When you look at celebrities’ flawless, pristine smiles, you may not know many of them share the same secret: veneers. Before you call your own dentist to schedule this treatment for yourself, however, you should understand that veneers are a permanent enhancement. A tiny portion of the enamel needs to come off to get the perfect smile. In other words, you can’t change your mind about it later, so you need to be sure about your decision. In this post, you’ll learn about the whole veneers process, how much enamel is taken away, and why.
Steps in the Veneers Process
In order to get veneers, you will need to have two dental appointments. During the first, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area around the teeth. They will shave away a slim layer of enamel, which alters your teeth forever. Impressions are then taken of your altered teeth and sent to a dental lab, where technicians craft your custom veneers. Before leaving the office, you will have temporaries adhered to your teeth to protect them until your real veneers are ready. At the second appointment, they are bonded in place.
The Amount of Enamel Removed for Veneers
If the thought of permanently taking away enamel from your teeth worries you, rest assured it isn’t much. In fact, usually, your dentist will remove just about 0.5mm of enamel from the front surface. That’s only about the width of lead in most mechanical pencils! You should still have at least a little bit of enamel left on your teeth, but your dentist administers a local anesthetic to eliminate any discomfort during the removal process.
Why Enamel Must Be Removed for Veneers
With such a small amount of enamel that needs to come off the tooth, you may wonder why this step is necessary in the first place! Well, although very thin, veneers do occupy a tiny space. On an unaltered tooth, the veneer would stick out noticeably, drawing the wrong kind of attention. However, with this miniscule amount of enamel taken away, the veneer sits flush and appears completely natural, which is exactly the look you want to achieve.
Now that you understand the veneers process in greater detail, you can make a more informed choice about enhancing your smile. Veneers may involve making an irreversible change to your teeth, but the results speak for themselves. With countless examples of successful cases, your dentist can show you just how rewarding this slight sacrifice can be.
About the Practice
D’Andrea and Pantera Family & Cosmetic Dentistry proudly has five dentists on staff with years of clinical experience and training in cosmetic procedures behind them. Our team personalizes each treatment plan for the individual patient, helping them achieve a perfectly unique, yet still flawless smile. If you are interested in the learning more about veneers, you can schedule a consultation with us online or call our Hamden office at 203-288-0951.
