October is the scariest of months. There’s the prospect of armies of little ghouls and goblins traipsing about Edison asking for candy with you hoping you bought enough bags! And there are those Friday the 13th and Halloween marathons on AMC to make you turn on all the lights in your house. Plus, summer’s over, and the sleet, ice, and snow are on their way. While maybe not scary, that’s simply annoying.
Many of us also have scary issues with our smile. Chips, deep staining, small cracks, misshapen teeth, gaps between teeth — they all add up to a less-than-perfect smile.
At Gentle Dental, we’re not scared of those issues. Drs. Strober and Butcofski place porcelain veneers over those teeth, beautifully masking the flaws beneath.
What are porcelain veneers?
Similar in concept to the veneers you know from furniture, porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells that are placed over the front of your natural teeth to alter the tooth position, shape, size, and color. The aim of veneers is to eliminate the patient’s aesthetic dental issues with a natural looking cover. Porcelain is used for veneers because of its appearance, which closely resembles the shine and slight translucence of your natural teeth.
Do veneers correct the underlying problems?
Porcelain veneers are only applied atop healthy teeth. They are not a remedy for issues such as decay. Any more serious issues such as decay or problems with the gums need to be taken care of before veneers are applied. Veneers simply overlay the problem, although in the most beautiful way!
How are porcelain veneers applied?
The process of getting porcelain veneers at Gentle Dental takes two appointments. During the first appointment your teeth are prepared for the veneers. To begin, we thoroughly clean your teeth. If the tooth enamel is stained, we may recommend whitening first to get the teeth back to their original color. Next, we use a shade guide to determine the veneer color that is the best match to your natural tooth color.
Next, the teeth are prepared for the veneers. This involves shaving a tiny fraction (from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm) of tooth enamel off the front of the teeth receiving veneers. This makes room for the veneers on the fronts of the teeth. Once we’ve shaved the enamel off, we take impressions of your teeth and send them off to the dental lab for the fabrication of your veneers. This process takes about a week; in the interim we apply temporary veneers to your teeth.
When your custom-made porcelain veneers arrive at of offices on Oak Tree Road in Edison you return for a second appointment. Dr. Smith first checks your veneers for color match and fit. If necessary, he shaves tiny bits off the veneers to make the perfect fit. Once both you and Dr. Strober or Dr. Butcofski are satisfied, the veneers are permanently cemented onto your teeth and you’re finished.
Want to cover up the scary aspects of your smile? Call us at Gentle Dental, (732) 549-5660, and set up a consultation for porcelain veneers.