Dentists adhere them to the front of your real teeth with permanent dental cement, covering stained, chipped, misaligned, or broken teeth. Veneers can quickly restore a bright, beautiful smile, boosting confidence and well-being.
Comparable in strength to normal tooth enamel, each veneer is customized to the contour of the tooth and sealed to the enamel with one or two procedures at the dentist’s office. The procedure is less intrusive than braces or crowns.
Veneers are irreversible, but not permanent. Each veneer costs between $800 and $2,000 per tooth and lasts about 10-20 years. Eventually, the veneer will need to be replaced.
A prefabricated veneer can be applied in one appointment. For veneers created in the dentist’s lab, two appointments may be needed. At the first appointment, the dentist cleans the tooth and selects a shade based on the natural color of the teeth. He or she may remove a small amount of enamel to make room. A local anesthetic is usually unnecessary but may be used for patients with sensitive teeth.
The dentist then makes an impression of the tooth for the lab and applies a temporary veneer in the center of the tooth using spot etchings. The first appointment is then over and the patient is sent home with the temporary veneers while the lab crafts the permanent piece out of porcelain or composite resin.
When the lab delivers the completed veneers, the patient returns for a second appointment. The dentist removes the temporary veneer and cleans the teeth with water and pumice. Each veneer is etched, rinsed, air dried, and applied to the tooth with dental adhesive and cement.
The dentist then cures the veneer with light for 60 seconds, removes excess material, and polishes the veneers. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to check on the comfort of the veneers.
If you are considering veneers, contact our office today.
