Causes of Tooth Discoloration

When dark-colored food and drinks, age and cigarettes discolor teeth, porcelain veneers are the choice to brighten teeth and improve your smile. Veneers are highly resistant to staining and can achieve a very strong bond to the teeth underneath easily surpassing other restorative dental options.

Porcelain veneers are a conservative approach to improving the appearance of teeth adversely affected by too much fluoride as a child, stained from the use of antibiotics with tetracycline, or simply unattractive due to injury, fillings, or decay. Patients who have gaps between teeth or chipped teeth may want to consider porcelain veneers. Just like crowns, veneers can last many years if they are properly applied and maintained.

The Procedure

Typically, the application of porcelain veneers takes three visits to your cosmetic dentist: diagnosis and planning, preparation, and bonding. During the first visit, you will take an active role in the design of your new smile. Your dentist will explain veneers thoroughly to you and decisions about what is best for you will be made.

During the second visit, the preparation of the teeth visit, the teeth will be prepared for the veneers by first being lightly buffed. Only about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed; this may require local anesthetic. A mold is then take of the teeth, which is sent to the lab that will make your veneers.

First, the veneers are placed on the teeth to check their fit and color. At this time, the color can still be adjusted, but the color cannot be changed after the veneers are cemented in place. To apply the veneer, the teeth are cleansed with a solution to achieve a bond. A special cement is placed between the veneer and the tooth, and a visible light beam initiates the release of a catalyst to harden the cement.

After approximately two weeks, you should return to your dentist for a follow-up visit.

To see if porcelain veneers may be the right dental solution for you, please contact The Center for Cosmetic and General Dentistry in Austin, Texas today to schedule your initial appointment.