Getting veneers is a cosmetic procedure that is performed by most dentists. There are, however, some dentists who specialize in just cosmetic and restorative procedures like the procedures of putting veneers on teeth. In Chevy Chase, there are actually dentists who specialize in just putting veneers on teeth.
What a dentist Chevy Chase does for veneers is first schedule a consultation. They will examine a person’s teeth and make a determination if they can place the veneers on the teeth or not. This may involve taking an x-ray of the proposed area for veneers. If everything checks out and the dentist determines that veneers are appropriate, then the next step is to get impressions of the tooth or teeth.
Now most veneers are made of porcelain. They are usually constructed wafer thin from the impressions that were made. They are perfectly contoured to fit the face of the tooth or teeth. Now this is just for the front of the teeth. Veneers do not go all the way around a tooth, so they do not give full protection. It is mainly for cosmetic appearances.
The next step for veneers Chevy Chase is bond the veneers to the tooth or teeth. In order to do this, the dentist will have to remove a little bit of the enamel off the front of the tooth or teeth. It will then need to be cleaned, polished and sometimes etched in order for the veneer to bond properly. A cement is then applied to the tooth which will hold the veneer to the tooth. A special light that emits a certain wavelength which solidifies the cement. The process is then repeated for any remaining teeth that need veneers.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Veneers
One of the main advantages of getting veneers is that it is a long lasting solution for improving the appearance of the tooth or teeth. Most people actually do the whole front of their mouth so that all of the teeth look uniform in shape and color. The porcelain material used for veneers last up to 10 years and are very stain resistant. They do not require any special care either. Once veneers are added there is nothing else that needs to be done outside of the normal brushing and cleaning.
The main disadvantage of veneers is that the process is not reversible. That means that once a person gets veneers they will always have to have veneers. They need to be replaced every 8-10 years. A person cannot opt to just not replace them. The reason is the enamel was removed from the tooth. That means there is nothing left to protect the teeth from cavities, etc.
