Here is what you can expect during a typical
veneer preparation procedure.
The First of Many Impressions
Similar to most restorative dental
procedures, impressions are taken before, during, and in some cases after the
final placement of the veneers. The impressions taken before your veneer
appointment are used to make a stone replica of your teeth. The stone cast may
be sent to the dental laboratory to assist the lab tech when fabricating the
final veneers, or to create a wax-up; replica of what the final veneers will
look like. The wax-up may be used to create a temporary set of veneers that is
worn during the time when the veneers are being made.
Choosing a Shade
Choosing the shade of the veneers is an
exciting step for most people. The final shade is determined by your request
for a certain result, along with the dentists recommendations. Customized to
your skin tone and overall desire for whiter teeth, your dentist will recommend
a shade that he feels will best appear as natural as possible, while still
giving you the look of attractive, flawless teeth. It may be necessary for you
to visit the dental laboratory that is making your veneers, as they are able to
do a very customized shade analysis. Not only are they looking for the best
shade for your individual skin tone, they may be trying to match the veneer to
the shade of the surrounding teeth. This task is especially important to ensure
the natural look of the veneer remains consistent.
Preparing the Teeth
Veneers require very little removal of the
enamel surface of the tooth. It will generally depend on the type of veneer
used, position of the teeth, or the dentists preferred method of preparing the
tooth.
You may or may not require local anesthetic
for the appointment. Teeth that have been root canalled or teeth that require
very little preparation, may allow you to avoid the need for anesthetic. Your
dentist will use the high speed hand piece to contour the front surface of the
tooth. Impressions of the prepared teeth are taken inside your mouth using a
very precise impression material that starts our as a thick paste. The
impression material is filled into a tray and placed on the teeth. The dental
assistant will likely hold the impression tray in your mouth until the material
sets, usually after 3 to 5 minutes. An impression of how your teeth bite together
is also taken. Impression material is applied to the biting surface of the
bottom and top teeth. You will be asked to bite down into the material for 1 to
2 minutes until the material is set; depending on the brand used. If the
dentist is satisfied with all of the impressions, they are delivered to the
dental laboratory.
Temporary Veneers
The dentist or dental assistant will
construct a set of temporary veneers made from an acrylic material, that will
be cemented onto your teeth with a temporary cement. They will resemble your
natural tooth, but may not appear as white as the final set of veneers and may
feel rougher than your naturally smooth enamel. These temporary coverings will
help protect the teeth from sensitivity, but keep in mind they are just as
their name indicates; temporary. You should avoid the following with your
temporary veneers:
- Biting into or chewing hard and food
- Gum and sticky candy should be avoided
- Using the prepared teeth to open or tear
non-food items
- Biting your nails
- Food or beverage that contains deep
pigments that will stain the acrylic.
Your New Smile
The veneers will return after 7 to 10
business days for final cementation. They will be placed on your teeth without
any cement so the dentist can inspect them for any obvious flaws. Your final
approval will give the go ahead for the dentist to permanently cemented the
veneer to the tooth's surface with a dental resin.
If you had local anesthetic for the first
appointment, it may be necessary for this appointment as the teeth need to be
cleaned with water and prepared with a solution called acid etch, that
microscopically roughens the surface of the tooth . This is necessary to
achieve the best adhesion of cement to your teeth. As mentioned your teeth will
be prone to sensitivity and since the correct placement of the veneers is
paramount, freezing may be a benefit to both you and the dentist.
The cement is placed on the back of the
veneer and then placed onto your tooth. A bright light known as a curing light,
may be used to harden the cement. Any excess hardened cement is removed from
the teeth.
The dentist will check how your teeth bite
together to ensure you re not biting incorrectly onto the veneers. Small
reductions of the opposing teeth may be necessary if the bite is not correct.
Caring for Your Veneers
Although veneers are designed to allow you to
function normally, you may want to consider trying not to bite into hard food
with your front teeth, or use your teeth to open difficult items, because they
may chip or break. Occasional you may have foods and beverages like red wine,
tomato sauce, grape juice, and tea or coffee. But keep in mind that the
porcelain material can pick up stain from deeper pigmented foods and beverages.
And unlike our natural teeth, they cannot be whitened with tooth whitening
gels.
Your dentist may recommend the use of a night
guard, or splint while sleeping. This will protect your lower teeth from the
effects of the porcelain grinding on the enamel. Even if you do not knowingly
grind your teeth, porcelain is damaging to enamel during even slight grinding
of the teeth. Veneers are designed to last between 10 to 15 years. Regular
cleanings from your dental hygienist are still recommended, along with regular
dental checkups.
Springhill Dental, PLLC
3401 Springhill Drive, Suite 285
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Telephone: (501) 955-0155
