Dental Veneers Procedure Step by Step

Dental veneers can transform an unflattering smile into one that generates ample attention. Those who recognize the word, “veneer,” usually do not fully understand this oral health solution.  If you are not exactly sure what dental veneers are and what the placement process is like, do not worry.

Here is what you need to know about the dental veneers procedure.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers consist of porcelain.  Acrylic plastic or a filling material that matches the color of the surrounding teeth might be necessary to create trial veneers.  The dentist will place these trial veneers right onto your teeth so you can get an idea of what they look like. If the height of the gums between the teeth in the front of the mouth is uneven, the dentist can even them out prior to the creation of your veneers.

After making the gums even, the teeth will match one another. This is actually quite the important component of the veneers procedure as more than three-quarters of patients have a visible portion of the gums above the front teeth.  The adjustment of the gum contour really will benefit the smile aesthetic.

A Smile Preview

As noted above, the dentist can form trial veneers and place them on your teeth to give you a look at what your new smile will be like.  Though you cannot exit the office with acrylic on your chompers, pictures can be taken to share with family, friends and others. Furthermore, the dentist can form an exact model of your teeth and subsequently shape the dental veneers on the model with wax.  This is just another way to preview what your teeth will look like after placing the veneers.

Teeth Preparation

Once you determine what you are looking for and you agree on a plan of action with the dentist, it is time to prepare your teeth for the placement of veneers.  Tooth prep includes the polishing the teeth to eliminate tooth structure from the teeth.

Professionals perform this elimination with a dental drill.  The amount that the professional needs to remove hinges on the intended result as well as the positioning of the teeth.  The overarching aim is to eliminate as little of the structure as possible.

The Dental Lab

As soon as the teeth are properly prepared, a mold is made.  This mold is transmitted to the dental lab where technicians use it to form an exact replica of the teeth.  This process will take a week or two. You will wear provisional veneers during this waiting period. Provisional veneers are cemented right onto the teeth so you can proceed with your day-to-day activities without problem.

After a couple weeks pass, you will return to the dentist’s office for a fine-tuning of your provisional veneers.  This is quite the important step as provisional veneers must function and appear exactly as you desire to guarantee the final veneers do the same.  An impression of these veneers will go to the lab to serve as a three-dimensional image of how the exterior of the veneers should appear.

The Final Step

After the lab completes the veneers, we bond them to the teeth.  This process requires an etching of the teeth and the interior of the veneers to open pores in the surfaces.  The dentist then places a see-through cement to create tiny tags that move into the open pores and make the veneers a cohesive unit.

What’s the next step?

Request a dental veneers consultation here: https://www.qualitygentledentalcare.com or call Roman Khodosh DDS PC at (973) 542-7597 for an appointment in our East Orange dental office.