Porcelain Veneers
Veneering a tooth means to cover its facial, or front, surface. It is actually very similar to placing acrylic fingernails on top of natural nails. Veneers are used to enhance the shape and color of teeth, as well as to close spaces between teeth. Veneers can also cover up significant stains such as those caused by tetracycline. As we age, wear of the front teeth may affect the aesthetics of our smile. Porcelain veneers may be used to lengthen worn or short teeth and restore the smile of older patients.
Porcelain veneers are a rapid, aesthetic, and safe way to correct unattractive front teeth. Porcelain veneers correct heavy permanent stains, teeth that are crooked, disproportionate, small (with spaces), and structurally damaged. Porcelain veneers are shells of ceramic material that can be chemically bonded to tooth structure. Porcelain veneers are the primary treatment modality for the popular extreme makeovers.
The bonding strength between a porcelain veneer and the tooth surface is often so great that a trauma may cause a fracture within the tooth and not at the interface between the porcelain veneer and the tooth surface. Bonded to tooth structure, certain porcelain veneer materials display similar physical properties as natural enamel. In addition, with the advance of ceramic technology, natural layers and translucency's of vital teeth can be perfectly mimicked. The correction of unattractive front teeth with porcelain veneers involves two office visits. The first visit entails the preparation of the teeth, taking impressions of the prepared teeth, and the placement o1-2two weeks. The final porcelain veneers are permanently bonded at the second office visit.
Dr. Eliot Tokowitz, Family Dentistry - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry, extreme makeover dentistry and porcelain veneers to the area of Chicago, Illinois (IL).
