What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front and top surfaces of the teeth. They are an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility.

With veneers as an alternative, there is no reason to put up with gaps between your teeth, teeth that are stained, badly shaped, or crooked.

Will They Look Like Normal Teeth?

When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are virtually undetectable and highly resistant to coffee, tea, or even cigarette stains. Because they are thin, light can shine through them and they take on the natural colour of the underlying tooth.

How Durable Are Porcelain Veneers?

With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for over a decade. 
HBDS strives to ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelain and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available.

The Procedure

This procedure will require three appointments:

You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. Your dentist will discuss all aspects of the procedure with you in detail. Together you can discuss your expectations and help plan your new smile.

Preparation

TThe second appointment will take one to two hours. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are lightly shaped to allow for the added thickness. Approximately half a millimetre of tooth is removed. This may require some local anaesthetic.

Then a mould is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for fabrication. In some cases, temporary veneer will be placed at this time. The permanent veneer usually takes one to two weeks to be ready.

Bonding

At the time of your third appointment, the veneers are first placed on your teeth with water or glycerine to check the fit and colour. At this point, the laboratory technician can still adjust the colour and shape of the veneer. Once the colour is determined and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleaned with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement. This appointment takes approximately one to two hours.

Maintenance of Your New Veneers

Brush and floss as you normally would. Don’t be afraid that you will damage your veneers by doing so. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best aesthetic success of your veneer.

You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneer. This is due to the amount of enamel left on the tooth after preparation. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate in one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists, please call the office.

If you are a known clincher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. We may recommend a night guard for you to wear to minimize stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.

We hope that your new veneers fulfil your aesthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come!

White fillings