Porcelain Veneers

PLACING DENTAL VENEERS

Each patient’s situation is unique – some may need many porcelain veneers and some may need only a few, for example. Your first step toward cosmetic enhancement with porcelain dental veneers is to meet with Dr. Gray or Dr. Hurtado in their San Diego area office and discuss your goals for treatment. At this time, your dentist will provide you with a full consultation about the porcelain veneers procedure and determine what you can expect from treatment.

During your second office visit, your teeth will be prepared for your dental veneers. By lightly buffing the front surface of your teeth, your dentist will remove approximately one-half-millimeter layer of enamel from the front of your teeth. The wafer-thin porcelain veneers will eventually be set in place of this enamel. A mold is then taken of your teeth. From this mold, each tooth veneer will be custom made to fit the tooth and complement your smile.

The porcelain veneers are then placed on your teeth in your third, and final, office visit. At this time, Dr. Gray will be able to precisely match the color of your dental veneers to your surrounding teeth. After the fit and color of your dental veneers are ensured to be to your liking, the adhesive is hardened using a special light. You then have a bright, long-lasing smile with your new porcelain veneers.

What will my porcelain veneers look like?

The glass-like ceramic that forms a porcelain tooth veneer closely resembles natural tooth enamel. This is because, much like real tooth enamel, a porcelain tooth veneer is translucent. When light strikes a natural tooth’s surface, it is not immediately reflected off. Instead, it penetrates the tooth enamel and reflects off the opaque tooth dentin that lies just beneath. This translucent effect is what gives teeth their luster. By replicating this, porcelain dental veneers provide patients with bright, natural looking smiles.

Of course, the look of your porcelain veneers is heavily dependent on the expertise of both the cosmetic dentist and the ceramist involved.

A porcelain tooth veneer can also cover and repair a cracked and chipped tooth. Because porcelain veneers are custom made and fitted to your teeth by your dentist, you can customize and improve much more than just the color of your teeth. Crooked and chipped teeth can have their appearances improved to give you a beautiful new smile.

How long do porcelain dental veneers last?

When placed by a skilled cosmetic dentist like Dr. Gray, porcelain veneers can last for many years. Of course, they require good dental hygiene as do normal teeth to keep them looking and functioning their best.

How much do porcelain veneers cost?

The cost of porcelain veneers depends on the number of teeth being treated. When considering the cost of porcelain veneers, you must take into account their longevity and attractiveness. Porcelain veneers are long lasting alternatives to other treatments that cost less but must be repaired more often and lose their cosmetic appeal more quickly.