Facts
about Dental Porcelain Veneers
Dental porcelain veneers, usually fabricated from porcelain,
are a thin, semi-translucent "shell," custom made
to fit precisely over an existing tooth. They are permanently
bonded, held in place by a special resin which adheres the
back of the veneer to the front of the tooth. The finished
result is extremely strong and durable. Though dental porcelain
veneers are not suitable for every patient, they are a cosmetic
alternative for a variety of dental conditions affecting the
front teeth.
· Porcelain Veneers close
spaces between the teeth
· Porcelain Veneers restore broken
or chipped teeth
· Porcelain Veneers cover unsightly,
stained or washed out fillings
· Porcelain Veneers whiten permanently
stained or discolored teeth
· Porcelain Veneers correct uneven
or crooked teeth
Advantages
and Benefits of Veneers
When your smile is disfigured by decay, abrasion, chipping,
breakage or imperfect development, our goal is to restore
its natural beauty, so you can smile with confidence. At one
time, tooth colored bonding or porcelain crowns were used
to treat these types of conditions. Tooth colored bonding
does last and is weak. Porcelain crowns require too much tooth
structure to be ground down. So today fortunately, a third,
more conservative alternative is available. Conservative,
tooth saving porcelain veneers!
There are many benefits and advantages to having porcelain
veneers applied to your front teeth. These may include any
or all of the following considerations:
· Only a small amount of natural tooth structure (if
any) is removed during the procedure.
· A healthy, natural look is achieved with little or
no discomfort.
· Veneers are often less expensive than alternative
procedures.
· Veneers are strong, durable and color-stable.
 
Before
After
How
Are Veneers Different From Fillings or Crowns?
A tooth-colored bonded filling is used when only a small amount
of tooth structure needs replacing or repair. A full crown
is indicated when a tooth has had root canal treatment or
when a substantial amount of the entire tooth structure (enamel)
has been lost. San Diego Cosmetic dentist, Dr. Eshom, doesn’t
do very many crown in his office because he like to preserve
as much tooth structure as possible by doing veneers and bonding
to enhance his patients smiles. A porcelain veneer is indicated
when a portion of the front surface of a tooth needs a "face
lift."
 
How
Are Porcelain Veneers Created?
Similar to a resin bonding procedure, veneers are attached
directly to the existing tooth structure. We take an impression
of your tooth to make an exact replica. During your appointment,
we treat your tooth with a mild conditioning solution. Before
the veneer is placed, we apply a tooth-colored liquid bonding
material, which helps the veneer adhere to your natural teeth.
What
Can You Expect from Your Veneers?
Veneers can last for years, depending on how well you take
care of them. Because veneers are stronger than simple bonding,
they are also more resistant to stains and chipping. However,
it is important to maintain regular oral hygiene, to avoid
bad habits such as biting nails or chewing ice and to visit
us regularly for routine cleaning and exams. These precautions
will help ensure that your veneers will last a long time and
keep looking as good as new. The decision to enhance your
smile with porcelain veneers is a personal one. Even a subtle
change in your smile can make an exceptional difference in
the way you look and feel and on your social outlook. There's
no question that a beautiful smile goes a long way toward
improving your self confidence in both personal and professional
circles.
HOW DENTAL PORCELAIN VENEERS
WORK
If San Diego cosmetic dentist, Dr. David Eshom,
determines that you are a good candidate for dental veneers,
they are probably the most aesthetically pleasing restorative
option to improve your smile. Dental veneers are ultra-thin,
custom-made laminates that are permanently bonded directly
to your teeth. They have become increasingly popular and are
a great durable option for changing the size, shape, position,
and color of teeth. I placed my first dental veneers in 1986
on Karen, my wife of 25 years, and they are still working
perfectly and looking gorgeous.
Porcelain veneers are used to close gaps, straighten teeth,
replace worn edges, or resurface discolored teeth (usually
brown, orange, or black) that for various reasons did not
get white enough with tooth whitening procedures. The best
candidates for porcelain veneers are people whose teeth are
healthy and free of decay and periodontal disease. However,
cavities or tooth decay can often be repaired at the time
of dental veneer preparation. If your front teeth are chipped
or crooked or if you have a gap that is beyond what conventional
bonding can cover, then dental veneers might be your best
option. Unlike a crown, which covers the entire tooth, a porcelain
veneer covers mainly the visible front part of the tooth and
slightly wraps over the biting edge. This makes porcelain
veneers a conservative option. There are two types of dental
veneers: porcelain (sometimes called laminates) and composite
(plastic/resin) dental veneers.
A tooth prepared for a porcelain veneer is
shown on a model from front and back.
A porcelain veneer is about as thin as a fingernail.
Notice that the back of the tooth is almost untouched because
the porcelain veneer mostly covers the front of the tooth
and only needs to lap over the edge slightly.
Before Porcelain Veneers
|
The porcelain veneers fitted |
This patient wore orthodontic braces to
straighten his teeth but had worn his front teeth so much
pre-braces that porcelain veneers were used to finish his
smile after the braces. Notice the use of translucency and
anatomically correct contours which make the porcelain veneer
teeth look identical to natural teeth.
This patient had old dental bonding and
a worn smile. Porcelain veneers restored her teeth to the
natural length and color after teeth whitening. Notice the
beautiful porcelain match to her existing teeth the natural
translucency and that Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Eshom and the patient
intentionally left one tooth longer than the other to give
it an even more natural appearance.
Porcelain veneers are extremely thin tooth
coverings made of durable dental ceramic. They cover only
the visible part or front part of the tooth, hence the name
“veneers.” At the first visit you and your San
Diego cosmetic dentists, Dr. David Eshom select a smile style
and color. We ask patients to bring in pictures from magazines
to our cosmetic dental practice or we can select a style from
my book or styles of other patient’s porcelain veneer
treatment done by Dr. Eshom. San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, Dr.
Eshom has a complete reference to different smiles treated
with porcelain veneers where he has treated 1 tooth with a
porcelain veneer, 2 teeth with porcelain veneers, 4 teeth
with porcelain veneers all the way up to 28 teeth treated
with porcelain veneers. There is a 100% chance that cosmetic
dentist, Dr. David Eshom can show you a case of porcelain
veneers that corrects or improves a smile problem just like
yours from patients he has treated with porcelain veneers.
Dr. Eshom suggests that patients insist on seeing a porcelain
veneer case just like theirs before choosing to be treated
by a San Diego cosmetic dentist.
DR.
ESHOM’S SMILE GUIDELINES FOR DENTAL PORCELAIN VENEERS
For color, my preference is either to select
a shade that matches the existing color of your teeth or to
bleach, tooth whiten, the rest of the teeth first and then
match the new, whiter color with porcelain veneers. Sometimes
patients want their new dental veneers slightly lighter than
their existing color.
Cosmetic Dentist Tip:
If you are going to whiten your teeth, it is important to
do it before you get dental veneers, so the new color of the
dental veneer can match the new color of the teeth.
To make sure you know exactly what dental
veneer length and shape you are getting, I then use composite
resin to make a ‘mock-up” of the selected dental
veneer smile style, directly on your teeth. Because anesthesia
is usually not needed at this stage, we can see how the lips
will naturally rest on the new dental veneer smile. Once the
shape is perfected, an impression is made to be used as a
“blue print” for the temporary porcelain veneers
and as a guide for the cosmetic dental lab to copy.
Next, cosmetic dentist, Dr. David Eshom prepares
your teeth by removing about 0.5 to 1 millimeter of enamel—about
the thickness of your fingernail—from the front and
sides so the porcelain veneer won’t make the tooth look
too big or bulky once it’s attached. Cosmetic dentist,
Dr. Eshom then makes an impression of the “contoured”
teeth to be used as a guide to making your dental veneers
in the cosmetic dental laboratory. Then your cosmetic dentist,
Dr. Eshom puts temporary dental veneers on your teeth so you
do not have to walk around with unsightly teeth. These are
made from the “blue print” of your previously
approved mock-up.
Before Dental Veneers |
Temporary Veneers |
Before Dental Veneers |
Temporary Veneers |
Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Eshom likes to make the dental veneer
temporaries look as close to the final veneers as possible.
This is like a “trial smile” giving you a preview
of the final product. Well-made dental veneer temporaries
may be indistinguishable from the final porcelain veneers
for most people. In fact, I have had CEOs for Fortune 500
companies wearing temporary dental crowns or dental veneers
and give speeches on television. To my delight, even on the
television, no one would know but me.
If alterations are made to the original mock-up,
a second model of the new shape is then sent to the lab as
a guide to copy. Cosmetic dentist, Dr. Eshom says:
if you do not like your temporary dental veneers, do not keep
it a secret—tell us so they are not copied
for the permanent porcelain veneers. While the temporary dental
veneers look beautiful, they are not as strong as the final
porcelain veneers, so you will have to restrict your diet
to soft foods, and because they are all connected, flossing
these temporary teeth will be impossible and not advised.
The final porcelain veneers, of course, will all be separate,
individual teeth.
Our cosmetic dental lab takes one to three
weeks to fabricate the final porcelain veneers. In special
circumstances, we can rush your porcelain veneer case in one
to three days, but this usually increases the cosmetic dentistry
fees.
When you return to your San Diego Cosmetic
dentist for your second porcelain veneer visit, Dr. Eshom
places the final porcelain veneers on your teeth to check
the fit, size, shape, and color—and to make sure you
approve of your new smile. If adjustments are needed, they
are made at this time. Then the porcelain veneers are permanently
bonded to the teeth with resin cement.
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