What is the Porcelain Veneer Procedure?

Is Oral Sedation Available to Me?

If you feel less than confident in your smile because of cracked, chipped, misaligned, separated, badly yellowed or decayed teeth, than perhaps porcelain veneers may be the right option for you. Porcelain veneers are made of a thin porcelain shield that is custom made to fit each tooth and bonded to each natural tooth. It’s a great durable option for those who are looking for great quality in veneers as well as to mimic the look of natural teeth. You may be wondering just what the porcelain veneer procedure is like. Check out the list of steps below and talk to your dental profession to see if porcelain veneers are the right option for you.

Tooth Contouring

The first step of getting porcelain veneers is trimming or removing thin layers of your tooth’s enamel to provide room for the porcelain veneers to be bonded on. This sounds a little bit more intimidating than it is. The reason for this step is to give the dental professional enough space for the thin porcelain shield to sit flush with your teeth and gums, no one wants bulky looking teeth! This is the best way to ensure your teeth look natural after the veneers are placed.

This step doesn’t always require a sedative; however, many patients opt for a local anesthetic to ensure no pain is felt during this step. This is great for patients whose teeth are a bit more sensitive than others. When the dentist reaches the gum line, this is where the patient may feel a bit of sensitivity. You can talk to your dental professional about Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) to ease your anxiety during the procedure as well.

Choosing the Shape, Size and Color of Your Veneers

Your dental professional will have you involved with picking the shape, size and color of your veneers. Of course, your dentist will input their recommendations and it’s very important you take these recommendations heavily as they’ve done this procedure many times before. It can be tempting to choose the lightest color of veneers for a brighter smile, however, this may look extremely unnatural. Your dentist will likely pick a shade that best matches your teeth in general.

Smile Impression

Once your teeth have been completely contoured, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to send to their lab. This is a painless step where your dentist will ask you to bite down on a type of wax that will leave an impression. The lab will custom design each tooth using the impression and your tooth color, shape and size selections in mind. Your dentist will add temporary veneers in the meantime while
your permanent ones are being made.

Bonding the Permanent Porcelain Veneers

When the permanent veneers are in, your dentist will evaluate the fit of each tooth to ensure they flush well with each tooth’s contour. Once your dentist is happy with the fit, he or she will bond each veneer to each tooth using a technique using an acid gel which allows the veneer to bond with the natural tooth. The shade of the veneer is placed between the tooth and the veneer and then it is cured with a special light to ensure the bond is strong. Once all veneers are in, you are all set and ready to show off your new and improved smile!

Contact Renaissance Dental Center about whether you're a candidate for Porcelain Veneers.

Renaissance Dental Center is conveniently located in Raleigh, NC and services surrounding areas including Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, and Garner

Curious what the differences are between Porcelain Veneers and Composite Veneers? Learn More Here >