A dental veneer is a thin layer of either composite or dental porcelain that is placed over a tooth. These come in the forms of laminate veneers and restorative crowns. Depending on the intended application, this can both protect its surface from damage and improve the tooth’s appearance. Composite veneers can be either applied directly or fabricated in a lab and bonded to the tooth using dental cement. Porcelain veneers must be indirectly fabricated.
Although they were originally intended as a temporary fix, due to improvements in technology. Dental Veneers in Birmingham MI can be expected to last up to three decades without the need for repair. Issues that sometimes come up down the line include discoloration, chipping, cracking, and gum shrinkage due to damage, teeth grinding, or acute injury. All of these can be repaired by a dental technician. Typically veneers made of porcelain are more durable than composite veneers and more stain resistant.
Some of the common uses for dental veneers include improving the appearance of permanently discolored teeth, or those that are worn, chipped, broken, or uneven. They can also help reduce the appearance of gaps between teeth. If your smile is suffering due to any of these problems, you may want to speak with a dentist to discuss dental veneers in Birmingham MI.
After a dentist evaluates your teeth and decides if you are a candidate for this treatment, the process will take a few weeks to complete. Your dentist will trim off a small amount of enamel from your tooth’s surface, then take an impression of the tooth. If using a porcelain veneer, this impression will need to be sent out to a laboratory for fabrication, which may take a week or two. At a second appointment, your dentist will bond the veneer permanently to your tooth using dental cement. Before it can be attached, your tooth will need cleaning and etching to encourage a strong bond. You will probably be asked to come in for a followup appointment to check the placement and appearance of the veneer.
If you think your smile might benefit from the increased aesthetics offered by dental veneers in Birmingham MI, the first step is to speak with a dentist. For more information visit DiPilla Robert, DDS.