It's important to have a smile that makes you feel confident. It's not vanity; it's actually a vital part of a person's well-being. In fact, scientific studies have shown that people with missing or abnormal teeth are negatively impacted and experience a loss of self-confidence. Fortunately, getting a porcelain veneer treatment can solve many of the problems associated with bad teeth. Here's how the process works.

Trimming

Porcelain veneers can be used to treat a single tooth or multiple teeth. The first step in the process is trimming the existing tooth since veneers are most often used with problems like broken, discolored, chipped, or abnormal teeth. The tooth is trimmed so that the veneer, a thin sliver of porcelain material, can adhere to the existing tooth without dramatically altering the tooth's thickness. However, because the best material for adhesion to the veneer is dental enamel, the dentist must trim carefully to avoid the dentin unless there is no other option. This allows for more secure bonding. The average trim amount is about 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters.

Matching

The second step in the process is picking the right type of porcelain based on the shade of your teeth. The dentist needs to match the shade to the surrounding teeth. However, since not everyone's teeth are the same color throughout their mouth, it can be a tricky process.

Dental Impression

The next step is taking an impression of your teeth and gums once the trimming has been completed using a tray and dental putty so that the correct veneer size can be fabricated. The dentist may need to use a retraction cord when taking the impression to move your gums away from the teeth. Some dentists may have a dental milling machine that can take an optical impression of your tooth without the need of a tray and putty. If the dentist can fabricate his or her own veneers in-house, the entire process can be completed in one visit. If not, it may require a two-step process so that the veneers can be fabricated. The dentist may place temporary veneers until the permanent veneers can be placed.

Cementing

The final step in the process is cementing the veneers into place. First, the dentist will trim, test, and fit the veneers using a trial paste. Finally, the tooth is etched for secure bonding. Finally, the veneer is bonded permanently with a dental bonding agent and cement and then cured with a curing light that acts as a catalyst between the bonding agent and cement.