Dental veneers are a conservative cosmetic dental treatment that improves the appearance of front teeth. Veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain material that require less preparation than crowns. Dental veneers can enhance tooth color or shape, mask discolorations, close moderate spaces, or straighten out minor crowding. At Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry, we customize porcelain veneers in Cadillac, MI.
Porcelain veneers can be an excellent alternative to full crowns to create pleasing smiles. It can take only a few appointments to treat deep tooth stains or damage to achieve cosmetic results that last for years. Veneers help patients achieve brighter, straighter teeth with high-quality porcelain materials.
What Can Porcelain Veneers Do For Teeth?
Veneers can address many cosmetic dental problems. Porcelain veneers can:
- Change tooth color: We will recommend veneers if you have deep tooth stains or sensitive teeth. Sometimes, teeth do not react to professional whitening if stains come from within a tooth. We often choose veneers to treat intrinsic stains. We can address a single stained tooth or all front teeth with veneers.
- Fix tooth gaps: Veneers can cover small gaps between your teeth. Covering these small gaps is an option if you have a gap between your two front teeth or multiple tooth gaps. Veneers may also treat black triangles or gaps between teeth near the gums.
- Change the size of teeth: If you are self-conscious about small teeth, veneers can lengthen the appearance of your teeth. Veneers can add structure to your teeth to make them appear more prominent.
- Address damaged teeth: Veneers can cover small areas of tooth damage. The veneer shells can cover tooth wear and small chips in the enamel.
Am I a Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?
Dr. Jenicke will thoroughly examine your smile to determine if you are a candidate for veneer treatment. Good candidates for veneers have enough tooth structure for tooth preparation. Before we place veneers, we remove 0.5 mm of the tooth for a proper fit. Patients must also be in good oral health. Before cosmetic treatment, we recommend treatment for cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
Patients with orthodontic problems or teeth grinding are not good candidates for veneers. Clear braces like Invisalign can treat mild to moderate orthodontic issues that affect bite function.
Patients who clench and grind their teeth benefit from TMJ treatments, including nightguards. Although veneers are durable, continual teeth grinding can damage the veneers, just as they damage natural enamel. Veneers may be an option after patients thoroughly treat TMJ problems.
Oral health problems not only lead to increased discomfort, but they can damage or loosen the veneers. Our office wants veneers to fit correctly and feel comfortable for our patients. We will schedule veneer treatment once we ensure that patients are healthy and suitable candidates.
Treatment with Porcelain Veneers in Cadillac, MI
As with other restorations, we need to prepare teeth before veneer treatment. Preparation ensures that the veneers fit properly. During preparation, we will etch the tooth enamel. Removing a small enamel layer creates the proper bonding surface and ensures that the veneers do not look or feel bulky. Veneers require minimal anesthesia to ensure that patients feel comfortable during treatment.
After preparing the teeth, we color-match the desired shade of the veneers. Color-matching benefits patients whether they want a brighter smile or a single tooth to match adjacent natural teeth. Our office uses computer-aided design to create custom veneers.
After we take digital scans of the mouth, we make edits in computer software. We edit the veneers to ensure they match the correct shape and shade. Once we complete the veneers, we apply bonding material to the treated teeth. We carefully place the veneers and bond them to the teeth with a curing light. Finally, we polish the completed veneers to create a natural sheen.
Porcelain Veneer FAQs
Many patients have additional questions about veneer treatment. Read answers to commonly asked questions about dental veneers:
What are the benefits of dental veneers?
Dental veneers offer long-lasting treatment that benefits patients with multiple cosmetic issues. Veneers can cover slightly crooked teeth, tooth gaps, tooth damage, and deep tooth stains.
Because we use porcelain to create veneers, they blend in with the color of natural teeth and can brighten areas of discoloration. The porcelain materials are translucent and reflective, just like natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are also low-maintenance and stain-resistant. Veneers can address one or more teeth that show when you smile.
How do you care for dental veneers?
Directly after veneer treatment, avoid foods and drinks that stain, including tea, coffee, wine, and berries. You should also avoid hard or chewy foods. While veneers are stain-resistant and durable, you want to prevent stains to the adhesive. You can also experience discomfort if you eat hard foods right after you receive your permanent veneers.
To clean your veneers, you can brush them just like your natural teeth. However, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid damage to your veneers.
Are dental veneers painful?
Veneer treatment should not be painful because we use anesthesia. You will be accustomed to your new veneers after several weeks. At first, you can experience sensitivity or soreness, but this will fade over time. Drinking lukewarm water and brushing with toothpaste created for sensitive teeth can help during the veneer healing process.
How much do porcelain veneers cost?
The cost of veneers depends on how many veneers you receive and the veneer material. Porcelain veneers can be more costly than resin veneers. However, porcelain veneers last longer and offer more durability and stain resistance. We will work with you to estimate the cost of your veneer treatment during a consultation.
Contact Our Cadillac Dental Office
Are you interested in treatment with dental veneers? Do you want to brighten or straighten your teeth? Schedule a veneer consultation online. You can also call Brilliant Smiles Family Dentistry today at 231-389-6388.
Let us know if you have more questions about porcelain veneers in our Cadillac, MI, office. We’re here to help you!