Porcelain Veneers - Applications and uses.

What type of cosmetic changes can they make?

Porcelain veneers are often used to make cosmetic changes for teeth that are chipped, worn, stained, crooked, or discolored. You need to realize, however, that case selection is an extremely important factor associated with predicting the success of this technique. Porcelain veneers cannot be utilized in every situation.

Only your dentist can determine that placing porcelain veneers is an appropriate treatment choice for you. And they can only make this determination after a thorough dental examination.

Even if you find that porcelain veneers are not appropriate for your specific situation, your dentist can most likely suggest other treatment options that can make the type of cosmetic change you are seeking.

a) Porcelain veneers can be used to repair minor tooth imperfections and defects. Teeth that have small chips or whose surface is worn or misshapen are often good candidates for porcelain veneers.

b) Porcelain veneers can be used to cover over and conceal fillings that have become stained or discolored. Old fillings and previous attempts at cosmetic bonding that have become discolored can usually be masked with porcelain veneers.

c) Porcelain veneers can be used to make color changes for teeth that have permanent stains. Some teeth are just naturally discolored. This includes teeth that have tetracycline or fluorosis staining and those that have become darkened as a result of physical trauma or root canal treatment. In many cases these teeth are good candidates for porcelain veneers.

d) In some cases, porcelain veneers can be used as an alternative to orthodontic treatment. Porcelain veneers can be used as way to close the spaces ("tooth gaps") that lie between a person's teeth.

Or, if the misalignment of their teeth is not too excessive, they can sometimes be used to give a person's smile a more even appearance without the use of braces. A Smile Makeover comparing the results obtained with braces vs porcelain veneers.

To get started, make an examination appointment with your dentist.

Before your dentist can begin the process of making porcelain veneers for you they must first document and then evaluate the present condition of your teeth. As a part of this examination your dentist will probably need to take x-rays and possibly even photographs. Your dentist may also need to take dental impressions (dental molds) that they will use to make plaster casts of your mouth.

During the examination appointment you will need to convey to your dentist the types of changes you are seeking. Your dentist in turn will help you understand to what extent the changes you desire are possible.

As a way of communicating with you more precisely, some dentists will remodel the plaster casts they have made of your mouth so they display the shape changes that they anticipate your new veneers will be able to make. Other dentists will use a computer imaging system to help them communicate with you. These systems allow the dentist to illustrate right onscreen how they anticipate your new porcelain veneers will transform the appearance of your smile.