The Dental Veneers Process

The process of getting dental veneers begins with deciding your desired outcome and reason for wanting dental veneers. Do you have one or two teeth that are damaged or oddly shaped? If so, you may be able to improve your smile with just one or two dental veneers. Are you unhappy with your smile and feel that all your teeth are too small, too large, or crooked? You may instead want a full smile makeover with dental veneers to create the smile you have always wanted but never had.

Types of Dental Veneers

Once you have decided your desired outcome and discussed your goals with your cosmetic dentist, she will prepare your teeth for impressions. Depending on the type of dental veneers you choose to receive, your cosmetic dentist may need to remove a thin layer of the enamel from your teeth to prepare them. The three types of dental veneers you may choose to receive are:

Custom porcelain veneers Resin composite veneers Lumineers

Custom porcelain veneers are often more expensive than the other types of dental veneers and require tooth preparation, but are also fully customizable and therefore usually look the most like natural teeth. Because resin veneers and Lumineers require less tooth preparation, they are easier to remove or replace if they are damaged. Each type of dental veneer has a different expected longevity, so you should consult your cosmetic dentist about which dental veneer is most likely to suit your lifestyle and fulfill your expectations.

Creating your Dental Veneers

Once your teeth are prepared, an impression is taken and sent to a dental laboratory where your dental veneers will be created from the mold. Most dental veneers require about two weeks to be made. While you are waiting for your permanent dental veneers to arrive at the dentist's office, you will have a set of temporary dental veneers to protect your prepared teeth from damage or wear.

When your permanent dental veneers have been received back at the office, your temporaries will be removed and the permanent veneers temporarily affixed to your teeth to check their fit and shape. Once the appearance and fit of your dental veneers has been checked, they will then be permanently bonded to your teeth and polished, and your dental veneers process will be complete.