Dental Veneers
Treat yourself to a smile lift!
Dental veneers work wonders for your teeth. They can close gaps, make teeth of a different length line up straight and turn stained or just plain discolored teeth pearly white. If your teeth are basically healthy, but just don’t look like you want them to, veneers may be your go-to solution, and Brident is your go-to provider.
What exactly are dental veneers?
Veneers are custom-crafted covers for your teeth that are made of porcelain or a synthetic material (like Lumineers®). They are permanently cemented to your teeth, but they don’t require reshaping your teeth like crowns do.
Getting dental veneers. What should you expect?
Talk to your Brident dentist
Tell her what you want to change or enhance about your teeth and your smile. That way, she can fill you in on your various options and the best materials.
Find out if you’re a good candidate for veneers
Your Brident dentist will first perform a thorough exam and take X-Rays to ensure that your teeth are healthy and sound. Any issues, like cavities or an infected tooth, must be fixed before you can proceed with veneers.
Making an impression
Once you’ve got the green light for veneers, your Brident dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel the thickness of your veneers – about ½ of a millimeter – from the surface of the teeth you are covering. Then, he’ll take an impression of your mouth and send it to one of our labs, where technicians will craft custom veneers just for you.
Fitting and bonding
Veneers require great precision. As such, your dentist will hand-size each veneer so that it matches your gum line and creates the correct spacing and alignment. Once the veneers are trimmed, your dentist will etch your teeth and the veneers with a mild acid that roughens them up so they bond better. Only then will he cement them in place.
Make your veneers last
If you take good care of them, veneers should look terrific for 10 – 15 years. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help keep your veneers looking wonderful.
- Don’t drink coffee, red wine, tea or soda. These can all stain those beautiful new teeth
- NEVER use your teeth to open bottles, or gnaw on packages or pens
- Treat any tooth grinding immediately. If you have a propensity to clench and gnaw, talk to your Brident dentist about a bite guard. It can provide amazing protection for your teeth, especially if you grind your teeth at night
- If you play sports, wear a mouth guard. One bad tackle in football can take out a veneer. Boxing? You might want to take up tennis instead.
- Brush, floss and see Brident twice a year for a cleaning and check-up. Take care of those teeth!