If you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, veneers may be a good option for you. This form of cosmetic dentistry helps to improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, misaligned, generally worn and discolored.

There are many advantages to veneers over other methods of cosmetic dentistry. If you are considering getting veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth, here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the procedure, which may help you in your decision.

What exactly are veneers?
Veneers are porcelain shells that are placed on the front of your teeth, and bonded into place to help improve their appearance. The veneers are extremely thin, so they do not do add to the size of your teeth, however they are incredibly strong and durable.

How are the veneers put in place?

During your initial visit, our doctors will prepare the tooth, so that they can get an impression to mold the veneer. They will have to trim the enamel that is on the front of the tooth. The amount of enamel that is shaved off is extremely minimal, and usually amounts to about what the thickness of the veneer itself will be.

We will then take an impression of your tooth, so that the veneer can be made. The impression is sent to a dental lab, and in the meantime you will receive temporary veneers. It usually takes the lab around 7-10 days to make your veneers and send them back to us.  Once they are received, we will put them in place to see how well they fit. If all is well, we will then bond them into place with a bonding agent.

How long will my dental veneer last?
The time frame can vary, but the average dental veneer usually lasts about five to fifteen years. This is only a general time frame though, and there are many people that have had veneers last much longer than that, while others have had to replace them in just a few years. For patients with a tendency to clench or grind their teeth we will recommend fabrication of a night time occlusal guard to protect the veneers and other teeth from destructive forces during sleep.