With proper care, porcelain veneers will brighten your smile for a long time. Dr. Fling will ensure that your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and are bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available. The reality is that most restorations don’t fail as a result of material breakdown, but instead because the force on those materials from the bite (occlusion) has not been controlled properly. For this reason, a thorough diagnosis of the teeth and occlusion is important. It is always wise to protect veneers by wearing a protective mouthguard at night, to reduce risks of nighttime gritting and grinding.

The Procedure

This procedure will require three appointments:

1. Diagnosis and treatment planning
2. Preparation
3. Bonding

Diagnosis and treatment planning:

You will want to take an active role in planning your smile design. Dr. Fling will review the corrective limitations of this procedure and help you plan your new smile. A diagnostic wax-up can be completed on a model taken of your mouth, to show you just what your new smile will look like. It is important to see how the final outcome will be, before treatment is initiated.

Preparation

The second appointment will take several hours. Although the porcelain veneer is very thin, the teeth are moderately reduced to allow for the added thickness. Approximately one half to one millimeter of tooth structure is removed. This typically requires local anesthesia. Precise attention to detail when preparing these teeth is critical.

Then a mold is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for veneer fabrication. The impression of these prepared teeth must be precise, as this is the replica of the teeth on which the restoration will be made. Dr. Fling and his team then prepare the modelwork for the lab. Dr. Fling understands the importance of controlling this step, to ensure the modelwork accuracy. While this isn’t typical for the dentist team to complete, as this requires additional time and expertise, it is necessary to provide an exact replica of the prepared teeth for the lab. Dr. Fling’s background as a lab technician gives him the highest level of expertise.

A custom made temporary veneer is fabricated to simulate the desired final outcome. This protects the prepared tooth, verifies the final look and confirms the proper bite. After wearing these for a period of time, the patient can verify their shape. Photographs of these custom made temporaries will be provided to the lab. The permanent veneer should be ready in approximately four to six weeks.

Bonding

At the time of your third appointment, Dr. Fling will first place the veneer on your teeth with water or glycerin to check their fit and color. At this point the color of the veneer can still be adjusted by the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is determined, and the veneer is ready to be applied, the tooth is cleansed with specific solutions to achieve a strong bond. A special cement is placed between the teeth and the veneer and a visible light beam is used to harden the cement.

Care and follow up

Brush and floss daily. Return for a follow-up visit after one to two weeks.

Maintenance of your new Veneers

Brush and floss as you normally would. Don’t be afraid that you will damage your veneers by brushing and flossing. Non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. A good home care regimen will insure the best aesthetic success of your veneer.

You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after placement of your veneer. This is due to the amount of enamel left on the tooth after preparation. Sensitivity is totally normal and should dissipate after one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists please call the office.

If you are a known clencher (bruxer), please be sure to let us know. Dr. Fling may recommend a night guard for you to wear to minimize stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.

We hope that your new veneers fulfill your esthetic goal. With proper home care and scheduled visits, they are sure to provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.