Cosmetic Dentistry and Porcelain Veneers

You might think of porcelain as being fragile, but when bonded to a strong tooth, it is very strong itself. In cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers are used as a method to enhance the cosmetic appearance of teeth. They can be used to whiten teeth when standard teeth whitening methods won’t work. They can also be used to enhance the look of teeth that are worn, chipped, or misaligned.

What are porcelain veneers exactly? The procedure consists of bonding a very thin layer of porcelain to the front surface of a tooth. The natural enamel of a tooth is translucent and so is porcelain, since it is a ceramic, which makes it an ideal substance to mimic the appearance of the enamel. Another very great advantage of porcelain veneers is that they resist staining. This means that if you are getting porcelain veneers to whiten and brighten your teeth, then you will have a permanent solution to your tooth discoloration. This is an important fact to consider when deciding how you want to whiten your teeth.

The process involves your cosmetic dentist preparing your teeth for the veneers. This will mean x-rays will be taken and the surface layer of enamel will be removed from your teeth. Then impressions of your teeth will be taken and sent to a lab where the porcelain veneers are made. While you are waiting for your permanent veneers, you will wear temporary ones and these look just as good as the real thing.

Porcelain veneers are probably the fastest way to create a dazzling Hollywood smile that will last and they can be considerably less expensive than some other procedures. Of course, the best thing to do is to sit down with your cosmetic dentist and discuss your cosmetic goals and your options. Then you can create the smile you have always wanted.