Porcelain Veneers in Saskatoon
Porcelain veneers are used for a variety of cosmetic dental corrections ranging from changing the shade of a person’s teeth to making misalignment adjustments. The procedure is customizable, allowing the ability to influence the size, shape, color, and position of the teeth based on the patient’s preferences. They are crafted with the individual’s goal in mind and are made from materials that closely resemble the look and feel of natural teeth.
What are Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells or caps that are designed to cover the surface of the teeth, to improve your appearance. These shells are tooth-coloured, allowing them to look just like natural teeth. They are bonded to the front of the teeth and can change their color, shape, size, or length.
Porcelain veneers are an excellent solution for patients who have chips, cracks, worn enamel, discoloration, tooth gaps, and other types of existing tooth damage. Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and much more durable than resin veneers. They are even able to mimic the light reflecting properties of natural teeth. Your Saskatoon dentist will recommend using porcelain veneers depending on your specific case and the overall health of your teeth.
What is the Process
If you are seeking porcelain veneers, this process begins with an initial consultation with your Saskatoon dentist. At this time, you will receive a full evaluation of your teeth and discuss your goals and expectations in full detail. The oral assessment is an essential part of creating the best treatment plan for you. The next step will involve preparing the teeth for the porcelain veneers. This involves your dentist trimming the front side of each tooth, about the same thickness as the porcelain veneer that will be placed. This ensure the overall thickness of each tooth is not dramatically changed.
Once the tooth is prepared, impressions of your teeth are taken and created in a dental lab. The porcelain veneers created will match the specifications, such as shape, color, size, which were outlined in the initial meeting. After the porcelain veneers are created, your dentist will then carefully bond them to the surface of each tooth. Adjustments are made during this appointment, if necessary, to ensure they fit correctly and comfortably.
Who is the Right Candidate?
Your Saskatoon dentist will be able to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for this cosmetic treatment. Since every person’s mouth is unique, it is always good to have yours assessed properly. When considering porcelain veneers, it is first important to identify your goals in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
Some of the dental issues that porcelain veneers can address include:
- Small chips or superficial cracks in the teeth
- Smile gaps
- Asymmetrical or slightly crooked teeth
- Discoloration that is resistant to tooth whitening treatment
- If your needs can be met with porcelain veneers, viable candidates should still have healthy, fully developed teeth and realistic expectations about what porcelain veneers can and cannot accomplish.
Alternatively, you may not be a suitable candidate if the following applies:
- You suffer from severely misaligned teeth
- You tend to clench or grind your teeth
- Your tooth enamel is inadequate
- You suffer from extensive tooth decay or periodontal disease
- You have other major dental or general health conditions
If you are not a candidate for porcelain veneers, there are alternative cosmetic treatments your Saskatoon dentist can offer instead. It is important to come to this conclusion during a consultation with your dentist for good measures.
Caring for Porcelain Veneers
Due to porcelain material used to create the dental veneers, they are durable as well as chip and stain-resistant. Once the porcelain veneers are installed in the patient’s mouth, they will need to apply the same oral hygiene routines used prior to the cosmetic treatment. Avoid chewing on hard materials that can cause damage to the porcelain veneers. Those who may have the habit of tooth grinding will be given aids to prevent wear on the teeth. Apart from this, regular visits to our Saskatoon dental clinic is a vital part of keeping your porcelain veneers in good condition.
* All dental services offered at Saskatoon Smiles are provided by general dentists at each location.