Cherrywood Dental

Ask the Expert: Cherrywood Dental 

Topic: Dental Implants 

Q: WHAT IS A VENEER?

SHARI FLEMING

Dr. Melissa Zettler, Dentist

A: Veneers are facings bonded onto the front of teeth. They can be made from porcelain or composite. The material they are made from can influence how long they last and how the tooth is prepared. Both look beautiful. Composite veneers are hand layered in the office by the dentist, and are of ten less invasive, meaning less tooth is taken away to place the veneer. Porcelain veneers are made from porcelain, and can also be very conservative, but typically require removing about 1mm of tooth to make room for the material.

Q: WHY DO PEOPLE GET VENEERS?

A: Veneers can be done for many reasons. Sometimes they are used to correct color problems that bleaching won't fix. They can also close spaces, change shapes, and add length when needed. Many times veneers are done when people want to idealize their smile so they feel more confident. With veneers your smile can look naturally perfect, even if it's not!

Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE GETTING VENEERS?

A: Before having veneers placed you'll need an exam to make sure the teeth are healthy. The teeth will need to be clean, and your gum tissue will need to be firm. Sometimes braces are recommended before veneers to put the teeth in a better position so less tooth structure has to be removed in the process. Occasionally we discuss changing the gum line as part of the process. All of these things are discussed at the exam, before the procedure.