Dental veneers are the total package when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, and while they can’t get cavities, the natural teeth behind them definitely can. That’s why it is so important to continue to take care of your teeth even after getting veneers.
Can You Get Cavities with Veneers
Veneers super thin pieces of porcelain are placed over your natural teeth to give you an instantly perfect smile. Unlike other cosmetic options like simple whitening, dental veneers are able to cover structural abnormalities as well as staining.
In short, dental veneers can correct:
- Broken teeth
- Gaps
- Crooked teeth
- Permanent discoloration
As magical as that sounds, dental veneers aren’t totally invincible. Your natural teeth are still vulnerable to cavities and decay. To keep your mouth healthy, you will still have to follow a normal oral hygiene routine complete with a visit to your dentist every six months for general dental care in Cerritos.
How Do Veneers Work?
A veneer is a shell placed over the front of your tooth. They are specifically designed to perfectly replicate natural, healthy teeth. Depending on your taste, you can get veneers in a range of natural tooth colors and in a variety of designs.
Once you have decided to proceed with your dental veneers, your dentist will walk you through all of the steps. It usually takes two appointments. By the end, your veneers will perfectly cover the front of your teeth, giving you a perfect smile.
What Is the Process for Getting Veneers?
When you get your dental veneers in Cerritos, you may be initially surprised by the number of steps. The good news is that everything can usually be completed in just two appointments. It feels like a lot, but it’s the best way to ensure that you get the results you deserve.
These are the primary steps:
- Trimming the Teeth: Your dentist wants your veneers to fit your mouth perfectly. Just placing veneers on top of your teeth has the potential to make them look bulky and out of place. As a result, your dentist will likely have to trim the front of the tooth ever so slightly to create the most natural result.
- Estimating Shade: Veneers come in a wide variety of shades that allow for a perfect match with any other teeth that are showing. Once your teeth are prepped, your dentist will color match veneer samples to make sure your natural teeth and veneers blend flawlessly together.
Of course, if you’re doing a whole smile of veneers, you can work with your dentist to pick the perfect shade.
- Taking Impressions: Veneers are personalized to the patient. After your teeth are prepped, your dentist will take impressions of your mouth. These impressions will be used to create the perfect veneers for you.
- Temporary Placement: If your dentist needs to trim back the sides of a few teeth, then they may suggest temporary veneers while yours are being made. This is largely an aesthetic choice, but it can also decrease discomfort when you drink hot or cold beverages.
- The Fit: At your next appointment, your veneers will be ready. Your dentist will check the fit on each one to make sure they’re perfect. They may need to minorly adjust the shape in some cases, but they can usually make those fixes right there. Once they’re satisfied, they will use trial paste to temporarily fix the veneers. They’ll ask you to have a look. If anything is amiss, then you have to tell your dentist now. The next step is permanent.
- Placing the Veneers: If you’re completely satisfied with the look and fit of your veneers, then your dentist will place them permanently. By etching the tooth surface and applying a powerful adhesive, your dentist will ensure that your veneers fit perfectly.
Caring for Veneers
With your veneers in place, you’ll want to resume a normal, healthy oral hygiene routine. Talk to your dentist about what products are best to use with veneers.
