Planning to boost your smile with a new set of dental veneers? Still trying to figure out if dental veneers are right for you? If you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist in Mesa to perform your veneer treatment, here’s what you can expect at Eastport Dental:
Your Exam and Consultation
The initial step in getting any smile makeover (with or without dental veneers) is an exam and consultation. During this visit, you and Dr. Huynh will get to sit down and discuss what it is you want to change about your teeth. Are there certain characteristics you don’t like or feel embarrassed by? Are there some features you like and don’t want to change?
During your exam, we’ll likely take a series of X-rays, dental impressions, and photographs of your teeth. We’ll also want to screen for any signs of tooth decay or periodontal disease, as those may interfere with moving forward until they’re treated.
Together, we’ll talk through the best type of dental veneers (porcelain is the most popular), the shape you want, and about how many we’ll need to create the vision you’re looking for. Generally speaking, most people get somewhere between 6-8 veneers across their upper front teeth.
Feel free to bring photographs with you of what you like — or don’t like — to show our Mesa dentist. By understanding exactly what you’re looking for, we’ll be better able to provide results that meet (and exceed) your expectations.
Shade determination with the help of a shade guideOnce we settle on the type and number of veneers that you’ll need, we’ll be able to discuss…
Financing Options
Here’s great news: most people finance all or a portion of their dental veneers treatment. Depending on what your budget is, you can plan to enroll in a low-interest or 0% financing plan to make low monthly payments without breaking the bank. That way you can enjoy gorgeous teeth without having to wait.
Once you have all of the financial information in front of you, you’ll be able to think on it a bit or go ahead and schedule the next step in your veneer journey.
A Mock-Up or Wax-Up
If you’re ready to get started, the next phase of veneer treatment will sometimes include something we call a “wax up” or diagnostic model. What this step does is allow us to create proposed dental veneer designs that you can see in person before fabricating the actual restorations. That way if there are issues you want to change (such as shapes, contours, texture, etc.) you can provide input before we send the formal order to the lab.
Not everyone needs a diagnostic wax up, but if you’re undergoing significant changes in your teeth, this step is usually suggested.
The Prep Visit
The prep visit is the first “real” appointment where it will feel like something is actually happening! During this visit, we’ll anesthetize the teeth getting veneers so that nothing feels sensitive. Then, Dr. Huynh will slightly reduce the thickness of the enamel on those teeth, so that a veneer can be bonded over them without looking too bulky.
Once all of the teeth are prepped, we’ll take a final impression (to create a mold) and then apply temporary veneers while the permanent ones are being made in the lab.
Final Placement
Approximately two weeks later you’ll come back to have your permanent veneers installed. We’ll remove the temporary veneers then permanently bond/cement each of the porcelain versions onto their respective tooth. Once that happens, we’ll clean everything up and you’ll have a completely brand-new smile! Your teeth will look bright, straighter, and fuller, giving you the perfect accessory to show off the moment you walk out our front door.
The placement appointment is shorter than the prep visit. And usually, local anesthetic isn’t necessary.
Care and Maintenance
Your veneers will need routine preventative care to keep them bright (and the supporting tooth healthy.) Plan to use a gentle toothbrush and toothpaste twice daily and be sure to floss once per day. A lot of people worry that flossing will pull their veneers off, but it actually prevents bacteria from seeping around the edges and causing the veneer to come loose.
If you’re someone who clenches and grinds your teeth, Dr. Huynh recommends wearing a mouthguard while you’re sleeping. That way any habitual clenching or grinding doesn’t chip away at the porcelain.
Do I Qualify for Dental Veneers?
Request a consultation at Eastport Dental today to find out if dental veneers are right for you!
