Our team at South Austin Dental are ready and waiting to help you with dental veneers. Perfect for those with stained or chipped teeth, veneers are one of the quickest methods of improving the appearance of your smile. However, they are a permanent treatment so you should carefully weigh their advantages and disadvantages to ensure they are the best decision for you. Our expert team is on hand to advise the best veneers for you.

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or resin placed on the front surface of your tooth to improve both its strength and appearance. They are custom made and shaded to match the natural color of your tooth and are bonded in several appointments. Although resin can also be used, porcelain is a preferable material since it looks more natural while also doing a much better job in preventing stains.

Veneers are a great alternative to braces and crowns, especially if you struggle with small gaps and minor misalignments. They can also help those who have fractures or chips on the teeth, and help combat discoloration by improving the brightness of the teeth.

Preparation

The first step of the veneer method is the diagnosis. In this step, we will examine your teeth and speak with you about your preferences. This is necessary to ensure veneers are appropriate for your specific problems. Some cases will also require X-rays.

The Procedure

Before placing the veneer, we will clean your teeth and remove a surface part of enamel on your tooth to ensure that it has the same thickness as your other teeth once the veneer is placed. Some cases require a local anesthetic, and this is something you will be able to decide on your appointment. We will then take an impression of your tooth and send it to a laboratory, where a custom veneer is made. Since veneers usually need up to four weeks to be made, you might get a temporary veneer if you’re fixing your front teeth.

On your next appointment, we will remove any temporary veneers and clean the tooth. Before fixing the veneer permanently on your tooth, we will test it to check it matches your other teeth. We may need to trim and shade it for a perfect fit, and proceed to apply a specialized cement to the veneer and permanently bond it on the tooth. We will then use a light or a laser to activate the cement, allowing it to cure faster. The procedure is completed with removing excess cement and making other minor adjustments if they’re necessary.

After the Procedure

We will schedule a follow-up appointment so we can check your veneers are OK. It would help if you continued to brush and floss your teeth as you would Usually. Consider using a non-abrasive toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth as well as limiting foods that are causing stains, such as coffee.

For more information, contact South Austin Dental at (512) 441-8922. We are happy to help in any way we can.