Porcelain veneers improve the appearance of teeth and treat mild to moderate damage like chipped teeth, tooth fractures and cavities. Veneers are a thin and highly durable ceramic that is bonded to the tooth and create the look and feel of the natural tooth. Veneers are often used to improve the appearance of the teeth when the natural enamel is damaged or discolored. White spots and stripes, dark discolorations and pitting can all be corrected with the use of a porcelain veneer.
How Are Porcelain Veneers Done?
For exquisite results, multiple appointments are usually required for porcelain veneers. The first appointment or two will be spent completing an examination of your teeth, gums, joints and muscles. Together we will review photographs of your teeth and plan the esthetic changes precisely. Once we have created a template of how your teeth will look after the veneers are in place, we will begin the process of altering your natural teeth to make room for the porcelain. A set of veneers will be fabricated from an interim plastic material that allows us to preview the esthetic changes prior to the final porcelain veneers being fabricated. A talented and artistic dental “ceramist” at a carefully selected dental laboratory will fabricate the veneers. On your final visit they are bonded to your natural teeth.
The beauty of the final result is a combined effort between the patient, the dentist and the ceramist and can have an amazing impact on your smile and life.
Who can have porcelain veneers?
Anyone who is interested in altering the appearance of their natural teeth is a candidate for porcelain veneers. They can also be used for minor repairs from chipping, fractures and cavities.
How many teeth should have veneers?
This question can only be answered together once we have examined your teeth and discussed the outcomes you are hoping for. As a goal we strive to be as conservative as possible and only treat the teeth necessary to reach the desired outcome.
I know someone with veneers that don’t look good, what happened?
Each person is unique, making this is a hard question to answer — but an important one. The final result is dependent on many factors. The first piece of the puzzle is being clear about what you want the teeth to look like after the final porcelain veneers are in place. It is important for the patient to communicate the result they want and the dentist to clearly understand it. Beautiful results are also dependent on the dentist and the ceramist being very skilled and taking the necessary time to get exquisite results. Dr. Brady has spent many years of additional education beyond dental school becoming an expert in cosmetic dentistry, and now teaches these techniques to other dentists around the world. We work with only the best personally-selected ceramists, who are experts and artists in their own right to ensure your result. 100% of our lab work is done by U.S. dental labs where Dr. Brady has developed a close relationship with the ceramists; we never send cases to Mexico or China. We are fortunate to have world-class local lab partners in the Phoenix metro area; as a result approx. 75% of our cases go to these local labs.
How long do they last?
No restorative dentistry lasts forever — all restorations have a lifespan. With porcelain veneers that lifespan can be lengthy and depends on your personal risk factors. The tooth under the veneer can still get a cavity. Maintaining good oral hygiene with brushing and flossing are essential and we can work with you to manage your risk of getting cavities. It is also critical to make sure that the way your teeth come together when you bite, chew and speak is designed not to put excessive force on your new veneers.