Porcelain Veneers - What to Expect Before, During, or After Treatment

Porcelain veneers are a great way to make your smile look absolutely beautiful, even if you have always had less than perfect teeth. But any type of dental procedure can be a bit scary to go into if you have no idea what to expect. Here is what you should expect before, during, and after getting porcelain veneers.

The first thing you will need to do is schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist so your teeth can be assessed. During this initial consultation, he or she will explain to you what will happen during the dental procedure and exactly what needs to be done in order to make your teeth look the way you want them to. You will also be shown pictures of what your teeth will look like after the procedure, thanks to cosmetic dental imaging.

Once you have settled on what will be done with your cosmetic dentist, you will have another appointment in which your teeth are readied for the porcelain veneers. The teeth that are going to have veneers on them must be filed down a bit so they still look natural after the procedure. Once your teeth have been filed down to the correct dimensions, a mold will be made of your teeth so that your cosmetic dentist can create the perfect porcelain veneers. Once this mold is made, your dentist may fit you with temporary veneers to use until your permanent veneers come in. On the third visit, you will actually be fitted with the custom veneers, and the dentist will make sure that the color and the alignment is correct. The veneers will then be bonded to your teeth using a mixture of dental cement that sets with a special light.

Once your dental procedure is complete, you will most likely not have to visit your cosmetic dentist again for your veneers. Porcelain veneers can last for a very long time, especially if you take proper care of your teeth. They have been known to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, or even longer if you follow proper dental hygiene. Veneers can be cleaned just like normal teeth and have the benefit of being just as strong as your natural teeth.

For further information about veneer placement, contact our Loudoun County cosmetic dentistry center.