Veneers
Porcelain veneers are 0.5 - 1.5+ mm porcelain “shells” that are cemented to teeth to improve their appearance or restore fractured parts of teeth. These thin veneers are cemented with tooth-colored cements to areas of the teeth that are visible from outside of the mouth. Veneers can correct a wide range of discolorations to improve the patients smile. Veneers are also used to treat chipped, broken or damaged teeth. They can be used as a more conservative restoration than a full crown that covers all of the clinical tooth.
If a single tooth is restored, it can be made to match the other teeth to blend in and create a natural smile. If a patient wishes to change the overall appearance of their smile, veneers can be used to change the color, shape, and size of the teeth. These changes are limited by the physical characteristics of the face and mouth, as well as the bite.
Veneers are long lasting, giving years of wonderful smiles. But like most dental restorations, they may require occasional replacement or repair.
The procedure to perform veneers is similar to crowns. Veneers are prepared after clinical exam, x-rays, and thorough cleaning when possible. Some veneers require no preparation of the teeth, others require reduction of the tooth surface to obtain space to place the veneers on the tooth. Dr McGhee will discuss this with you at the time of your visit. After any needed preparation of the tooth/teeth, an impression is taken to send to the esthetic laboratory for the veneers to be made by a ceramic specialist. Dr McGhee may or may not decide to make temporaries to cover the teeth until the permanent veneers are ready to be cemented in place.