Step 1: Consultation
During your porcelain veneers consultation, we will listen to your cosmetic concerns and goals. We will then conduct a thorough exam of your oral health. This may include x-rays if we have a concern about decay in your teeth or a bite evaluation if we think you may have bruxism or TMJ.
After the consultation, we will give you our recommendations about how porcelain veneers can be used to achieve your cosmetic goals. We may design one treatment plan or several, depending on your situation and your goals. We will answer any questions you have about porcelain veneers or the treatment plan (don’t forget to check out Common Questions about Porcelain Veneers).
Then you can make your decision about whether and how you want to proceed. There’s no pressure to make your decision right away. You can take the treatment plan home. Talk to friends and family. Get a second opinion if you like. Once you commit to your treatment plan, we will proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Preparations and/or Impressions
If you are getting traditional porcelain veneers (as opposed to Lumineers), we will have to prepare your teeth to fit them. Some tooth material will be removed from your teeth to ensure the porcelain veneers will fit perfectly and give you the natural-looking smile results you desire.
The amount we will remove depends on what we are doing with your veneers. In most cases, the amount of tooth enamel removed is about half a millimeter (about 1/50th of an inch), but if we are shifting the position of your teeth significantly, it may be more. Most people don’t experience discomfort from this process, but we use local anesthesia anyway.
Whether we prepare your teeth or not, next we will take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will be used by the dental lab to fashion your porcelain veneers so that they fit you perfectly.
Once impressions are taken, we will craft temporary veneers that are reasonably attractive and durable, though not as strong and beautiful as your final veneers. You will wear your temporaries until your permanent veneers are ready, typically a week or two.
Step 3: Final Check and Fit
Once your veneers return from the lab, we will make a convenient appointment for you to come in and have your final veneers fitted. We will check them to make sure the color and shape are right. We will even try them on you temporarily. Subtle adjustments to color and fit might be done before we bond them permanently.
Once we’re happy with the fit and color, the porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth, and the process is done.
Do you have additional questions about the porcelain veneers process? We invite you to ask them to Philadelphia cosmetic dentist Dr. Ken Siegel directly. Please call (610) 272-0828 to contact Dental Excellence of Blue Bell today.
