Quick Guide to a Dental Veneers Procedure

Dental veneers have many useful applications in dentistry. Cosmetic dentists love them and so do general dentists that need to restore the form and function of slightly damaged teeth. If your dentist recommends veneers, this is what you should expect from this course of treatment.

Veneers: function and types

Dental veneers are wafer-thin dental restorations that take the shape of a fingernail, incisor or canine. Their job is to cover up slight imperfections of the teeth. Dentists recommend veneers to patients who have permanent staining, discoloration, slightly crooked teeth or small gaps.

Veneers come in different materials, each with its benefits. Porcelain veneers are tough, and they are translucent, a quality that allows them to mimic natural teeth. They also happen to be the more expensive type of veneer. Most dentists depend on dental labs for the fabrication of the porcelain veneer. This translates into two separate procedures for patients who go with this option.

Composite veneers are more affordable than their ceramic cousins. They are also easy to fabricate and dentists will often make them in-house. This allows the patient to go home with a brand-new smile after a single session in the dentist’s chair. The tradeoff is that composite veneers are less tough and less durable than those made of porcelain.

Dental veneers: the process

A patient may need one, two or three dentist appointments before they get their brand-new smile. Veneers as a course of treatment have three major stages.

1. Diagnosis and treatment plan

A patient sees a dentist and explains the issue they have with one or more of their teeth. The dentist then performs a visual exam, which may be followed by an x-ray or medical imaging. The findings of the evaluation are what determine whether or not the dentist recommends veneers. If the patient is a good candidate for dental veneers, the dentist will proceed with the following steps:

2. Preparing the teeth for veneers

If the patient requires treatment for tooth decay or a small injury, the dentist will take care of that before they prepare the problem teeth for veneers. Here is what to expect at this stage:

• First, the dentist will numb the patient’s teeth and gums, usually with a local anesthetic
• Next, they will remove any damaged or injured dental tissue and clean the tooth
• The dentist will prepare the front surface of the teeth by removing a small layer of enamel
• They will take a mold or impression of the prepared teeth. This mold is what the dentist uses to create a custom veneer that fits perfectly

3. Fabrication and placement of veneers

The dentist who can fabricate the veneer in-office will do so as the patient waits. They will then use dental cement to attach the veneer to its tooth. Dental cement needs to harden to hold the veneer in place. The dentist will use a curing light to harden the cement. They will also polish the veneer, smooth any rough edges, and make adjustments where necessary, 

Dentists who depend on dental labs for veneers will send the impression of the patient’s tooth to the lab. They will place a temporary restoration on the prepared teeth and send the patient home, 

When the dentist receives the dental restoration from the dental lab, they call their patient in for a second appointment. They remove the temporary restoration, attach the permanent veneer with dental cement, cure the adhesive and add a few finishing touches. 

In cases where the process happens in a single dentist appointment, the patient should expect to leave with a smile upgrade after an hour or two. The actual process of preparing the tooth and placing the veneer is quick and painless.

A quick smile upgrade is within reach with one simple call

Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation and talk with our dentist. If veneers can restore the form and function of your teeth, our dentist will be happy to put them in.

Request an appointment here: https://familydentistphoenix.com or call Phoenix Family Dentistry at (602) 547-9007 for an appointment in our Phoenix office.