Porcelain Veneers
Colorado Springs
Also known as Instant Orthodontics, porcelain veneers are very thin, custom-made shells that are affixed to your teeth in usually just two appointments - a kind of instant smile beauty Dr. Solich can create for you.
Traditional orthodontics, i.e., braces, takes 2 to 3 years to complete. porcelain veneers take 2 to 3 weeks, approximately.
In this way you can correct a variety of problems all at once:
- Gaps between teeth
- Stains and spots
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Teeth of mismatched sizes
- Old fillings that have become discolored
How are porcelain veneers done?
First, not everyone is a good candidate; for instance, if your teeth are too crowded, clear braces might be a better option.
Dr. Solich will thoroughly examine your teeth and decide whether veneers are your best course of action, or whether some other procedure might do a better job for you.
If he decides porcelain veneers are the best option:
- The enamel on the front sides of the teeth will be trimmed back very slightly, to make room for the veneers (about the thickness of an eggshell).
- An impression, or mold, will be made of the trimmed-back teeth, which will be used by a dental lab to create the veneers.
- There will be a wait of a week or so while the veneers are made, and Dr. Solich will decide whether to make temporary veneers for you to wear during this time. This is an individual decision and you can ask about it before the whole veneer procedure begins.
During your second appointment
Dr. Solich will try on the veneers, and adjust and trim them till they fit properly. He may leave them slightly too large, so that after they’re permanently bonded on and can be assessed in their final positions, they can still be further trimmed down if necessary.
When bonding the veneers on, Dr. Solich will use a shade of cement to make the veneer best match your natural teeth. So first he’ll use some trial pastes until you and he arrive at agreement on the effect.
Before doing the final bonding, Dr. Solich will etch the surface of your teeth with a gel that creates microscopic roughness. This makes for a stronger bond between the tooth and the veneer.
When the veneers are in place, the bonding cement is cured by a special light
During your third appointment
Dr. Solich will evaluate how your gums have responded to the veneers
If any more trimming is needed it can be done at this appointment
Advantages of today’s porcelain material
In past years when porcelain veneers were done, the ceramic material used lacked the translucence of health natural teeth. That meant light did not partially penetrate the tooth and bounce back off the underlying dentin, which is what gives natural teeth their pleasing shine.
The porcelain used today does have this translucence, so that a porcelain veneer looks like a healthy natural tooth.
Porcelain is a ceramic material, like glass, so it’s very stain-resistant
If you’re considering porcelain veneers in Colorado Springs, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Exceptional Smiles
5426 N. Academy Blvd, Suite 105
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
719.548.9393
Fax: (719)548-9313
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