subject: Take The Next Step Toward An Improved Smile With Dental Veneers [print this page] With the holiday season, you might be feeling down about the appearance of your smile. If you are, then don't fret any more! With advancements in dental technology and treatments, you can now significantly improve the appearance of your smile with dental veneers. While dental veneers may not be appropriate for every patient, the vast majority will be candidates. You can begin your New Year on the right foot with a consultation with your dentist in Ottawa. With a proper consultation, your dentist will determine the best treatment available for improving the appearance of your teeth this season.
Who is a Candidate for Veneers?
Veneers are used to fix most aesthetic issues that you might have with your teeth. For instance, dental veneers can be used to correct the following:
*Stains
*Chipped or broken teeth
*Crooked or misaligned teeth
*Gaps between teeth
*Holes or fractures
Not everyone with the above issues will be a candidate for veneers, however. Some situations in which you might not be a candidate include those who have unhealthy teeth, teeth with little or no enamel, and those who clench or grind their teeth. If you suffer from decay or gum disease, your dentist will not be able to place veneers on them. The possibility for dental veneers does still exist, if these conditions are successfully treated.
Additionally, little to no enamel offers no support for veneers. Without sufficient enamel, the veneer will have nothing to bond with. While porcelain veneers may be strong, they are not as strong as your natural teeth. If you have a tendency to clench or grind your teeth, you may not be a good candidate for dental veneers. The clenching and grinding can lead to chips and fractures in your veneer, which makes the appearance of your smile look worse.
What is Involved in the Procedure?
The process of receiving a dental veneer typically requires three dental visits-the first for consultation, second for preparation and the third for bonding. Initially, you will visit your dentist in Ottawa for proper diagnosis and treatment planning. This first step involves your active participation because your dentist wants to know the result you are trying to achieve. During this appointment, your dentist will examine your teeth to make sure dental veneers are an appropriate treatment option for your smile, and will discuss the procedure in detail with you.
Next, your dentist will prepare your tooth for a veneer, which means your dentist will remove about millimeter of enamel from the tooth surface to make up for the added thickness of the veneer. Before trimming off the enamel, you and your dentist will decide the need for a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, your dentist will make a model or impression of your tooth, which is then sent to a dental laboratory. This lab will construct your veneer, which typically takes about 1-2 weeks for your dentist to receive the veneers back from the laboratory.
Lastly, before your veneer is permanently cemented to your tooth, your dentist will temporarily place it on your tooth to examine its fit and color. Your dentist will repeatedly remove and trim the veneer as needed to achieve the proper fit. The color of your veneer can be adjusted with the shade of cement to be used. To prepare your tooth to receive the veneer, your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched, which roughens the tooth to allow for a strong bonding process.
Contact your Ottawa dentist for more information about dental veneers and to see if you are a good candidate for this smile altering procedure.
