Dental & Porcelain Veneers in Lewiston ME

White, straight, even teeth are one of the first things many people notice about people in film, on television, and in magazines. But does this mean that all those people who appear in front of cameras just had the good fortune to be born with a white, straight set of teeth?

Most of the time, the answer to this question is “No.” And that means that these people have gone to a professional to have various dental techniques applied to get those brilliant, perfect smiles.  One of those techniques is known as a dental veneer.

A Lewiston ME dental veneer, as the name implies, is a thin “shell” that is designed to cover your teeth. They provide a brighter, cleaner, more uniform shape, color, and overall appearance. Veneers are affixed to your teeth to provide consistent color, hide cracks or chips, and provide even, symmetrical lines to eliminate jagged smiles.

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Dental Veneers For Chipped Or Broken Teeth in Lewiston ME

A veneer is a customized procedure based on an examination of measurement of your mouth and teeth to ensure a comfortable, natural fit. Made from either porcelain or a resin composite material, thin-shelled dental veneers are used to repair chipped, broken, and under-sized teeth. The dental veneer is permanently bonded into place. It’s thin in places and thicker in others, the latter wherever the tooth needs more structural support.

First, your Aspire Family Dentistry dentist will remove only the tooth enamel that’s necessary, then makes an impression of the tooth from which the veneer will be made.

Once ready, the veneer will be placed on the tooth by first etching the surface, then using liquid to make it more rough. Next, the dentist uses a very specialized cement to the tooth and the veneer, and a special light is used to harden the cement.

While some patients get only one veneer, others get multiples to create a straight line of teeth. Whatever the case for you, dental veneers will greatly contribute to your overall dental health and that sweet smile of yours.

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Dental Veneers Vs. Tooth Implants Or Crowns

What’s the difference between dental veneers and other cosmetic dentistry procedures like tooth implants or crowns?

Dental veneers only cover the front of the tooth while implants stand in for the whole tooth. Crowns encase the tooth, which now serves as a platform for the crown. Meanwhile, dental veneers, like we said, only covers the front of the tooth–the part that everyone can see when you smile, which we hope you do a lot!

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Benefits Of Dental Veneers

Considering their cost and time spent receiving treatment, dental veneers are a definite value when it comes to making your smile just the way you want it.

Uses For Dental Veneers Include:

• Gaps Between Teeth
• Chipped, Broken Teeth
• Pointed, Unusually Shaped Teeth
• Small Teeth
• Serious Discoloration

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Porcelain Dental Veneers

Porcelain veneers take more time to apply, which may necessitate more than one visit. This artificial material most closely resembles the natural enamel of real teeth, in both texture and the way it reflects light. Because this is a more complicated, comprehensive procedure, it can take two weeks for a complete veneer application to be completed when choosing porcelain.

However, porcelain is a strong, durable material. Aside from the usual good dental hygiene practices of keeping teeth and gums free of plaque and tartar, with responsible care, you are unlikely to require additional professional maintenance to keep porcelain veneers intact.

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Resin

With this option, the resin is applied directly to the teeth. Because this is a simpler, easier, more pliable material, resin veneers can typically be applied to teeth in a single visit. However, this convenience in time makes resin a more delicate material, more prone to wear and tear.

This means that, in time, resin veneers may require touch-ups from your cosmetic dentist to maintain their appearance. For people that may only be looking for a temporary veneer treatment, this may be one option for the more expensive and permanent porcelain procedure.

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Regardless of which veneer option you choose, a veneer is an optional cosmetic procedure. It is unlikely to be covered by typical dental plans that focus on health and maintenance. If you’d like to know more about veneers and how they can improve your appearance, make an appointment with our team at Aspire Family Dentistry today.