Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, red wine or even cigarette smoking.
Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by us. Veneers are usually irreversible because it is often necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from the outer surface of your teeth to accommodate the shell. The amount that is removed is about the thickness of a finger nail.
Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.
Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: consultation and treatment planning, preparation and final delivery of the veneers .
During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.
During the final “bonding” visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerin on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.
It is important to brush and floss daily just like natural teeth. After one or two weeks, we have you return for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are fabulous. I can promise you will love them. Having a beautiful smile is an investment in yourself!! I have never had anyone regret their porcelain veneers. In fact, having a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers has literally changed peoples lives!!! You can talk to some our patients that have veneers and learn how their lives have changed.
Take a look at these two videos: 
http://youtu.be/C-bjeZnilFs
Darren Chu D.D.S.
Smile Gallery of Before and After Photos
