Dental veneers have the potential to transform everything, and we mean everything, about your smile. If you’ve been concerned about the way your teeth look, then veneers can help. Veneers are used to correct teeth that are:
- Crooked
- Broken
- Discoloured or stained
- Gapped
- Crowded
- Irregularly shaped
Veneers work by bonding material on top of your tooth, creating the appearance of a perfectly new tooth. When placed side-by-side across the front of your mouth, all of your teeth can look whiter and straighter. Once you decide on veneers though, there are two different types that you’ll have the chance to select from: traditional or no-prep veneers.
Porcelain dental veneers
Porcelain dental veneers provide reliable, dramatic results for patients wanting to change the appearance of their smile. The durability of porcelain has allowed this material to be used for years in restorative treatments such as in crowns and bridges. With veneers, the porcelain is simply shaped so that it covers only the front and sides of the tooth, allowing it to be securely cemented into place. The process is similar to a crown treatment, requiring a preparation visit, impression, and a lab manufactured restoration that is fabricated for a custom fit.
If traditional composite veneers are right for you, you’ll begin your treatment with a diagnostic ‘wax up’ of your proposed veneer design. This is made by taking an impression of your teeth and creating a model veneer over the front teeth to give you an idea of what the finished product will look like. Smile by Design will use your input to create the final appearance of your veneers. After your teeth have been prepped, your permanent porcelain veneers are ready for delivery within about two weeks.
No-prep dental veneers
Slowly, veneers transformed into less-invasive means of treatments. Now, the ‘no prep’ veneer is available to patients at Smile by Design. The no-prep veneer means that there is essentially no preparation to the tooth needed before having the veneer bonded to the front of it. No drilling, no shots, no irreversible invasive treatment is needed. Instead, the front of the tooth is gently conditioned and then the no-prep veneer is bonded right onto your healthy tooth enamel.
Ultimately, the development of no-prep veneers means patients can preserve otherwise-healthy tooth structure. If for some reason a veneer breaks, falls off, or the patient just doesn’t want them anymore, they can have them all taken off. There wouldn’t be a need to have new veneers made, because the teeth would look and function just as they did before the no-prep veneer was bonded to them.
Although most patients are thrilled with the way their no-prep veneers make them look, it’s still a great option to have a treatment available that is completely reversible if that’s your choice.
The no-prep veneers process
All that’s needed to start is an impression of your teeth. This impression as well as the shade specifications and tooth shape is sent to our laboratory where your permanent no-prep veneers are made. In about two weeks, they’re ready for you to stop by and have us bond them permanently to your teeth.
Occasionally other treatments may be necessary alongside of your veneers, such as the replacement of silver fillings or whitening nearby teeth that aren’t getting veneers. If that’s the case we will customise a care plan for you in advance, so you know exactly what to expect. We’ll walk you step by step throughout the entire process once you’ve decided that no-prep veneers are right for you.
Design the smile you really want
When you choose veneer treatment with Smile by Design, you work with one of our dentists to select the size, shape, and shade of teeth you want. Since veneers never change their shade, you have a permanently white, straight smile that’s easy to care for and can help boost your self-confidence.
Call us today to set up your initial veneer consultation and discuss your options.
