Also referred to as dental veneers, porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that are custom-crafted to fit over the frontal part of a tooth. When in place, porcelain veneers mask dental flaws and give you a perfect smile.
Among the biggest benefits of porcelain veneers is their natural appearance. Porcelain veneers are semi-translucent, allowing light to pass through them the same way it would through natural tooth structure. No one will be able to tell that you have porcelain veneers in place. Sometimes a smile can be drastically improved with just a veneer or two.
During the porcelain veneers procedure, a small amount of tooth structure (a fraction of a millimeter) is removed from the front of a tooth to accommodate the porcelain veneer. An impression is then taken of the tooth, and from this impression, the porcelain veneer is crafted. The veneer is checked for color match and fit before it is securely adhered in place. Dr. Koval consults closely with each patient to determine the level of color, length, shape, and translucency that you prefer. From there, she will communicate your specifications with her ceramist to assure the results are what you’ve discussed.
Porcelain veneers are ideal to address a number of aesthetic flaws, including:
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Stained/discolored teeth
- Tooth gaps
- Minor tooth misalignment