Dec 10, 2009

What Are Porcelain Dental Veneers?

What Are Porcelain Dental Veneers?

The application of porcelain veneers can greatly improve the quality of your smile. Your dentist can easily perform this common procedure in order to fix teeth that are chipped or cracked, may have some discoloration, are gapped in between, misshapen or slightly misaligned, or any other dental situations where porcelain veneers may be useful.
Porcelain dental veneers are very thin strips made of porcelain that can be bonded to your teeth in order to improve the shape or color of your smile. Unlike crowns, which fit over the entire tooth, these aesthetically pleasing facing's cover only the front of the tooth. They are crafted to fit your smile exactly, by creating custom impressions of your teeth. The surrounding teeth are also taken into account when determining exact proportions, to help ensure that a natural and attractive look is achieved.
In addition to correcting already existing problems, porcelain veneers can provide protection to your smile by keeping your teeth from becoming damaged or discolored in the future. With proper care, they can last in upwards of 15 years. Naturally, this translucent ceramic material is a fairly brittle material; however, specific steps are taken during the procedure to strengthen the veneers and make them extremely durable.
A normal procedure will require at least two visits to your dentist. On the first visit, your dentist will inspect your teeth and make casts of your smile. These casts will be used to create your custom veneers that will fit perfectly over your existing smile, covering any damaged, discolored, or slightly misshapen teeth. These bonded shells can also be used to fill gaps between the teeth.
After the impressions have been taken and the ceramic bond crafted, your next visit to your dentist will be to apply your new porcelain veneers and achieve the smile you have been looking for. They are then polished to ensure a natural, attractive smile. Normally, these two visits are all that are required besides any follow-up appointments.
Porcelain dental veneers take on the look of enamel and can provide you with very good results. They are more aesthetically pleasing than alternative procedures, such as crowns. Veneers are typically used for more cosmetic purposes, but if you require actual restorative work, they can be used in conjunction with many dental procedures, such as bridges, crowns, and fillings.
If you would like to achieve a more attractive smile, and cover the appearance of chipped, cracked, discolored, or gapped teeth, then porcelain dental veneers may be just the answer you are looking for. Contact your dentist to see if they are right for you.
Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Richmond Dental Health.
The dentist office provides cosmetic, family, and preventative dentistry procedures throughout the Richmond Virginia area. For more information on their Cosmetic, Family, & Preventative Dentistry in Richmond Virginia please visit their website.