Granville Dental Wellness Group
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are a fantastic way to repair the appearance of front teeth. They can be used to whiten teeth, close spaces, repair broken teeth and create a great smile. Using veneers, we can even perform virtually "instant orthodontics" to straighten crooked teeth and give you the bright smile you always wanted.
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are cemented over the front of your teeth to change their colour or shape. Little or no anesthesia is used and they are comfortably performed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and colour stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea or even cigarette smoking.
Veneers are made by the dental lab master craftsman working from impressions of your teeth provided by the dentist. Typically, veneers entail three appointments. One for diagnosis, cosmetic consultation including goals of treatment, another appointment for preparation. The last appointment is for cementation.
During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about half to three quarters of a millimeter of tooth is removed, which may require local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mould is taken of the teeth which is sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final "bonding" visit, the veneers are placed to ensure an excellent fit and colour. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the colour of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam causes a catalyst to be released, which hardens the cement.
