One of the most common questions we are asked at Stonebrook Family Dental is whether or not a patient needs porcelain veneers or braces. They are both very different alternatives and each are recommended for varying needs and wants. Porcelain veneers are often referred to as “instant orthodontics”. They offer the patient a straight, beautiful smile in much less time than traditional orthodontic treatment. Individually-sculpted and customized for each patient, veneers give the appearance of your natural teeth. Unlike natural teeth, the high-tech materials prevent staining. A smile consultation with one of our Aurora, Colorado, team members can help you determine if porcelain veneers are right for you.
Porcelain veneers are a very thin covering over the front of your tooth. This thin piece of porcelain is custom-made and designed specifically for your mouth and bonded into place. Porcelain veneers fall into the category of “cosmetic dentistry”. There are various types of dentistry such as restorative dentistry, preventive dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. Preventative dentistry seeks to prevent cavities or gum disease from forming. These are services such as comprehensive examinations and dental cleanings. Restorative dentistry seeks to fix something that has decayed or become broken. Performing a root canal on a decayed tooth or removing a cavity are services under “restorative dentistry”.
Cosmetic dentistry seeks to improve your appearance. These services include dental implants, cosmetic bonding, dental botox, dental bridges, porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry options. You may have heard of these before because they are so popular amongst celebrities. Actors and musicians such as Tom Cruise and Mylie Cyrus wear porcelain veneers to give themselves a perfect smile. With veneers, you can turn a lack-luster smile into something dazzling white and beautiful. Porcelain veneers are known as “instant orthodontics” because they can take a crooked smile (or one with chipped or broken teeth), and make that smile beautiful.
Veneers work to change the appearance of your teeth and are generally applied on all the front teeth that you can see. Dental crowns cover your entire tooth. However, a porcelain veneer only covers the front part of your tooth. Think of it as a permanent mask for your tooth. When you come in for your first appointment, we will prepare your teeth for dental veneers. At this appointment, we take impressions of your teeth so that we can have an accurate measure of each individual tooth. We also send these impressions of your teeth to a special lab where porcelain shells for your teeth will be custom-made.
We make each individual porcelain veneer in the lab. Receiving porcelain veneers takes 2 office visits for the full treatment. In your first visit, we take off a very small layer of your tooth enamel and provide you with temporary tooth coverings. At your second visit, we will remove the temporary coverings. We will take each customized veneer and bond it to each tooth with cement bonding we make in-office. We have a special light to quickly and painlessly harden and seal your veneers. Your veneers are permanently set in place before you walk out of our office. You can even eat, drink, and continue with your normal habits as soon as you leave our office. It’s a simple process that provides you with a surprising amount of benefits!
Having a beautiful smile doesn’t need to take months or years of your life to achieve. Veneers are easy to receive and will last you many years. They offer your teeth added strength and durability that is comparable to the enamel of your natural teeth. Plus, the social and aesthetic benefits are well worth their weight in gold. To receive your beautiful smile today, call Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907!