Dental veneers, porcelain laminates or dental porcelain laminates are wafer-thin shells of tooth-colored materials made to cover the front surface of teeth. They are usually made from a composite resin and come in various colors. Dentist Macquarie Park suggests dental veneers as one of the best treatments to improve your teeth’ color, length, shape, and size.  

You require dental veneers if:

The main goal of using dental veneers is to create an attractive smile and boost your self-confidence by hiding flaws associated with your teeth. It is the perfect solution for anyone who wants a beautiful smile without undergoing extensive types of cosmetic dentistry treatments like teeth whitening, bonding, veneers or crowns. 

Dental veneers may be right for you if you have teeth that are severely decayed, chipped, stained, or slightly misaligned. They can also be combined with orthodontics to protect the tooth enamel when exposed to a significant overbite or open bite. 

What should I expect during dental veneers?

Here is what to expect:

At first, your dentist will prepare your teeth and gums for placement of dental veneers by extracting a small amount of tooth enamel and then taking an impression (mould) of your teeth. Next, this mould is sent to a lab where technicians make custom-made porcelain shells to fit your teeth.  

After this step is completed, your dentist will attach the veneers to your teeth and adjust them until you are delighted with the colour and appearance of your new smile. Then, you will schedule a final visit for permanent veneers where your dentist will make any last-minute adjustments before permanently attaching them to your existing teeth. 

You may be required to change certain aspects of your lifestyle during dental veneers treatment, such as: 

You should avoid chewing on hard or sticky foods that can crack or chip the new surfaces of crowns and veneers while they’re still in their initial attachment phase, which usually takes up to three months after placement. Instead, treat them like natural tooth enamel; you should not use sharp objects to cut them and not chew on hard food items. 

It would be best to carefully brush your teeth during the initial attachment phase because you may damage the veneer due to its thinness. You should brush gently, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid whitening toothpaste containing alcohol, reducing the bond between your natural tooth enamel and porcelain veneers. Use a fluoride rinse instead of mouthwash for this initial period until the dental veneers are firmly attached to your teeth. 

You must take care while using a whitening strip or tray, which can dislodge temporary crowns and scratch the surface of the Dental Veneers during this early period. 

If you take proper care of your dental veneers, they should last for many years without chipping or cracking. During this time, what you eat will not affect them because it’s just like regular tooth enamel. Therefore, you may still enjoy the same foods as before and practice all normal daily activities such as drinking coffee or tea, eating ice cream or crunchy snacks, flossing and brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. 

You must consider some cases where veneers can chip or break when drinking from a glass with a straw, so if possible, drink from anything else except for drinking glasses or plastic cups when using dental veneers. 

What must you know before getting dental veneers?

What should I expect during dental veneers? You may be required to change certain aspects of your lifestyle during dental veneer treatment, such as avoiding chewing on hard or sticky foods that can chip the new surfaces, so you should not use whitening toothpaste that contains alcohol which can reduce the bond between your natural tooth enamel and porcelain veneers.

In addition, you must consider some cases where veneers can chip or break when drinking from a glass with a straw, so if possible, drink from anything else except for drinking glasses or plastic cups when using dental veneers. 

What should I do during dental veneer treatment?

It would help if you also were careful when brushing your teeth during the initial attachment phase because you may damage the veneer due to its thinness. You should brush gently, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and avoid whitening toothpaste containing alcohol, reducing the bond between your natural tooth enamel and porcelain veneers. Use a fluoride rinse instead of mouthwash for this initial period until the dental veneers are firmly attached to your teeth. 

What should I do after dental veneer treatment?

It would help if you also took care while using a whitening strip or tray, which can dislodge temporary crowns and scratch the surface of the Dental Veneers during this early period. You may still enjoy the same foods as before and practice all normal daily activities such as drinking coffee or tea, eating ice cream or crunchy snacks, flossing and brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. 

Once you’re ready to get your veneers, visit this dentist who does veneers, fillings, and dental implants in Colorado Springs to get started.