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PORCELAIN VENEERS
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic material, which are
bonded to the front of teeth. They can be the ideal choice for improving the
appearance of the front teeth. Porcelain veneers are placed to mask
discolorations, to close spaces, to brighten teeth, to straighten teeth, and to
repair broken tooth structure. Highly resistant to permanent staining from
coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking, the wafer-thin porcelain veneers can
achieve a tenacious bond to the tooth, resulting in an esthetically pleasing
naturalness that is unsurpassed by other restorative options.
Porcelain veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns or fillings in many
situations. They provide a conservative approach to changing a tooth's color,
size, shape or position. Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as
teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root canal
procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth.
Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn
may consider porcelain veneers. Generally, veneers will last for many years, and
the technique has shown remarkable longevity when properly performed.
Patients may need several appointments for the entire procedure including
diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding. It's critical that
you take an active role in the smile design. Spend time in the decision-making
and planning of the smile. Understand the corrective limitations of the
procedure to correct tooth defects, color or position.
The preparation appointment will take from one to several hours. To prepare the
teeth for the porcelain veneers, the teeth are lightly reduced to allow for the
small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the
tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. At this appointment, a
mold is taken of the teeth, which is sent to the laboratory for the fabrication
of the veneers. This can take about one to three weeks. If the teeth are too
unsightly a temporary veneer can be placed, at an additional cost.
Bonding of veneers will take about one or two hours. First, the dentist places
the veneers with water or glycerine on the teeth to check their fit and get a
sense of the shade or color.While the veneers are resting on your teeth, view
the esthetic results, and pay particular attention to the color.At this point,
the color of the veneers can still be adjusted with the shade of the cement to
be used. The color cannot be altered after veneers are cemented. To apply the
veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a
special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam
initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement.
All porcelain restorations are called veneers when they cover only the front of
teeth. They are crowns when they cover all surfaces of teeth. Restorations are
three quarter crowns when they do not cover the surface of teeth toward the
tongue. It is often difficult to distinguish one type of restoration from
another and therefore, it is easier to call them bonded porcelain restorations.
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Copyright Cosmetic Dentist Wellesley
Paul R. Chalifoux, DDS
277 Linden Street Suite 209
Wellesley, MA 02482
781-235-1747
chalifoux@comcast.net