Porcelain Veneers — Crookston, MN
Smile with More Confidence
If a picture paints a thousand words, then your smile should be hanging in a museum! At least that’s the kind of smile you want to have. However, if your smile makes you self-conscious, then you may not be willing to share it. You’re not alone if you refrain from smiling because of imperfections such as chipped, cracked or broken teeth. However, there is a solution that is relatively easy and remarkably effective. With porcelain veneers in Crookston, Dr. Applequist can give you a smile that is truly museum quality.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are hard coverings that are adhesively bonded to the facial side of your smile teeth. They are made of dental porcelain or composite resin material, a hard medical-grade plastic. Both materials provide the translucency you want for a natural-looking finish that reflects light similarly to your real teeth. Moreover, a porcelain veneer can be designed to alter the size, shape or color of a tooth. Each one is individually designed to repair the imperfection of its corresponding tooth. Once the veneers are in place, you have a complete smile that is simply gorgeous.
What’s the Process for Porcelain Veneers?
The road to a more attractive smile begins with a consultation with Dr. Applequist. She'll want to hear about which specific imperfections you want to hide and the overall results you’d like to achieve with porcelain veneers.
Before the procedure, the cosmetic dentist in Crookston will examine your teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy enough to support veneers. Problems such as tooth decay or periodontal disease will need to be addressed before we begin treatment.
Once cleared, you’re only two appointments away from having your new smile. At the first visit, your teeth are prepped. This involves removing a scant amount of enamel coating in order to ensure that your veneers fit properly against each tooth. In addition, this process makes the surface of teeth slightly rough, which helps the adhesive material bond more securely to the tooth.
Once the teeth are etched, temporary veneers are applied. Made of acrylic, these are not as strong as porcelain but they do a good job of protecting your altered teeth. In addition, they give you a couple of weeks to get accustomed to how veneers feel before the permanent ones are bonded to your teeth.
Once in place, your custom crafted porcelain veneers will give you years of pleasure. Be sure to brush and floss everyday to keep your smile clean and to ensure the health of teeth hiding behind your veneers.
To find out if porcelain veneers are right for your smile, contact Renu Dental today to schedule a consultation.
Veneers FAQs
Are Veneers Permanent?
Though veneers aren’t technically permanent since they’ll eventually need to be replaced, the procedure itself is considered irreversible. This is because in order to ensure that your veneers fit properly, small amounts of enamel must be filed away and will never grow back.
For this reason, teeth that have been prepared for veneers will always need to be covered by veneers or crowns.
What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?
Veneers themselves will not harm your teeth, and only a minimal amount of enamel needs to be removed to attach them. Furthermore, the bonding material used to attach the restoration is completely safe for your teeth and mouth.
Because your enamel will be covered by the veneer, this procedure will not increase your risk of developing cavities. However, you still do need to brush and floss your teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay from occurring underneath your veneers.
You can protect your teeth and veneers by brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and limiting the amount of sugar you consume. Furthermore, be sure to continue your regular, biannual exam and checkup appointments with Renu Dental.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?
While you’re wearing your temporary veneers in the weeks before your permanent ones are made, you should avoid hard foods like ice, raw fruits and vegetables, and hard candies, as these could break your restorations.
Sticky foods like taffy or caramels can also pull your temporary veneers off your teeth.
Temporary veneers can also stain more easily, so be careful when consuming darkly pigmented foods and beverages.
Once your permanent veneers are in place, you can once again enjoy most foods but try to avoid extremely hard or crunchy foods and dark, staining beverages.
Should you experience any tooth sensitivity, avoid consuming anything hot or cold.
Drink alcohol sparingly, as it can weaken the bonding material that holds your veneers in place.
How Many Veneers Will I Need?
The goal of your new veneers is for all your visible teeth to match perfectly. Therefore, you’ll receive an appropriate number of veneers to achieve that goal.
Many people choose six to eight veneers to create beautiful, symmetrical smile. However, in some cases you may need as many as ten or twelve.
In some situations, you may only need one veneer to cover a cracked or broken tooth, or you may choose two to ensure that a repaired tooth matches its neighbor identically.