Are San Francisco Tooth Veneers right for you?
It’s important to feel good about how you look. When your smile has teeth that are crowded, misshapen, discolored, or have gaps, you will hide this part of yourself from the world. Instead of masking your smile, why not fix it with dental veneers?
Veneers have become very popular in recent years, as more people realize that this is a simple and affordable way to change the appearance of their teeth. A dental veneer is a thin layer or shell that is bonded to the outward-facing surface of a tooth. In as little as one visit to Dr. Leo Arellano’s office, you may gain a brighter, straighter smile with veneers.
Little preparation is required for dental veneers in most situations. The tooth surface is reduced very slightly to allow the veneer to fit. This results in a natural-looking tooth surface. Without this drilling, it may appear that the tooth is unusually thick, or the edges of the veneer will be more difficult to keep clean. Once the tooth has been prepared, the veneer is bonded into place.
Veneers can be fabricated made of porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain veneers are called “indirect” because they are created in a lab and so take at least two visits to complete. Porcelain is recommended in cases where the patient has more severe discoloration, wear, dullness, spacing issues, or cracked or chipped teeth. “Direct” composite resin veneers are created “chair side” by your dentist and applied directly to the teeth in one visit. This type may also be referred to as composite bonding, and is more suitable to correct minor cracks, chips, or discoloration.
Dental veneers are made to last for years, but care is needed to assure that they do not stain, crack, or break. The materials used typically hold up as well as, if not sometimes better than, natural enamel, and veneers themselves will not decay. However, it is still very important to practice good oral hygiene so that decay will not form on the part of the tooth that is not covered.
Each type of dental veneer used has its own unique characteristics. Dr. Arellano will assist you in deciding which is best for your situation.
