Main Line Dental Group
Prosthodontics
Wayne, PA
610-971-0717

Procedures

Veneers

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that are bonded directly to the front and top surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility. With dental veneers as an alternative, there is no reason to put up with gaps between your teeth, teeth that are stained, badly shaped, or crooked. A dental veneer placed on top of your teeth can correct these maladies, simply and quickly and help you achieve a beautiful smile!

Will Dental Veneers Look Like Normal Teeth?

When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. For strength and appearance, their resemblance to healthy, white tooth enamel is unsurpassed by other restorative options. Because they are thin, light can shine through them and they take on the natural color of the underlying tooth.

How Durable Are Teeth Veneers?

With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for well over a decade.
The Doctors of MLD will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.

The Procedure

The placement of porcelain veneers usually requires three appointments:

  • Diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Preparation
  • Bonding

Diagnosis & Treatment Planning

You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. The Doctors of MLD will review the procedure and help you plan your new smile. A diagnostic wax-up will be created of your new smile and reviewed with you. You will have an opportunity to make changes to the sizes, shapes and positions of the teeth in your new smile. When both you and your doctor are satisfied with the tooth arrangement a final model will be created of your new smile from which procedural forms will be fashioned.

Preparation

The second appointment will take one to two hours, depending upon the number of teeth involved. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are prepared to allow for the thickness of the ceramic. Approximately one half to one millimeter of tooth is removed. This may require the use of local anesthesia.

An impression is taken of the prepared teeth and sent to the lab for the fabrication of the veneers. In most cases, temporary veneers are fabricated and will be placed at this time. The permanent veneers should be ready in approximately two to three weeks for aesthetic review and placement.

Bonding

At the time of your third appointment, the doctor will first place the veneers on your teeth with water or glycerin to check the fit and color. At this point, the color of the veneer can still be adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is determined and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleaned with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. A special cement is placed between the tooth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately one to two hours, depending upon the number of teeth involved.

Care & Follow-Up

Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after one to two weeks.

Maintenance of Your New Dental Veneers

Brush and floss as you normally would. Don’t be afraid that you will damage your veneers by doing so. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best aesthetic success of your veneer.

You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneer. This is often due to the use of some of the materials needed to accomplish the bonding process as well as the tooth’s response to the trauma of being worked on. Much of this sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate in one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists, please call the office.

If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. The doctor may recommend a Nightguard for you to wear to minimize the stress placed upon your teeth and veneers while you sleep.

We hope that your new veneers fulfill your aesthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.