Veneers – La Porte, IN
Achieve the Smile of Your Dreams
When you feel uncomfortable showing off your smile, it can really dampen your mood and make it difficult to express yourself to the fullest. Over time, teeth can become chipped, cracked, stained, or damaged in one way or another, even if you have good oral health. Thankfully, you don’t have to settle for your imperfect smile. That’s where veneers in La Porte can completely transform your smile and give you newfound confidence. Call our office to learn more about veneers and see whether they’re right for you!
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are essentially ultra-thin sheaths of dental ceramic that are color-matched to blend in with your existing teeth as closely as possible. Because they cover the entire tooth once placed, they can be used to cover multiple issues at a time. This includes cosmetic chips and cracks, stains and discolorations that do not respond to whitening, and even small gaps.
While veneers can be made from acrylic, the dental lab we partner with uses ceramic dental porcelain to ensure the best esthetics possible. By using porcelain, we can give them the best longevity possible and reduce your risk of developing stains over time (porcelain is smooth, making them more resistant to discoloration compared to porous enamel).
The Process of Getting Veneers
If you’re considering veneers, you’ll need to complete a consultation with one of our dentists so we can determine if treatment is right for you. We’ll discuss your smile goals as well as perform a detailed exam to ensure you can have veneers placed. For example, any tooth decay or gum disease will need to be handled first before we move forward.
If you are eligible to receive veneers, we’ll start by administering a local anesthetic to the tissue nearby the teeth we intend to modify. This way, no sensations are felt during treatment. By removing a small amount of enamel, the veneers will sit flush and look natural next to your existing teeth.
Prior to placing your permanent veneers, we’ll capture impressions of your teeth and send these molds to a dental lab so they can be fabricated. We’ll then place temporary restorations onto your teeth to not only protect them, but also help you adjust to your new smile. After about two weeks, you’ll come back to have your permanent veneers bonded.
The Benefit of Veneers
Veneers can be ideal for those with several imperfections but still want to enhance their smile as quickly as possible with just one treatment. For this reason, they are widely considered to be the most versatile treatment in cosmetic dentistry. With routine maintenance, they can also last for 15 years and longer, which cannot be said for other cosmetic enhancements.
Since every veneer is personalized to your smile exactly, you can expect them to look natural and lifelike. No one but you and our office should be able to tell that you had veneers placed (that is, unless you tell them of course!)
Veneers FAQs
Are Veneers Permanent?
Veneers may last for more than fifteen years if they receive excellent care, but they cannot be called permanent since they will eventually need to be replaced. However, the process of placing them is irreversible since it involves the removal of dental enamel that will not grow back. This reshaping of the teeth ensures that the devices fit comfortably, but it also means that the treated teeth will need to wear veneers from then on for protection against infection and injury.
What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?
Since only a small amount of enamel is removed during the placement process and the cement used to secure them is safe for use within the human mouth, receiving veneers will not harm your teeth. Since the veneers will serve to protect your smile from infection and injury, the treatment will not make you more likely to develop cavities. However, you will need to adhere to a strict daily regimen of brushing and flossing to prevent oral infections while attending regular appointments at our La Porte office for checkups and cleanings. A few other great ways to keep your teeth and veneers in great shape include wearing an athletic mouthguard when playing sports, abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and limiting your intake of sugars and acids.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?
You’ll need to wear temporary veneers for several weeks after your initial procedure, and these devices will be rather vulnerable to damage. While wearing these restorations, it’s best to avoid hard and crunchy foods like raw fruits and veggies, ice, and hard candy that could break them as well as sticky and chewy items like taffy and crusty bread that can pull them loose. Your temporary appliances will also be susceptible to stains, so it’s best to skip dark items like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and barbeque sauce. You can return to your normal diet after receiving your permanent veneers, but it’s best to be gentle when chewing harder or chewier foods. You can minimize sensitivity by staying away from hot or cold foods and beverages, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can help prevent erosion of the bonding material holding your appliances in place.
Do Veneers Give You a Lisp?
Veneers can slightly change the dimensions of your teeth, so you may develop a slight lisp after receiving them. This issue should only be temporary and can be expected to go away on its own after you get more practice speaking with your appliances. In some cases, we may need to make minor adjustments to the veneers to reduce a persistent lisp.
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