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Are Veneers Right for You?

A person who has teeth that are damaged, crooked or crowded can avail themselves of dental veneers. Unlike dental implants, veneers are not even minimally invasive. Unlike dentures and bridges, they are permanent. They can be made to match a patient’s natural teeth so well that only the patient and the dentist know that they are veneers.

The Treatment

As with any major dental procedure, the patient and dentist first have a consultation. The dentist examines the patient’s teeth, orders x-rays and takes impressions of the mouth.

Three trips to the dentist’s office are needed for veneers Skokie IL, and perhaps four if the first part of the treatment isn’t done on the same day as the consultation. First, the dentist gives the patient a numbing agent and removes a very thin layer of enamel from the tooth that is to be treated. The layer is only a half a millimeter thick. This is a bit thicker than the width of a fingernail and corresponds to the thickness of the veneer. After the tooth is prepared, the dentist takes an impression and sends the impression to a dental laboratory. The dentist may place a temporary veneer on the tooth if it is unsightly after the enamel is removed. It takes between one and two weeks for the permanent veneer to be ready.

When the veneer is ready, the dentist puts it on the teeth and trims and adjusts it until it’s the perfect size and shape. The dentist then etches the tooth to give it a rough surface that will help the veneer cling to it more securely. A dental cement is placed on the tooth then the veneer is placed over it. After this, the doctor cures the dental cement with a special blue light, cleans away any excess cement and makes more adjustments. During the final visit, the patient returns for a follow up visit to make sure all is well wit the new veneer.

The overwhelming majority of patients are happy with their veneers. These veneers restore their smile and with it much of their self-confidence.