Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers, otherwise known as dental veneers, are extremely thin covers made of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth to cosmetically improve their appearance. When teeth that have become chipped, discolored, worn or even misaligned; porcelain veneers can be a good solution.

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In cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers utilize bonding capabilities of composite materials to attach the porcelain shell to the front of a tooth. Porcelain is by nature extremely brittle, but when bonded to a tooth the strength is greatly increased. These porcelain veneers are capable of resisting stains and reflecting light just like your natural teeth.

Porcelain Veneers Innovation

Porcelain veneers offer a very realistic, natural tooth appearance. You may be surprised to learn that a significant percentage of the tooth is the enamel. The tooth enamel is really an external shell, and in fact the enamel is actually translucent. This translucent quality means that when light hits the surface of the tooth its not immediately reflected away, but rather penetrates the enamel. The light will consequently be reflected from the non-translucent tooth framework that lies underneath the enamel. This particular property associated with translucency is a crucial portion of what gives smiles their characteristic look.

In the past, cosmetic dentistry’s available bonding materials were just semi-translucent. What this means is that the majority of the light striking failed to penetrate in to the bonding layer, but rather was reflected from the bonding’s outer surface. The ultimate result was that even though the bonding did provide the tooth an enhanced appearance, there was no visible depth and a lack of natural smile.

Porcelain veneers, with their glass-like appearance, possess a great advantage over other cosmetic dental bonding materials. When bonded on a tooth’s surface, these veneers act like natural tooth enamel. The fields of art and science have merged with new technological advancements to create beautiful porcelain veneers. They can be used for many corrective purposes in cosmetic dentistry. Advanced Dental Care with porcelain veneers can benefit any patient who has suffered from serious dental issues. Dr. Ueckert strives to give all of his patients a beautiful smile that brightens their lives and as well as the lives of others.

Correction with Porcelain Veneers

Strong teeth and gums are essential factors to oral and dental health. Dental problems should never be overlooked, and can give rise to major emergencies even in a short span of time. Porcelain veneers commonly fix even extreme instances of the following dental problems:

Wide gaps and spaces in between teeth
Teeth that have been excessively worn down
Broken or chipped teeth
Irregular, uneven and misaligned teeth
Tooth discoloration caused by root canal, resin fillings, tetracycline and excessive fluoride

Porcelain veneers offer a great substitute for the natural appearance of teeth. They are stain resistant and usually tolerated well by the tissues of the mouth.

Porcelain Veneers Video Education

Porcelain Veneers’ Drawbacks

The process of installing porcelain veneers is irreversible because of the removal of the tooth’s enamel. This can also cause certain patient’s teeth to sometimes experience an increased sensitivity to extreme temperatures in food or beverage. People who tend to clench and grind their teeth are usually poor candidates because these actions can crack or chip the porcelain veneers. This is an issue because the veneer is not repairable and if broken must be replaced. Finally, people with tooth decay and gum disease often lack the necessary enamel to install porcelain veneers. If they are not properly cared for the patient will still suffer from tooth decay, sometimes necessitating a full crown.

Treatment Procedure for Porcelain Veneers

Under most conditions, porcelain veneers can be installed within three office visits

Consultation

During this first step, it is important to discuss with Dr. Ueckert your exact goals and desires. You will need an examination to make sure porcelain veneers are the correct solution for your exact situation. Answering questions and discussing expectations is a big part of this planning session. It is possible impressions, photographs and/or X-rays will be taken to get an exact idea of all dental conditions. After the consultation, a custom design is created in the dental laboratory to match your specifications for cosmetics and functionality in your bite.

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Preparation

In preparation for the porcelain veneer, enamel will be removed to allow room for placement. Some patients will need to receive local anesthetic to help numb the area based on the individual case. A final impression will be taken to send to the dental lab where the porcelain veneer is specially constructed. Provisional veneers are made for the master design to allow patients to ‘test drive’ the appearance and make sure they have the desired look. Changes can easily be made at this time to meet the patients specific goals, and then implemented in the dental lab for construction of the final porcelain veneers. Usually the process takes no more than three weeks to produce your unique veneers.

Bonding

Before bonding, Dr Ueckert will examine the fit and color of your new porcelain veneers. The actual installation begins by cleaning and polishing the destination teeth, then etching to improve the bonding surface of the teeth. The veneer is finally attached through the use of a light-cured resin cement and activating lamp that helps the bond to cure extremely fast. Finally, any extra cement will be removed, your bite checked and any final adjustments finished. Many times a follow up appointment is scheduled to verify that bite position is accurate, your gums are responding properly and placement of the veneer has been maintained.

Care for Porcelain Veneers

When under the care of Dr. Ueckert, you can expect a lifespan of between 5 to 10 years for your porcelain veneers. They can be maintained with good oral hygiene and your regularly scheduled cleanings. While they are stain resistant it is helpful to avoid foods that cause stains like tea, and red wine. Patients should minimize risks of damage by avoiding biting fingernails, ice or other hard objects that put excessive pressure on the veneer.

Porcelain veneers provide a wonderful option to those who wish to change their smile, but want to avoid the use of crowns. They offer a conservative way to change the shape and color of a tooth or teeth, while avoiding extensive shaping and even tooth extraction. Contact the dental associates at Dr. Ueckert’s office today to schedule your consultation for porcelain veneers.

Contact Us

Dr Ueckert Dentistry
7030 Village Center Drive
Austin, TX 78731

Telephone: 1 (512) 379-5752