Dental Porcelain Veneers – 5 Things to Know Before You Get Them

By Arthur Kezian

If you want a smile makeover you are certainly not alone.  With the glow of Hollywood just right down the road, it’s perfectly natural to want to look your very best!  That’s why porcelain veneers are so popular.
You've probably heard all about dental porcelain veneers, but do you really know what goes into getting them?  If you’re thinking about getting veneers, there are 5 things you need to know first:

Dental porcelain veneers are a permanent way to improve your smile. 

Once you have veneers installed, they are there to stay.  However, they look great!  They can cover up gaps between your teeth, hide broken or chipped teeth, and make crooked teeth look straight, and brighten up discolored teeth.
To keep them looking their best, you simply have to take care of them.  Regular brushing, flossing, and routine trips to your dentist will keep your veneers looking perfect.
 Dental porcelain veneers can be installed in about a week.

Veneers can give you a much better smile in only a few days!  Your dentist will start by removing about 0.5 mm from the thickness of your teeth – about the thickness of a contact lens.  Once your teeth have been reduced, your dentist will make a wax impression of your teeth.  That impression will be sent to a lab and will be used to create your veneers.
As soon as your veneers are back from the lab, they are ready to be applied!  Your dentist will use a special cement and a beam of light to adhere your veneers to your natural teeth. 

          Cosmetic veneers are designed to look and feel just like your normal teeth.

If they are applied correctly, no one will even know you have them!  Veneers are about 0.5 mm thick – the same thickness that your dentist will remove from your own teeth before they are applied.  That way, your smile will feel the exact same as they did before the veneers were installed.
 Dental porcelain veneers don’t have to go on every single tooth
A smile makeover doesn't have to break the bank.  If you just have one tooth that has a cosmetic flaw, you can get a single veneer.  Or, if you just want to put veneers on a couple of teeth, you can do that, too.  Since they look and feel like your natural teeth, a single veneer will not stick out.  If you want a smile makeover, your dentist can come up with a plan that suits your needs and fits into your budget.
Dental porcelain veneers cannot be repaired.
If one breaks, your dentist will have to get a new one made for you.  That’s why it is so important to be careful with them.  If you have veneers, you should not chew on ice, bite your fingernails, or grind your teeth.  Doing so can make your veneers crack or chip.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777


-N.S.