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Are Veneers Right for You?

Veneers are proven to help improve peoples appearance and change the way they feel about themselves. Veneers are one of the ways you can easily straighten and whiten your teeth. They improve the aesthetics of your smile by covering only the front of your tooth with a thin shell of ceramic or composite resin that are custom-made to fit your teeth.

They look like natural teeth, but without the imperfections. The dentist will help you choose the material that is best for you. Veneers are made from ceramic or composite resin and each has its own benefits.

Ceramic Veneers

A ceramic veneer is a thin shell that is custom-made to fit on the front surface of your tooth. Ceramic veneers have some benefits. For example, they are strong and long-lasting and ceramic has a natural-looking surface

  1. To prepare the tooth, your dentist usually removes a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of your tooth. This makes room for the veneers so that your teeth look natural.
  2. Your dentist takes an impression to make a mold of the prepared tooth. It is also possible to use an intraoral scanner to make a 3D computer model instead of using a mold. Your dentist will also work with you to decide on the veneer shade that will look best for your smile.
  3. The impression or 3D model is sent to a dental lab that custom-makes the veneer to fit your tooth. This may take several days or your dentist may have a lab that can make and deliver the veneer on the same day. If it will take more than one day to create your veneer, your dentist may give you a temporary veneer to wear until your ceramic veneer is ready.
  4. When the veneer is ready, your dentist will place it on your tooth to check its fit and shape. After any adjustments, your teeth are cleaned and the veneer is bonded to the tooth.
  5. Your dentist may need to make minor adjustments to your bite at a later appointment.

Composite Resin Veneers

A composite resin veneer is made from a tooth colored filling material that is bonded to the tooth. Composite resin veneers have some benefits. For example, they: • may require less tooth enamel to be removed than for a ceramic veneer may mean fewer visits to the dentist – sometimes a composite resin veneer can take just one visit are easier to fix if they get damaged; composite veneers are generally not as stain-resistant or wear-resistant as ceramic veneers, but they can be repaired easily and quickly

  1. Your dentist will prepare or reshape your tooth, then carefully bond and sculpt the composite material. Your dentist will work with you to decide on the veneer shade that will look best for your smile
  2. A special light is used to harden the composite resin and bond it to your tooth.
  3. Finally, the veneer is smoothed and polished to look like your natural tooth.

Whether you select resin or ceramic veneers both are an excellent choice to hide discolored, crooked or damaged teeth, but it’s important to know the pros and cons before getting them. Schedule an appointment with the Plano dentist to find out if dental veneers are the right solution for improving confidence in your smile.