Porcelain Veneers in Calgary
At Inglewood Family Dental, we focus on helping you achieve the white and luminous smile of your dreams while taking into consideration the impact that dental restorations can have on your natural tooth structure. For patients who wish to enhance or change the look of already healthy teeth, porcelain veneers are an excellent option to consider.
Porcelain veneers, often called dental veneers or dental porcelain laminates, are designed to improve the appearance of your front teeth and brighten your smile. In many cases, porcelain veneers are a less intrusive option to traditional crowns or braces. In addition to restoring the bright smile to our teeth they can often help with small gaps in teeth or small fractures and chips. Porcelain veneers are a long term cosmetic option and our dentists are happy to discuss this option with you.
What are Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are an ultra-thin piece of porcelain that is bonded to the surface of your tooth in order to create a natural looking appearance. In doing so, a porcelain veneer also provides strength for the tooth, similar to natural tooth enamel. They are most commonly used to treat tooth discoloration, uneven tooth alignment or spacing, and small chips or cracks in the tooth. Unlike crowns, veneers are placed directly onto the tooth surface, without the need to remove and destroy the enamel as with crowns. Veneers are a long term treatment for your teeth.
Why Do You Need Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are considered cosmetic dentistry and getting veneers is something that is a very personal and individualized way to help improve a smile. Veneers can help eliminate tooth discoloration that bleaching may not have previously helped. They can help fix minor issues such as small gaps or crooked teeth that are typically treated with braces. In some cases, veneers can help with enamel erosion and abrasion, as the veneer covers the surface of the tooth, providing a bit more stability where the damaged enamel may be failing. Veneers can also change the size, shape and length of your natural teeth.
What is the Procedure for Porcelain Veneers?
The procedure for porcelain veneers in Calgary typically requires three appointments. The initial appointment with the dentist will go over what you are trying to accomplish with the veneers and a treatment plan is created. The second appointment begins with a cleaning and the dentist determining the correct shade for the veneer. A small amount of the enamel is removed in order to adhere the veneer in place. An impression of the tooth is made and sent to the laboratory in order to make the veneer. A temporary veneer is put in place until the final veneer is created.
At the third appoint, the temporary veneer is removed, and the tooth is cleaned once again. The veneer is etched and then rinsed with water and allowed to air dry before the cement and veneer is placed on the tooth. The veneer is then light cured for 60 seconds before the dentist removes any excess material and polishes the veneer.
Are There Risks Associated with Porcelain Veneers?
While porcelain veneers are a minimally invasive procedure, some minor risks are possible but are generally easy to address. Because veneers require the removal of some of the natural tooth enamel, patients may experience minor sensitivity to hot and cold. Because veneers are a very thin layer of porcelain, they can become worn down, chipped or cracked. Minor chips or problems can be fixed with a dental bonding material, but major cracks or chips may require a new veneer or crown. In rare cases, veneers refuse to correctly bond to the tooth, resulting in them falling off. Gum shrinkage, which occurs naturally as you age, can reveal the margins of the veneer over time. When this occurs, many patients opt to have the veneers replaced in order to match the gum line again.
Veneers are placed on the teeth to match the color of surrounding teeth. If you want to whiten all of your smile, consider bleaching before having a veneer put in place as a veneer will not change during teeth whitening or bleaching.
Caring for Your Veneers
Because porcelain veneers are just a thin layer of porcelain, care must be taken to keep them in optimal condition. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits are a must. Your dentist may advise against eating hard objects, such as candies or carrots, as they can cause the veneers to chip or crack. If you tend to grind your teeth at night, your dentist may suggest a mouth guard to reduce the risk of damage to the veneers.
If you want to improve the look of your smile and are interested in learning more information on porcelain veneers in Calgary, give our office a call today to set up an initial consultation.
Porcelain Veneers are a great option for patients who would like to change the look of their smile completely or simply make small adjustments to the look of their smile—the options are endless! The best way to find out if our Veneers are right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh at Inglewood Family Dental!
Call us at (403) 265-5888 to request your consultation at Inglewood Family Dental today!
FAQ About Porcelain Veneers
Do Porcelain Veneers Ruin Your Teeth?
Veneers do not ruin your teeth. They are not made out of enamel like your natural teeth. They are also personally made to fit over your natural teeth which is known for enhancing their appearance. It is possible for veneers to do more than your natural teeth by resisting staining or damaging. When veneers are placed on your teeth a composite resin is used that hardens under a light. Once they are properly bonded, they are polished and shaped.
How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?
At Inglewood Family Dental, we offer several flexible financing options to help patients afford the dental treatments they need. If you are on a budget, we can work with you to help you get the smile of your dreams without worrying about the cost. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (403) 265-5888.
