Dental veneers can turn your smile into something truly camera-ready and provide a fix for chipped or stained teeth. Millions get them every year, and when they do, they often find their confidence boosted. As great as they are, though, you want to talk to a Raleigh, NC dentist about the dental veneers process, as you are making a permanent change to your teeth. Here’s what to expect.
What’s the Dental Veneers Process in Raleigh, NC
Talk to Your Dentist
The first step is to come talk to Dr. Rebecca Reeves for an assessment of your oral health and to talk over your goals. At this meeting, we’ll also take some scans to make sure veneers are a good fit for your teeth. This is also the perfect chance to ask about materials, costs, and what outcome to expect. If everything checks out, you’ll schedule the prep appointment.
Tooth Preparation and Impressions
On the second visit, we’ll really get started on your new look. First, we’ll numb the area with local anesthesia and then carefully shave off about 0.5 millimeters of enamel from the front of each tooth. That’s hardly anything: it’s roughly the thickness of a fingernail. The reason for doing this is to make room for the veneer to slide right on and be flush with all your teeth. You’ll get the perfect look without adding any bulk.
Next, we’ll take precise impressions, or molds, of your teeth, and you’ll also choose the shade of your veneers to make sure they meet your goals. That might be to perfectly match your natural teeth, or, if you’re having all your teeth done, it might be to achieve a really bright, uniform look.
The Bonding Appointment
Once your veneers arrive from the lab, it’s time for the final fitting. We’ll remove any temporary veneers we put on, clean and etch your teeth for better adhesion, and then apply a special cement to bond the veneers securely to your teeth. We then use a simple curing light to harden the cement bond, make any adjustments for bite and comfort, and polish everything so you have a natural shine. All this might take just an hour or two, and then you’re walking out with your revamped smile.
What’s the Difference Between Veneers and Tooth Whitening?
If all you want is a whiter smile, then which should you choose: tooth whitening or veneers? A dentist can help you make the choice based on your specific needs, but generally speaking, teeth whitening is about lightening your natural tooth enamel to remove stains like coffee or wine or simply combat the changes that come naturally with aging. Veneers, on the other hand, are custom-made shells that bond to the front of teeth and cover up any imperfections entirely. Basically, whitening polishes what you have, while veneers rebuild it.
If you’re looking to sport a smile that looks as good as you feel, reach out to Rebecca E. Reeves DMD, FICOI, PA in Raleigh, NC to set up an appointment.