Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are a paper-thin restoration that is placed over the front of your teeth to reshape your smile. Custom-made in a dental laboratory, veneers are long-lasting, beautiful, and comfortable. Veneers can be used to make a number of corrections, from crooked or misshapen teeth to discoloured or chipped teeth.

What are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length. Porcelain veneers resist stains. They also better mimic the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth. Veneers generally last between 7 and 15 years. After this time, the veneers would need to be replaced.
What Types of Problems Do Dental Veneers Fix? Veneers are routinely used to fix:

  • Teeth that are discolored because of stains from tetracycline or other drug or excessive fluoride
  • 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)

Preparation

To prepare a tooth for a veneer, your dentist will reshape the tooth surface, which is an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer to be added to the tooth surface. You and your dentist will decide whether they numb the area before trimming off the enamel. Next, your dentist will make a model, or impression, of your tooth. This model is sent out to a dental laboratory, which makes your veneer. It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the veneers to come back from the laboratory. Temporary dental veneers can be used in the meantime.

Bonding

Your dentist will place the veneer on your tooth to examine its fit and color, repeatedly removing and trimming the veneer to achieve the proper fit, before permanently cementing it to your tooth. The veneer color can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. Next, to prepare your tooth to receive the veneer, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched. Etching roughens the tooth to allow for a strong bonding process. A special cement is applied to the veneer and it is then placed on your tooth. Once the veneer is properly positioned, your dentist will shine a special light beam on it to activate chemicals in the cement, causing it to harden very quickly. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, checking your bite and making any needed adjustments. Your dentist may ask you to return for a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to check your gums and the veneer's placement.

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we offer flexible office hours to meet your needs for dental services in Slave Lake. Fill out the form to request an appointment or Call us on: +1 780-843-0755 and a member of our team will be in touch to confirm a time that fits your schedule.

Disclamer

Disclaimer: Dr. Preet is a General Dentist. She is not a specialist in Cosmetic Dentistry. Cosmetic Dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the Alberta Dental Association & College (ADA&C). Dr. Preet provides cosmetic dental procedures such as porcelain veneers, crowns, dental bonding, and teeth whitening as part of her General Dentist license. Dr. Preet provides General dental procedures