The dental veneer procedure can often be completed in two dental visits over the course of a six-week period. The visits are comprehensive and may require several hours of examination, and tooth preparation. Dental offices typically boast amenities that may include sedation dentistry, audio/visual distractions and even massages to help you relax and stay comfortable. The examination stage of the veneer process is essential; it determines any oral health concerns that must first be addressed before treatment progresses. Also, your dentist will work with you to select the best tooth color for you from a special shade chart. Imaging technologies can provide you with a preview of your expected results, and before and after images can allow you to view other succesful cases. Once the examination process is completed and the customized plan designed, treatment begins.
The procedure itself has several steps. First, your dentist will likely administer a local anesthetic so you will be comfortable during the preparation of the tooth and the application of the veneer. Then the tooth is prepared by minimally reshaping it to provide the best fit. The tooth is reshaped using a small handheld rotational cutting device called a bur. Burs come in various shapes and sizes and allow for the precise and minimal shaping of a tooth prior to veneer placement.
Next, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth from which a mold of your mouth will be made. This impression may be sent to an outside dental lab so the veneers can be professionally fabricated. Some dentists boast an in-house dental lab and technicians, through which restorative and esthetic materials such as veneers may be fabricated in a shorter period of time. In other cases, dentists have CAD/CAM technology in the office and may fabricate the veneer in one visit.
Dental Veneer Procedure
