Your teeth perform many important tasks. One of these tasks is providing you with a beautiful smile. When your teeth have even minor flaws, your smile is greatly affected.
Imperfections in your teeth have the power to leave the wrong impression on those you meet. They can also impact your confidence, causing you to refuse to smile at all. Fortunately, there are ways to fix minor imperfections in your teeth, restoring the beauty of your smile.
At Oak Park Dental, one way in which we can restore your smile is with porcelain veneers.
What are Veneers?
Veneers are designed to cover a myriad of minor dental imperfections, from small chips and cracks to minor alignment issues.They are thin, shell-like structures that are bonded to the very front of the teeth that are visible when you smile.
They have the ability to change the shape, size, and color of the teeth to which they are bonded.
Whatever your specific issue, the goal of veneers is to improve the quality of your smile and your overall appearance.
What Are Veneers Made Of?
Veneers are typically made from one of two different materials—composite resin and porcelain.Both materials have the ability to mimic the color of your natural teeth.
Composite resin veneers are more affordable, but they are also more fragile, and susceptible to damage even with regular biting and chewing.
At Oak Park Dental, we provide you with porcelain.
Why Porcelain?
Porcelain veneers are a much better option for your teeth than composite resin.They may cost more, but they are worth the investment. First, porcelain is stronger than composite resin.
While it is not indestructible, it can withstand most normal biting and chewing forces.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain can better mimic the natural color and the sheen, of the rest of your teeth.
Because of porcelain’s translucent properties, the material imitates the light handling of enamel, giving it a more lifelike appearance than composite resin.
Porcelain also can resist stains. Composite resin can stain, and these stains cannot be removed with even professional whitening/bleaching products.
Because porcelain is smooth, it does not pick up stains from cigarettes (or other tobacco products) or darkly pigmented foods and beverages.
A Brief History of Veneers
Veneers, while only becoming a popular treatment option in recent decades, have been around since the 1920s, when the film industry began picking up.In the later years of the roaring 20s, Hollywood dentist Charles Pincus came up with the idea of veneers to improve the smiles of actors and actresses on screen. He used porcelain, but the applications were only temporary.
It was not until the 1960s that the use of a light acidic gel was put to use, creating a stronger bonding surface for both sealants and restorations.
In 1982, the use of the acidic gel was applied to porcelain veneers.
In the most recent decades, improving dental technologies has made way for porcelain veneers to become more lifelike.
Porcelain has been made stronger, and it has a better ability to reflect light like enamel.
Are Veneers Right for You?
Porcelain veneers can be used to fix a wide variety of different dental issues:| • | Minor chips and cracks that don’t extend into the inner layers of your teeth. |
| • | Gaps between your teeth. |
| • | Minor alignment issues that don’t interfere with the functions of your teeth or your oral health. |
| • | Discoloration. Veneers are often used to fix discoloration that cannot be fixed with whitening/bleaching treatments. This type of discoloration occurs on the inside of the tooth. It may be from trauma, or it can be the result of medications such as tetracycline or doxycycline. |
For you to be considered a candidate for porcelain veneers, you must first have good overall oral health.
You must be willing to commit to taking proper care of your teeth, including brushing and flossing daily and maintaining regular dental visits.
Moreover, you must have sufficient healthy enamel on your teeth, as a small portion will be removed for your veneers to be placed.
Veneers are not for those who have gum disease, tooth decay or infections in your teeth. If these issues are resolved, however, then you can revisit getting veneers. Bruxism, the grinding, and clenching of your teeth may also disqualify you, as the porcelain can fracture or break.
Getting Your Porcelain Veneers
The process for porcelain veneers is relatively straightforward and takes two visits.During the first visit, your teeth are prepared. This process involves removing a small amount enamel from the fronts the targeted teeth.
By doing so, the porcelain restoration will fit naturally in with the rest of your teeth. Molds are then taken of your mouth, which is sent to a lab, where your veneers are designed and fabricated.
Once the veneers are finished, you will return for your second visit.
During this visit, they are applied to your teeth.
A lightly acidic gel is applied to the surfaces of your teeth, creating a rough texture.
The texture helps the veneers to better bond with your teeth.
The gel is cleaned off, and your teeth get dried. Finally, we apply a dental cement and attach your veneers.
Caring for Your Veneers
Caring for your porcelain veneers is no different from caring for your natural teeth. They should be brushed and flossed every day.Even though porcelain is impervious to decay, it can still collect plaque and bacteria, both of which contribute to gum disease.
Brushing and flossing, along with regular twice-yearly dental visits, will help to keep this buildup at bay and keep your mouth healthy.
Along with proper oral hygiene, you should avoid biting and chewing on anything hard—popcorn kernels, ice, your fingernails, pens—as these can fracture or break your veneers.
With proper care, your veneers can last 15 years or more.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers come with numerous benefits:| • | Porcelain provides a more natural appearance. |
| • | Porcelain is biocompatible (it works well with your gum tissue). |
| • | The material is stain resistant. |
| • | Porcelain is relatively strong. |
| • | They restore the beauty of your smile, which can also give you an added boost of confidence. |
| • | Veneers are a more conservative approach than dental crowns. |
If you have minor imperfections in your teeth that are impacting your smile, porcelain veneers can help to restore its beauty and your confidence. Contact Oak Park Dental today at (971) 600-0211 to schedule your consultation!
