr. Denison will affix your veneers to your teeth with special dental cement.

If you have any questions or are ready to improve your smile with veneers please contact us at  757-873-9000, or you can request an appointment online. At Denison Dentistry we are excited to help you enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile as well as a newfound confidence in life!