Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed or crooked teeth. Veneers are made by a dental technician, usually in a dental lab, working from a model provided by your dentist. Placing veneers is usually an irreversible process, because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your tooth to accommodate the shell. Your dentist may recommend that you avoid some foods and beverages that may stain or discolor your veneers such as coffee, tea or red wine. Sometimes a veneer might chip or fracture. But for many people the results are more than worth it.
A veneer is often prescribed for a tooth that is:
- Discolored or stained
- Worn down, chipped or broken
- Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped
It may also be prescribed to “fill the gap” between two otherwise healthy teeth.
After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon treatment is a dental veneer, your Dentist will:
- Apply a local anesthetic to the affected area of your mouth
- Remove a small amount of enamel from the front of your tooth to make place for the veneer
- Use 3-D imaging to design and create your veneer
- Clean and polish the tooth’s front surface
- Bond the veneer in place to permanently affix it
- Expose the veneer to special hand-held light to harden the repaired surface of your tooth
For more information on porcelain veneers or to make an appointment call, Dr. Kirtley at 317-841-1111 or visit his website http://www.porcelainveneersindianapolis.com/