Porcelain Veneers: Handcrafted Beauty for Your One-of-a-Kind Smile
Cosmetic dentistry is transforming lives through complete smile makeovers, and porcelain veneers lead the list of aesthetic treatments as a wildly popular procedure. If you’re considering porcelain veneers for a new smile, here’s what you can expect…
The First Appointment
You will need to schedule an hour or two for your initial appointment, and you may want to take photos or magazine clippings to show us the kind of smile you prefer. After a thorough examination to assess your oral health and existing teeth, your dentist will discuss with you the kind of smile you envision. Be prepared to discuss the color and shape of your ideal smile at this appointment.
We will take notes on the shade of your teeth, your facial features, and measurements of your face. We will consider your skin tone and facial symmetry when designing your veneers. If you have questions about your veneers or the procedure, we will be happy to give comprehensive answers. You may want to ask to see our portfolio.
Tooth Preparation
Often during this appointment, we will gently buff your teeth to remove 1 to 2mm of enamel in preparation for your new veneers. Tooth reduction will allow the veneers to lie flat, in line with surrounding teeth. Reshaping of teeth may also be required to create the look you want. This is often a 3-4 hour appointment but is a very comfortable appointment. This is the appointment where you will begin to see our attention to detail and your smile begin to come alive.
We will take an impression of your mouth to send to the lab. Before you leave the dental chair, temporary veneers will be placed. Although these temporaries are not as good as the real veneers, they are almost always a dramatic improvement over what you had. Your teeth may feel sensitive until the permanent veneers are placed.
Behind the Scenes
After your first appointment, we will order your veneers from a dental lab. A talented ceramist will handcraft the porcelain veneers from durable materials that look and function like natural teeth. We have worked with the same ceramist for years because he is one of the best in the country. He has an eye for detail that even impresses us, so we think you will be very pleased with the work. The information we provide the lab will ensure that you receive veneers that will create a smile that complements your appearance. The lab will ship your veneers to our Allen office.
Veneer Placement
Local anesthetic may be administered to ensure your complete comfort during veneer placement. We will remove the temporary veneers and check the fit of your permanent veneers. You can look at the shape, color, and fit before they are attached. Veneers cannot be altered once in place, so we will all work as a team to make sure all of us are well satisfied that everything is excellent before we bond them into place.
If all is well, we will permanently bond the new veneers to your teeth and you can begin to smile with confidence.