Porcelain veneers are thin shells designed to imitate the color and strength of tooth enamel. They are ideal if you want to make small changes to the cosmetic appearance of your teeth by fixing chips or cracks, or by closing gaps between teeth. They are also helpful for getting rid of discoloration that has been resistant to typical whitening or bleaching techniques. In fact, porcelain veneers are made to repel stains from coffee, tea, or cigarettes. Unlike the use of crowns, veneers allow your original tooth to stay mostly intact. If you think your smile could benefit from an aesthetic change, talk to your dentist about our porcelain veneers – the best veneers in Orange County.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for porcelain veneers?
Everyone’s smile is different, so it’s important to talk to your dentist about whether or not veneers are a good choice for you. At your consultation, your Orange County dentist will talk with you about what you are looking to achieve with making some cosmetic changes to your smile. Once you are sure that porcelain veneers will give you the smile you want and is the best choice for your teeth, the materials will be made. Your Orange County porcelain veneers will be individually sculpted to fit your smile, which takes up to a week to achieve in the lab.
You might not be a good fit for porcelain veneers if your teeth are in need of drastic changes that cannot be corrected just with veneers. In these cases, a crown that completely covers your entire tooth might be a better choice. Porcelain veneers are also tricky if you grind your teeth often or typically chew on hard objects, like pencils. These actions can cause your veneers to crack and chip, just like regular tooth enamel. For porcelain veneers to be successful, your mouth should be relatively healthy with no gum disease, and you should have enough enamel on the surface of your tooth for the veneer to bond securely. If you are unsure whether or not porcelain veneers are a good fit for you, be sure to contact Park Place Dentistry. Our dental team can help you determine if the best veneers in Orange County are the best choice for your smile.
How are veneers applied?
To apply your porcelain veneers, your dentist first must remove a small amount of your tooth’s enamel. The amount removed will be less than a millimeter and is only done to make room for the veneer and make the finished product look as realistic as possible. A special resin is applied between your tooth and veneer and then hardened using a curing light. This creates a bond so secure that your veneers will be just as strong as your original tooth. If you are interested in speaking with a dentist about receiving Orange County porcelain veneers for your smile, contact our office today.
How do I care for my porcelain veneers?
For the most part, you only need to care for and clean your porcelain veneers like you would your natural teeth. Be sure to brush and floss thoroughly every day. This keeps plaque off of the surface of the veneers, and in turn helps to prevent recessed gums. Your veneers are designed to resist stains, but it is still a good idea to minimize your exposure to things that typically stain teeth, like tobacco, coffee, and others. This will help prevent you from inadvertently staining the adhesive layer of your veneer, which can affect its overall cosmetic look. Your dentist might have specific instructions about what you should avoid.
While your veneers are durable, you should still avoid using your teeth to open things like food bags. You should also avoid biting your nails or chewing ice. Activities such as this put unnecessary force on your veneer that it is not built for, and can lead to cracking or breaking of its surface. If you regularly play sports, or if you grind your teeth at night, your dentist might suggest that you wear a mouth guard or a night guard.
Make sure to visit your dentist for regular maintenance. For porcelain veneers in Orange County, your dentist might want to regularly polish your veneers with a special nonabrasive paste at visits.
If you are unsure whether or not porcelain veneers are right for you or will help improve your smile, be sure to contact our office. We can set you up with a consultation that will help you and our dentist determine what is best for your smile.