If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, dental veneers can give you a smile you love. Dr. Walter Mazzella is a highly trained cosmetic dentist who offers porcelain veneers to patients from Columbia, MD. Suppose you want to make small or dramatic changes to your teeth. In that case, this cosmetic dentistry treatment will give you a comfortable, natural appearance.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
A dental veneer is a wafer-thin shell prepared from a high-quality, medical-grade material. We use porcelain veneers because porcelain resembles the natural appearance of teeth. Each veneer is custom-made to fit over a tooth. The purpose of these cosmetic dentistry restorations is to improve the appearance of the tooth. A tooth veneer can change a tooth’s color, shape, and length or the spacing between teeth. If your dentist applies the veneers to several teeth in your smile line, they can completely alter the appearance of your smile.
Who Can Benefit from Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are a great cosmetic treatment for many people who want to fix their smiles. Dental veneers can whiten and brighten your smile if you have stained or yellow teeth, and a teeth whitening treatment cannot repair your teeth. Additionally, the results will last longer than whitening.
If you have chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, Dr. Mazzella can use porcelain veneers to restore their appearance. The veneers will also strengthen the teeth, improve functionality, and protect the tooth to prevent further damage.
We can also treat minor orthodontic issues with teeth veneers. People with misaligned or uneven teeth can also benefit from porcelain veneers, which can help create a more harmonious smile.
Even those with gaps between their teeth can use porcelain veneers to close the gap.
The Porcelain Veneers Procedure Explained
Getting porcelain veneers on your teeth involves a few steps. First, you will meet with Dr. Mazzella to see if they will help you meet your goals and expectations. He will examine your teeth to see if porcelain veneers are the best treatment.
During your first veneer appointment, the dentist will prepare your teeth. We will numb the area around your teeth for your comfort. Dr. Mazzella will remove a small amount of enamel from the front surface of each tooth. This will ensure a proper fit of each veneer.
The next step is to take dental impressions of your teeth. We will use these to design your custom dental restorations. We will send them to a dental lab, where an expert lab tech will fabricate your porcelain veneers. In our office, we will make temporary plastic veneers to protect your teeth until we receive your permanent ones.
Once your permanent veneers are ready, Dr. Mazzella will remove the temporary and bond the porcelain veneers to your teeth with dental adhesive. He will make adjustments to ensure a perfect fit and bite.
Advantages of Using Porcelain for Dental Veneers
Porcelain is a great material for dental veneers. In terms of color and translucency, porcelain resembles the appearance of natural teeth. When we place this type of veneer on a tooth, it is hard to distinguish it from a natural tooth. This provides a seamless transition and a natural-looking smile.
Porcelain is also highly resistant to stains. Your teeth will remain whiter and brighter for many years. Placing a layer of porcelain on your teeth will also make them stronger. This material is durable and can withstand the everyday forces of biting and chewing.
Caring for Your Dental Veneers
To ensure your porcelain veneers last as long as possible, we suggest following these few tips. It is vital that you follow a proper oral hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing your teeth every day will remove plaque and tartar from between your teeth and your dental veneers.
Part of a proper oral hygiene routine is visiting your dentist twice a year. Dr. Sousa will check on the condition of your teeth veneers and provide any necessary repairs.
We also suggest that you refrain from chewing on anything too hard. This could include pen caps, ice, hard candy, and metal objects. Never use your teeth as tools to open pop cans, chew on your fingernails, or open packages. These activities can damage the veneer.
Finally, limit or avoid habits that can stain your teeth, like smoking or drinking excessive coffee, red wine, or tea. Even though porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, they can begin to dull after years of abuse. Avoiding these habits will keep them looking bright for many years.
Call Dr. Mazzella today at (410) 559-9951 or request an appointment online to learn more about porcelain veneers in Columbia, MD.