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Every decade has a defining look. The 80s had big hair. The 90s had grunge. And the current trend? Picture-perfect smiles -- by way of porcelain dental veneers.
Porcelain dental veneers, also known as laminate porcelain dental veneers, are thin wafers of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth in order to mask smile imperfections such as chips, stains and gaps.
Applied by either a general or cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers have become a popular cosmetic solution because of their natural appearance and durability.
Porcelain Veneers vs. Bonding and Crowns
When it comes to improving your smile, sometimes all you want is a little change. And sometimes that's all you need. If that sounds like you, then dental bonding or a dental crown is probably the dental treatment of choice. But if you want a more dramatic smile change, you should consider porcelain dental veneers -- because unlike dental bonding or dental crowns, veneers can completely redesign your smile.
You might also prefer porcelain dental veneers because they:
Look more natural
Are stain resistant
Last longer than dental bonding
Require less prepping and shaping of the tooth than dental crowns
Are a stronger, more natural-looking alternative to dental bonding
The Porcelain Veneers Procedure
If your tooth imperfections are severe, it may affect how long your porcelain dental veneers procedure takes. The same applies for the type of porcelain veneers you choose.
However, a porcelain veneers procedure generally involves three steps:
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning -- This is the stage where you discuss your smile goals with your dentist who will then examine your teeth and devise a dental treatment plan specifically for you.
Preparation -- Some brands of porcelain dental veneers require more prepping than others. Prepping is when your dentist removes part of the tooth in order to make room for the new veneer. A mold is then made of your teeth and sent to an off-site laboratory where your custom-made veneers are made.
Bonding -- During this appointment, your dentist will check your veneers for fit and color. Adjustments are made as needed, then your dentist will cement the dental veneers into place using a special curing light.
Brands of Porcelain Veneers
One of the best things about modern cosmetic dentistry is having a lot of products from which to choose. Some brands of porcelain veneers require little to no prep work and some are more stain resistant than others.
Television shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "The Swan" have practically made veneers a household name by featuring da Vinci VeneersTM . "Low prep" porcelain veneers, LUMINEERS® by Cerinate®, have also been featured in Shape and News USA. Other well-known brands of porcelain veneers include MACVENEERSTM, Empress® and DURAthin®.
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