“Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.”
– Connie Stevens
If your smile isn’t as nice as you’d like it to be, let Emilie Miller, DMD, help you make your smile one you’ll be happy to share with the world. Dr. Miller and her team of highly trained dental professionals at Super Smiles of Burlington, Massachusetts, have been providing friendly, convenient, and compassionate care to the greater Middlesex County area for over ten years now, near you. If you have a tooth or teeth that could use some help in brightening your smile, maybe a dental veneer could be just the thing to turn your smile into a Super Smile.
What is a Dental Veneer?
Sometimes called a porcelain veneer or a dental porcelain laminate, dental veneers are super-thin coverings for teeth that are discolored, misshapen, chipped, or broken. The coverings are made of porcelain or a resin composite and are adhered directly to your tooth’s surface, covering the original tooth and can change the appearance of their shape, color, or length. Porcelain veneers resist stains far better than resin composites and reflect light much more closely to the way natural teeth do, for a more natural appearance. Dental veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns, which involve removing much more of your natural tooth to achieve your desired appearance.
When Would I Need a Dental Veneer?
Dental veneers are generally used to treat teeth that have become discolored due to a root canal, stains from certain medications, or large resin fillings. Porcelain veneers are also used to cover and protect teeth that have become chipped, broken, or worn down. They’re also used to correct teeth which are uneven, misaligned or have an unusual shape. They can also be used to help people with gaps between their teeth as an alternative to costly and unnecessary orthodontic work.
If you think dental veneers might be the right option for your smile, call us at 781-272-1288 or here to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Miller about what treatment options may be available to you.
What’s Involved in Getting a Dental Veneer?
First Visit
On your first visit to Super Smiles, Dr. Miller and her team will take x-rays of your mouth and perform an oral exam to determine the condition of your teeth to see if you’re a candidate for dental veneers. After discussing your goals and what’s involved in the procedure, and determining you’re a candidate for the procedure, Dr. Miller may make an impression of your teeth and mouth to study before moving on to the next step.
Second Visit
On your second visit, Dr. Miller will prepare your tooth or teeth for the veneer bonding process by reshaping your teeth. The reshaping process involves shaping your teeth by shaving the enamel off their surface which creates space for the veneer. After your teeth have been prepped, she’ll make an impression of them to be sent out to a dental laboratory which will create your custom veneer. This process can take anywhere from a week to four weeks.
Third Visit
On your third visit, after the veneer has come back from the laboratory, Dr. Miller will fit the veneer in your mouth to check for proper fit and alignment. She’ll likely need to do this several times while trimming the veneer each time to adjust it for a perfect fit. Once the veneer has been made to fit properly, your teeth will be prepped, which involves cleaning, polishing, and etching them. The etching process is to ensure the bonding agent, or cement, has a good surface to adhere to. After your teeth have been prepped, Dr. Miller will apply the bonding agent to the veneer and place it in your mouth. Next, she’ll use a special light which activates the bonding agent and hardens it in place. After the veneer is in place, she’ll remove any excess cement and check your bite. If any adjustments are needed, she’ll make them at this time. Dr. Miller will likely have you come back for one more quick visit to ensure the veneer is working out and there aren’t any complications.
Next Steps
If dental veneers sound like the right option for your smile, call us at 781-272-1288 or click here to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Miller about what treatment options may be available to you.
