3 Dental Imperfections That Can Be Corrected Using Porcelain Veneers

If you are looking for a way to transform the appearance of your teeth, porcelain veneers may be able to help. Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain material that are bonded to the front of the teeth to hide or conceal cosmetic imperfections. Here are a few types of dental blemishes that can be corrected by porcelain veneers:

Teeth That Are Cracked

Sometimes biting down on a hard object, such as hard candy, can result in a dental crack or fissure in a tooth. Although some cracks are not deep enough to cause a problem with the health of a tooth, they can still be unsightly. As you eat and drink, dyes and colorants within the food and beverages can settle in a crack and make it more noticeable.

A porcelain veneer can be applied to the front of a cracked tooth to make it appear uniform and healthy. The color of the porcelain veneer can be matched to that of the other teeth, so that once the veneer is in place, the damage to the tooth is undetectable.

In addition to beautifying a cracked tooth, the porcelain veneer also provides support to the tooth to prevent the compromise of the tooth structure during chewing and biting. If the crack of a tooth worsens, it can extend through the dental root. If this happens, the tooth cannot be salvaged.

Teeth That are Chipped

Teeth that are chipped are often broken at a lower corner. Once the area is missing, it is usually quite noticeable. However, a dental veneer can conceal the chipped portion of the tooth to restore its former appearance.

Before a dental veneer is fabricated, a mold or impression of the patient's mouth is created to be used as a guide. Thus, the porcelain veneer is shaped perfectly for the patient's mouth.

In many cases, the placement of a porcelain veneer requires two dental appointments, since the impression of the patient's mouth has to be sent to a dental laboratory so that the dental veneer can be made. However, if a dental office has CAD / CAM technology in place, a veneer can be created during a single visit.

CAD / CAM technology uses images that are digitally created to serve as a pattern from which  a computerized milling machine can fashion the veneers.

Teeth That are Discolored

The appearance of teeth that are no longer white can also be improved using veneers since the shade of the porcelain veneer is selected based on the desired result of the patient. Veneers that are applied to whiten the teeth can be selected in the brightest shade of white. Consequently, veneers can be selected in shades that cannot be achieved by natural tooth enamel.

If you're interested in having veneers applied to your teeth, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in your area. Talk to a dental professional like Michael G Landy DDS to learn more.