Are Porcelain Veneers Right for Me?

Porcelain veneers are a special kind of dental procedure. They don’t fall under the usual categories of routine maintenance, like teeth cleanings, or serious restoration, like root canals. Instead, porcelain veneers are a form of cosmetic dentistry. This means it’s an option for people who want to have a say in the appearance of their smile.

How do you know if porcelain veneers are right for you? Let’s take a look at what exactly they are, how to get them, and who’s a good candidate to receive them.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin slices of porcelain adhered to the front of your teeth. They can improve your teeth’s color, length, size, and/or shape.

Veneers can be made from other materials, but porcelain is often preferred because of the way it reflects light similarly to natural teeth and resists stains.

How Do You Get Porcelain Veneers?

You can ask our dentists about getting porcelain veneers during your routine six-month cleaning. Once you decide to move forward with this procedure, the process usually takes two appointments.

The First Appointment

First, our dentists will have to prepare your teeth to receive your veneers. That means scraping off a small amount of enamel from the fronts of your teeth.

This can cause alarm for some patients, but don’t worry — your dentist isn’t scraping your teeth down to nothing. Typically, dentists remove only about half a millimeter (about half the size of the point of a pencil).

After the enamel has been removed, our dentists will take impressions of your teeth and send them to the lab that will make your porcelain veneers. Before you leave, our dentists will place temporary veneers on your teeth for you to wear until your next appointment.

The Second Appointment

When you return to our office, your permanent porcelain veneers will be waiting for you. Our dentists will check to make sure you are satisfied with every aspect of your new veneers before they begin with the dental procedure.

First, they will clean your teeth to remove any bacteria that may interfere with the bonding process. Then, they will etch the part of your teeth that will receive the veneers. This makes the surface of your teeth more rough so the veneers will bond more easily to them.

Our dentists use a safe dental cement to bond porcelain veneers to natural teeth. They will apply an ultraviolet light to cure the cement quickly, and then your veneers will be ready to go!

Who’s a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are just one tool dentists use to help patients achieve the smile they want. You may want to consider getting veneers if one or more of your front teeth are:

• Chipped
• Stained
• Discolored
• Smaller than usual
• Misaligned
• Oddly shaped
• Worn down

Even if you have one of these conditions listed above, you may not be a good candidate for porcelain veneers if you:

• Suffer from bruxism (grinding or clenching your teeth at night)
• Want to whiten your teeth after you receive veneers
• Don’t want to undergo an irreversible procedure
• Don’t regularly brush or floss
• Don’t want to commit to going to the dentist the recommended amount (every six months)

Still, don’t rule yourself out based on this list. Speak with our dentists before you decide whether porcelain veneers are right for you.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you’re interested in getting porcelain veneers, our Hudsonville, MI, cosmetic dentists are here to help. Call Hudsonville Dental at (616) 209-4024, or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.