Porcelain Veneers in Raleigh
Many of our cosmetic dentistry patients want to know more about the process of getting porcelain veneers. This basic outline of what happens should help you become more familiar with what is involved, but feel free to ask our staff about any additional questions you have about porcelain veneers.
How many visits are involved for Porcelain Veneers?
Usually, two visits are required. Depending on your situation, each appointment is likely to last between one and four hours.
What happens on my first visit?
We will examine your teeth and have a discussion with you about your goals for your smile. We will help you in deciding on the best color to choose, consistent with your goals and with other factors that may be unique to your teeth. Peoples’ desires for their smiles vary; color selection is one of the very important considerations in designing your smile makeover. We will help you understand what can (or cannot) be achieved with porcelain veneers, and how many porcelain veneers you will need to achieve your objective. The size and shape of your teeth are also factors that we will discuss because they, too, have a bearing on the end result.
Depending on your situation, we may do preparation on some or all of the teeth where porcelain veneers will be placed. Small amounts of enamel are often removed so that the veneer doesn’t significantly alter the thickness of your teeth. After that preparation work is done, we usually make an impression (a “mold”) of your teeth that will be sent to the lab to create and shape your custom porcelain veneers. Once the impression has been made, and depending on how we had to prepare your teeth, we may or may not place temporary veneers on some of your teeth. You’ll wear these veneers until you return for placement of your custom porcelain veneers.
What will happen on my second visit?
If you have temporary veneers, we’ll remove those first. We’ll show you and test the fit, shape, and color of your new porcelain veneers. If any adjustments are needed, we will make those before we permanently bond them to your teeth. Once you approve of the way the new porcelain veneers look, we apply a cleaning solution to your teeth, and then bond the veneers to your teeth. We use a curing light to complete the bonding process. After the bonding is complete, we remove any excess bonding agent, polish your porcelain veneers, and floss your teeth. You’ll be ready to flash your new smile when you leave our office.
Is there anything I need to do after the second visit?
Be aware that any change to your teeth may take a little time to feel “natural.” For example, recall how even having your teeth cleaned might feel quite noticeable. If you’ve had even minor amounts of plaque build-up that has been removed by cleaning, it may cause you to run your tongue over your teeth because you sense that there is some difference – a new smoothness. So it’s normal that your porcelain veneers won’t feel exactly like your old teeth. It’s actually pretty amazing how well the human body can sense such minor changes, and also how quickly it tends to adapt to those changes.
Porcelain veneers are quite durable, but they can chip, crack, or come off if you don’t care for them properly. Just as with your natural teeth, you need to maintain good oral hygiene, get regular dental checkups and cleanings every six months, and refrain from biting or chewing on hard things such as ice.
If you are prone to bruxism (grinding your teeth), you will be encouraged to wear a mouth guard to protect your porcelain veneers as well as your other teeth. The need for a mouth guard will usually be discussed as part of your initial visit, although it is a habit that people can develop after the fact. We check for signs of bruxism during your regular checkups.
