When it comes to cosmetic dental treatment, success lies in discretion—the best enhancements are those that bring out your smile’s natural beauty, rather than obviously adding to it. The beauty of porcelain veneers, or “the instant smile makeover,” is that they are made from advanced materials designed specifically to mimic your healthy, natural tooth structure. The advantage of veneers is that, because of how they are placed, they can address more than just type of imperfection, which often makes them the most versatile cosmetic option.
The Secret is In the Details
It can be difficult to tell at first glance, but the outer layer of your teeth, called enamel, is not white. In fact, it’s semi-translucent (see-through). The color that you see is the main portion, or dentin, of your teeth. The sheen of the enamel that surrounds them adds a unique and challenging-to-emulate appearance, which can be matched by innovative dental porcelain. Also called ceramic, the porcelain is semi-translucent, like enamel, and tinted to match your dentin’s color, then layered to recreate the natural shine of your smile.
Improving Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
To make dental porcelain into a lifelike veneer, we first examine your teeth to ensure that they’re the right option. Usually, porcelain veneers are recommended to improve teeth that are:
- Severely stained or discolored
- Chipped, or have lightly-cracked enamel (craze lines)
- Worn down, or appear to small
- Oddly spaced, creating a visible gap
- Slightly misaligned, provided orthodontic treatment isn’t needed.
If veneers are recommended, then we can prepare the appropriate teeth by creating room for the shells (which involves sculpting a small amount of enamel), then making a mold of your teeth. The mold and your teeth’s precise measurements are then sent to a trusted dental lab, where a technician will hand-craft your porcelain veneers to fit seamlessly onto your teeth.
ABOUT YOUR GARLAND DENTIST:
Dr. Vi Mai and the caring staff at Mai Dentistry are dedicated to ensuring that our patients are proud of their beautiful, healthy smiles. With years of experience in general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, we can expertly diagnose and treat early dental trouble to preserve your natural tooth structure. To learn more, or to schedule your next appointment, call us today at (972) 530-0552.
