Your teeth have many important jobs. They allow you to bite and chew a variety of different foods. They aid in proper speech, enabling you to communicate effectively. The teeth stimulate your jawbone, helping to maintain the health and strength of your jaw. In addition to these functional purposes, your teeth also perform a very important aesthetic role. The teeth play a major role in the quality of your smile. Any flaws in your teeth, no matter how small, can significantly impact the quality of your smile, and your confidence. West End Dental can restore your smile with porcelain veneers.What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are a type of cosmetic dental restoration that is used to restore the appearance of teeth affected by minor flaws. Veneers are thin restorations that look like small shells and are designed to look like natural teeth. They are used to correct the appearance of teeth visible in your smile. They are made to be bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth, effectively covering over a myriad of minor flaws that can detract from an otherwise gorgeous smile.
What Flaws Can Porcelain Veneers Fix?
Porcelain can be used to treat a wide array of different types of minor flaws. These include:
| • | Chips and cracks in your tooth enamel. |
| • | Minor alignment issues that do not affect your oral health. This includes small gaps between your teeth as well as slight overlapping. |
| • | Teeth that are oddly shaped. |
| • | Teeth that are smaller than those around it. |
| • | Discoloration that cannot be treated with whitening. |
Why Porcelain?
Veneers can be made from composite resin or porcelain. While both materials are tooth-colored, porcelain provides many more benefits. Not only is porcelain tooth colored, but it can also be stained to perfectly match the color of your natural teeth. The material also reflects light just like your natural tooth enamel. This provides a much more natural appearance. Other benefits of using porcelain include:
| • | A longer lifespan. Porcelain is stronger than composite resin, and it has a longer lifespan. Where composite veneers only last 7 to 10 years, porcelain can last 15 years or more with proper care. |
| • | Biocompatibility. Porcelain is biocompatible, meaning that it will not irritate your gums. The gum tissue will sit around porcelain just like it will sit around your natural teeth. |
| • | Stain-resistant. Composite is porous. The same factors that contribute to stains on your natural enamel can stain composite as well. However, unlike your natural tooth enamel, composite cannot be whitened. Porcelain, on the other hand, is stain-resistant. It resists stains better than your natural teeth! |
How are Porcelain Veneers Placed?
The process for placing porcelain veneers typically takes two separate appointments. During your first appointment, the teeth are prepared for their veneers. This process, done under a local anesthetic, involves removing a small amount of enamel from each tooth that will be receiving a veneer, creating enough space for the veneers to fit completely naturally in with the rest of your teeth. Next, an impression of your mouth is taken, which is used to design and fabricate your custom veneers.
At your second appointment, your veneers are placed. First, they are checked for fit and bite, and to ensure that they blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. If no adjustments are needed, the veneers are bonded into place on the surfaces of your teeth, perfectly restoring and enhancing the quality of your smile.
Porcelain veneers effectively restore a natural appearance to your teeth, helping to significantly improve the quality of your smile as well as your confidence. Call West End Dental today at (503) 446-2957 to schedule your consultation and find out if porcelain veneers are right for you.
