Taking pictures of those special moments and holidays is nothing new. Today everyone carries a camera in the palm of their hand, ready to capture today’s latest selfies or soon-to-be viral video.
While that sounds quite normal and fun for most people, if you’re not happy with the appearance of your smile – not so much. You don’t have to dodge your photo-obsessed friends or opt to take the photo instead of being in the image, says Jose Marcano, DMD, at the Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. Think porcelain veneers.
Veneers, also called dental veneers, are custom-made wafer-thin pieces of porcelain or composite resin that cover up tooth imperfections. Your dentist bonds a veneer to the front surface of a tooth being treated to create the ultimate do-over. Veneers are most commonly used to enhance the appearance of teeth in the upper arch.
Although one or two veneers are available, most patients choose to get six or eight. Porcelain veneers are a popular choice for patients and dentists for many reasons.
Veneers are a highly versatile cosmetic dentistry tool that your dentist can use to seemingly erase all those tooth imperfections that keep you more behind the camera than in front of it.
Veneers can address issues, such as:
Since veneers are custom-made for each patient, including the shape and color, they match perfectly with the natural neighboring teeth. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference between the veneers and your natural teeth. Don’t worry; we won’t say anything if you don’t.
Porcelain veneers are made from non-porous materials, so they are more resistant to staining than your natural tooth enamel is. So besides finally getting that picture-perfect smile, you don’t have to worry about extra maintenance.
Similarly, if you practice a solid at-home oral hygiene routine, your veneers will last a long time. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly. Remember to floss before brushing. When you floss first, you remove any food debris and allow more effective toothpaste delivery.
While addressing many smile flaws with a natural-looking, long-lasting “cover-up” is an excellent benefit, the most significant advantage is you get all that in one to two appointments.
Here at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Marcano typically performs veneer placement in two appointments about a week or two apart. During your initial visit, Dr. Marcano makes sure that your treatment goals and oral health are a good match for veneers. He asks some questions, reviews your dental health history, and performs an oral exam.
If Dr. Marcano clears you as a good candidate for veneers, he then prepares each tooth to get a veneer. The way it works is he administers an anesthetic to numb you and keep you comfortable. Then Dr. Marcano shaves a thin layer of enamel from each tooth being treated to make room for the veneer. This step ensures the veneers fit properly and don’t interfere with your bite alignment or cause gum sensitivity.
The last step of your first veneer visit is gathering all the data needed to create your custom veneers. Dr. Marcano records a series of digital impressions and does color matching so your veneers match the rest of your teeth, and will be virtually undetectable. He sends this information to a dental laboratory that fabricates your veneers.
In about two weeks, your veneers return from the lab and you return for your second and final appointment. Dr. Marcano double-checks the fit of the veneers and bonds them to your teeth. He completes the process by trimming any excess bonding material and polishing your teeth. And you’re off to enjoy your beautiful new smile.
Just think—you can capture your epic smile in about two weeks. That’s right, you get immediate gratification without the hassle of a long treatment timeline.
To learn more about veneers and determine whether they’re right for you, book an appointment with Orlando Center For Cosmetic Dentistry. You can schedule an appointment by calling the office today at 689-220-2651.
