The Dental Veneers Process

So you’re ready to make over your smile with porcelain veneers. But what’s the process going to look like? After you come in for a consultation and we’ve decided on a new look for your smile, the process is pretty straightforward. Two appointments is all it takes to get your new smile red carpet ready!

Step 1: Prepping the Teeth

When you come in for your first appointment, we’ll begin by prepping your teeth for your new dental veneers. Veneers are a permanent process because we do remove some tooth enamel from the teeth getting veneers. We have to do this in order to ensure that the teeth with veneers don’t feel larger than your other teeth. Veneers are essentially shells that go on top of your teeth, so in order to not add bulk, we first have to take away some of the natural tooth structure. We file down the teeth just a bit until they’re a good size to hold your veneers.

Step 2: Impressions & Shade

Once we’ve filed down the teeth, we take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. This gives the lab an idea of the shape your new veneers need to be. We also use a color guide to determine the shade of your new veneers. We want them to look natural and blend in with surrounding teeth. If the goal is to give you a whiter smile, we’ll do this in a way that still looks natural instead of brightening them so much that it’s obvious they don’t match other teeth. We send your impressions and the tooth shade information to the lab to have your veneers made.

Step 3: Temporaries?

If you need temporary veneers while we wait for your permanent ones to come in, we’ll make those in-house and place them during your first appointment. Whether we place temporaries depends on how much tooth enamel we removed. While your temporaries are on, you’ll want to be careful about what you eat and drink. If you have any trouble with your temporaries, just give us a call!

Step 4: Evaluation & Cementation

When your permanent veneers are ready, you’ll come in for your second appointment. We’ll first try them on and make sure everything fits and looks right. Once we’re sure that you’re satisfied with your new look, we’ll bond the veneers in place. Your new smile is complete and you’ll be on your way!

It may take a few days or weeks to get used to your new smile, depending on how drastic the change is. We may recommend one more follow-up appointment just to see how you’re doing. And remember, once your new veneers are set, you can care for them just like your natural teeth! Have more questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a call!