Cosmetic dentistry is all about enhancing the beauty of your smile. Veneers can be a perfect solution for you if you want to transform your grin into a picture-perfect smile. The experts at every Chestnut Dental location are passionate about your smile line and the transformation a healthy, strong, and beautiful smile can make in your life. Whether you are looking for information or if you are ready to enhance your smile, Chestnut Dental is ready to help. Call today and schedule an appointment at one of our 3 locations in Bedford, Needham, or Franklin.
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin, semi-translucent “shells” that are professionally attached by a dentist to the front of your teeth. In 1928, a Californian dentist named Charles Pincus invented veneers with the intention of temporarily improving the appearance of actors’ teeth for the duration of a film shoot. Now, with modern advancements in cosmetic dentistry, veneers are more permanent and can last up to 10-30 years with proper care. Chestnut Dental is proud to offer porcelain veneers. Other names for dental veneers include porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates.
The process for adhering dental veneers requires very little enamel removal. The removal of a thin layer of enamel, however, is indeed necessary for the best results. Otherwise, the resulting veneers would look awkward and bulky.
What Are Veneers Made Of?
Common materials for dental veneers include porcelain or resin composite. Chestnut Dental often uses porcelain veneers, as the material mimics the light-reflecting qualities of natural teeth, and has effective stain-resisting properties.
Who Would Benefit From Veneers?
If you feel self-conscious about your smile due to tooth discoloration, or chips and cracks in your smile, veneers might be beneficial. While veneers are a cosmetic solution, your dentist can also offer porcelain dental crowns should you need care for a tooth that is also fragile.
Veneers can be implemented to address a variety of cosmetic issues, such as teeth that are uneven, misaligned, irregularly shaped, or even teeth with a gap between them.
How Do I Care For Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers can be a low-maintenance investment. Because of the natural stain-resistant qualities of porcelain, after your initial investment, you can expect to maintain your veneers just with regular brushing and flossing, as you would in your daily routine. Porcelain veneers are also non-porous, which means the veneer material will not get a cavity. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits and schedule regular trips to the dentist to protect your health and your investment.
What Can I Expect From The Process of Getting Dental Veneers?
- During a consultation, your dentist will examine your teeth to determine if veneers are right for you, as you share your aesthetic goals. Together you will review the steps for the treatment and any pertinent limits of the process. Your dentist will then take X-rays, photos, and a 3-D scan to check the health of your teeth and allow measurements to be taken.
- To prepare your teeth for veneers, your dentist will reshape the surface of the teeth that will be addressed. If necessary, your dentist will also numb the area for your comfort. After an amount equivalent to the thickness of your custom veneers is removed, your dentist will make a model of your teeth to send to a laboratory. During the 2-4 week wait period, temporary dental veneers will be placed on your teeth.
- When it is time to bond your custom veneers to your teeth, your dentist will first check the fit and make any necessary modifications to the veneers. Your natural teeth will be etched to allow for the bonding process to be more effective. The bonding agent, a special cement, will be applied to the veneer and placed onto your teeth. After the veneer or veneers are put into place, they will be cured with a special light so that the bonding agent hardens and dries quickly. Your dentist will remove any excess cement and check your bite, and then you will be ready to experience your new smile.
- Your dentist may schedule a follow-up visit in the next few weeks to check your gums and the placement of your new veneers.
Chestnut Dental is proud to offer three locations to serve patients in Massachusetts and has over 5 decades of experience refining the Chestnut Dental coordinated care model. If you are interested in improving your smile, get in touch with our experts in Bedford, Needham, or Franklin today!
