Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material, which are bonded to your front teeth. This is the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth. Porcelain veneers are placed to mask discolorations, to brighten or straighten teeth, and to improve a smile. Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made porcelain shells that are adhered to the front of your teeth. They also strengthen your teeth. When they straighten teeth or close gaps between teeth, they can prevent future cavities. Porcelain veneers are less invasive than caps or crowns. Porcelain veneers can hide stains that cannot be eliminated by whitening solutions, including stains on teeth produced by antibiotics in childhood. The antibiotic tetracycline permanently stains teeth unevenly. Bleaching solutions bleach teeth evenly and can therefore give someone with tetracycline-stained teeth a brighter smile, but they can't remove uneven discoloration. In contrast, porcelain veneers cover teeth entirely and give them a uniformly bright look. If you are an adult and braces are not an option, porcelain facings can be used to create evenly spaced teeth, removing gaps; fix crooked teeth; and correct tooth size and overall appearance.

The Dental Veneer Procedure
     Teeth are prepared for dental veneers by very lightly grinding to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Records are taken to determine the color, bite, length and shape of each dental veneer. An impression is also taken in the same visit for a replica model of the teeth. In the next visit, your custom made dental veneer is then placed directly onto your tooth to verify their perfect fit and the shade or color. The tooth is then cleansed to achieve a maximum bond. Once the dental cement is between the veneer and your tooth, a light beam is used to harden the cement. A quality assurance check is done for any re-adjustments or re-works of your dental veneer.

What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix?
     Dental veneers are one of the cosmetic dentistry options available to correct stained, chipped, or crooked teeth. Porcelain veneers are made of the translucent ceramic material, which is applied to the front of the teeth. When applied by a qualified cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers should be virtually indistinguishable other teeth. To accomplish the desired effect, dental veneers take approximately three visits to the cosmetic dentist's office.

Veneers are routinely used to fix :
- Teeth that are discolored ? Either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
- Teeth that are worn down
- Teeth that are chipped or broken
- Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
- Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between these teeth)

Veneers offer the following advantages :
- They provide a natural tooth appearance.
- Gum tissue tolerates porcelain well.
- Porcelain veneers are stain resistant.
- The color of a porcelain veneer can be selected such that it makes dark teeth
- Veneers offer a conservative approach to changing a tooth's color and shape - veneers generally don't require the extensive shaping prior to the procedure that crowns do, yet offer a stronger, more esthetic alternative to bonding.

Do Dental Veneers Require Special Care?
     No. Continue to follow good oral hygiene practices including brushing and flossing as you normally would.

Our Case

     This was a very straight forward case. She was extremely self conscious of the tetracycline stain of his lower front teeth which was caused by excessive antibiotic. Tetracycline stained teeth with dark band at the neck of each tooth.

     In this after photo, we see the tremendous improvement in the appearance of her teeth. Incidentally, what you don't see here is the dramatic positive impact it has made on her self esteem and confidence … all in only 7 days!!