What are Porcelain Veneers? Dental Veneers Uses and Procedures

Porcelain veneers are a common solution to help people achieve their desired smile. They are a popular way to fix chipped teeth, a gap between teeth, or misshaped teeth.

Dental veneers are thin covers or overlays that adhere to teeth to create the desired shape. At times a natural color ‘composite’ material is a preferred option over porcelain. It may be recommended if the tooth has been damaged by decay or an accident, or maybe severely discolored for some reason. In some cases, veneers are best built upon the tooth directly using the same material that is used for white or tooth-colored fillings.

Montgomery Dental Care in Woodbury, MN provides a variety of dental veneer options to choose from. We start with an individual evaluation to determine which cosmetic dental solutions is best for you.

Obtaining Dental Veneers to Gain a Perfect Smile

Marc L. Montgomery begins each dental cosmetic case that may include veneers by:

• Listening to your requests and then offering a personalized smile consultation.
• Examination and diagnostics fully understand your smile design goals and current state of oral health.
• In partnership, we will craft the ideal solution for improving your smile.
• Dental veneers are a simple option, but at times, we feel it is necessary to cover additional solutions.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin, shell-like tooth restorations that are custom-crafted to fit over the front portions of a person’s teeth. They provide the same strength and resilience that natural tooth enamel gives you. Porcelain veneers are typically applied to the smile line. They are ideal for improving the size, shape, and color of your smile.

What are the benefits of porcelain veneers?

Often porcelain veneers are a better alternative than tooth crowns. In most cases, less tooth enamel needs to be removed than with a crown or cap. When carefully fixed over the front of your teeth, little or no anesthesia is needed, and they don’t easily stain. Also, veneers typically don’t require the removal of much of the tooth itself. We will discuss with you how much of the tooth’s surface will likely need to be removed in advance. Each case is unique. Depending on your oral health and condition of tooth or teeth being examined, sometimes more of the tooth will need to be removed.

We always assess in advance if there is any increased trauma or risk to the tooth.

Our dental patients love this highly esthetic option is ideal for fixing stained, cracked or chipped teeth. When needed, porcelain tool veneers also effectively reshape the length and width of teeth to create a balanced, beautiful smile.

What is a composite resin veneer?

A composite resin veneer consists of a tooth-colored filling material that is bonded to the tooth. Composite veneers overall have less strength or wear resistance than porcelain veneers; however, composite veneers can be repaired quickly and easily. They may be a solution for simple single veneer needs.

What are the steps to adhere composite resin veneers?

• First the teeth are prepared by cleaning, a filling if needed, or reshaping.
• The composite material will be sculpted using the best shade to match your natural tooth color.
• A special light is used to harden the composite and bond it to your teeth.
• The veneers are adjusted, smoothed, and polished to look like your natural teeth.

How are tooth veneers applied?

Veneers are custom-made and applied to precisely fit each tooth. Appling tooth veneers involve removing a small amount of tooth structure, which ensures a nice, even, secure fit. Porcelain veneers are permanently bonded to the front of teeth, and often last about 10 years or more without a need for further care.

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What to expect when receiving your veneer(s):

• We will assess the stability of any existing fillings in the teeth first.
• Preparation time varies depending on the state of the tooth is and whether it may benefit from being built up with a new filling ahead of time.
• Once this cosmetic dental service is agreed upon, it’s time to select the veneer color or shade that will be best for your smile.
• We will discuss in advance if we recommend first numbing the tooth or teeth.
• Your veneers may be prepared in advance by a dental technician.
• At times, we give our patients temporary veneers to wear in the meantime.
• A very small amount of your natural tooth covering needs to be removed – taking care that it won’t feel bulky in the end.
• Single veneers may only require one visit to the dentist. Expect that a combination of applying veneers and other services, like cleaning and tooth whitening, may mean multiple dental visits.
• We will use advanced dental technology to determine the shape and size of the veneer to make for you.
• The surface of the tooth is prepared and the veneer is applied in steps until the teeth look right.
• We will follow up with you to ensure that you experience veneer stability and are pleased.
• Further adjustments may be recommended at a later appointment.

What preparations are needed before getting veneers?

Little preparation of the actual tooth is actually needed; however, veneers should first align with your overall smile and oral health goals.

• The patient’s teeth and gums should be healthy. We can treat any disease or decay before a person’s veneers are placed. Perfectly straight teeth and an even bite are not a pre-requisite before veneers are applied. However, if your teeth have a high degree of overlap, it may be challenging to apply veneers to your teeth’s surfaces. If a tooth is obscured significantly or wholly by another tooth, you may want to straighten your teeth first.
• We first check if tooth clenching or grinding is an issue. While new materials and technology mean that thin veneers are less of an issue, veneers may not be the best good choice for patients who may clench or grind their teeth till they chip or break. We may suggest wearing a dental night guard while sleeping.
• Assessing the potential thinness of your tooth enamel. The process of applying veneers is not one that can be undone once the enamel is removed. Usually, this is not an issue as so little of the outer tooth enamel is removed.
• Establishing realistic expectation for your veneers. In the unusual event that a veneer is damaged by a severe blow or other cause, a repair or new one might be needed.
• Plan for routine visits with your dentist. Don’t skip regular dental visits; they are essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Future dental examinations will assure you that your veneers are doing a great job to protect and enhance your smile.

What do I need to look out for after getting veneers?

• Veneers may chip or break under pressure. Avoid biting on hard foods, your fingernails, or chewing on hard objects, like the end of your pencil, popcorn kernels, or ice.
• Give yourself adjustment time to how your veneers feel. Most patients report that they feel great. However, do let us know if your bite feels “off” after your veneer has been placed and you try eating at home. Your bite will be checked before you leave the office. If you have been numbed, it is important to assess once you regained a normal smile.
• Maintain clean teeth and gums by brushing and flossing. Without a healthy daily oral hygiene routine, it is still possible to get cavities under or around tooth veneers. Ask us for a recommended product that has met ADA standards for safety and effectively cleaning your teeth.
• Over time, veneers may come away from the tooth or break if the tooth is knocked hard. If so, we will assess if it can simply be glued back on. If the damage is more serious, it may require being replaced. Veneers permanently adhere to your teeth’s outer surface. However, they may eventually need to be replaced with new veneers. Rarely do veneers come off on their own.
• Avoid frequent consumption of certain kinds of food and drink. A key example is to avoid acidic beverages before bed that may break down your teeth’ surfaces. This can cause teeth to become overly sensitive to hot and cold. In this situation, veneers protect teeth from surface erosion. This can cause teeth to become overly sensitive to hot and cold. In this situation, veneers protect teeth from surface erosion.

Do Veneers Work if I Have Missing Teeth?

Dental implants are the correct treatment to replace missing teeth. Dental veneers are used to provide an enhancement to your smile by improving your cosmetic appearance. For the person who has basically healthy teeth but has cosmetic issues such as stains, chips, gaps, uneven spaces, or sensitive teeth, veneers are an ideal option to give you a beautiful smile in a short amount of time.

Will my veneers be covered by insurance?

Generally, veneers are classified as cosmetic dentistry by insurance companies. Meaning, they are often not covered by dental insurance. However, if the veneers are determined by your dentist to be necessary to save or strengthen your teeth – your insurance plan may pay for them.

5 STAR REVIEW: Porcelain Veneers Patient

“Dr. Montgomery and his staff are just fantastic. I can’t recommend them enough. I was searching for a dentist to do veneers on just my 2 front teeth and he was highly recommended by a dentist friend of mine. I couldn’t be happier with the results. They are very natural looking and no one would ever know they’re veneers. Dr. Montgomery was patient with all my questions, has a very kind and gentle nature, and an eye for perfection. In my opinion, all are very important qualities when someone is working on your 2 front teeth! I’m so thankful to him for giving me my smile back! – Kristin DuPaul on 7.1.2021

“Porcelain veneers show excellent aesthetic results and predictable longevity of the treatment, while composite veneers can be considered as a good conservative option, but with less durability.” NIH: The Success of Dental Veneers According To Preparation Design and Material Type

Summary

We invite you to view Marc L. Montgomery’s Dental Veneers Gallery to see our patients’ fantastic results. With porcelain veneers, the custom fit to your front-facing dentition will give your smile restoration a pleasant and uniform appearance. Designed and planned by AACD accredited professional Marc L. Montgomery DDS, new veneers can vastly improve your smile’s shape and create a youthful appearance.

Call to gain Dr. Montgomery’s careful eye on the dental science, function, and art of your smile design. 651-738-1880