Porcelain veneers are beautiful coverings that are produced in a lab and then placed over chipped or broken teeth. These thin porcelain shells make the tooth look natural and blend in with the other teeth.

Veneers make the affected teeth the same size and shape that a natural tooth would be. Sometimes a patient might need one veneer, while another patient may need 24 veneers. And the results make for natural looking and beautiful smiles; our patients love their smiles after they have had veneers placed on their teeth.

The procedure of applying porcelain veneers involves preparing the teeth to make sure the veneer will fit perfectly in place. Since the veneers are as thin as fingernails, they have to be placed precisely so the tooth will look natural and fit with the rest of the teeth.

In order to do this, we take impressions and images of the affected teeth and send the information to a laboratory to have the veneers made. Once the lab sends them back, usually after a few days, we bond them onto the teeth. Patients are given temporary veneers to wear for the time being. In the second appointment, the veneers are placed onto the teeth using a special bonding agent, which holds the veneers in place. Once placed, the veneer covered teeth will look like the rest of your natural teeth.

Caring for your veneer covered teeth involves being careful in terms of not biting or chewing hard substances, which can chip or break the veneer. You can also brush your teeth as you would normally. Keeping them clean is important. While porcelain veneers are resistant to stains, they can still become discolored if not properly cleaned.

Porcelain veneers, as their name applies, are made of porcelain, which is a substance that the mouth accepts. It is also a material that matches with natural teeth. The shade can be changed to match the patient’s surrounding natural teeth and no one will be able to tell that you have had any work done.

Types Of Porcelain Veneers At Plaza Dental Group

There are two types of porcelain veneers offered at Plaza Dental Group in Des Moines: traditional porcelain veneers and no-prep veneers, often known as “Lumineers.” Both are used to correct problems such as chips, permanently stained or discolored teeth, misaligned teeth, or teeth that need to be changed in shape, size, length, or color.

Traditional porcelain veneers require some of a natural tooth’s structure to be removed in order to bond the veneer over the top. This means that some of the outside enamel is taken off to ensure the veneer can be bonded to the front of the tooth without looking over-sized. If you choose the traditional veneers you must take into consideration that this procedure is typically irreversible because of the enamel removal.

No-prep veneers, such as “Lumineers,” are a type of porcelain veneer that is made even thinner than standard veneers. They are created this way in order to require little, if any, removal of the tooth’s structure to bond into place and cover the natural tooth. These are thin and have less “bulk” than traditional porcelain veneers, allowing them to go over the top of the teeth without requiring lengthy preparation that involves shots and drilling to shave down the natural teeth. Lumineers are reversible because the natural tooth has not been altered.

When you call Plaza Dental Group in Des Moines, Iowa and schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Dietrich, you will be able to find out which type of porcelain veneer is best for your situation, budget, and smile. Together with your dentist, you can make a decision on an investment in yourself and your appearance!