Are you happy with the appearance of your teeth when you look in the mirror? You don’t need to settle for a smile that makes you feel anything less than confident. There are a variety of cosmetic solutions available to enhance the natural beauty of your smile. Veneers are a popular option because they can mask multiple aesthetic imperfections at once. A small amount of enamel removal is required for veneers to fit properly, but how much? Read on to learn more about what you can expect.
How Does the Procedure Work?
Veneers are generally placed in two appointments. Your dentist only removes a small amount of protective enamel from the front-facing surfaces of the teeth. Next, a model of your mouth will be made and sent off to the dental lab where your permanent veneers will be made. Until then, you will be given a temporary set to wear as you prepare for the real thing. When your next appointment comes around, some major adjustments will be made, and your veneers will be adhered to your teeth using a special dental cement.
Why Does Enamel Need to Be Removed Before Veneers Can Be Placed?
There are two reasons why the enamel needs to be shaved down.
- The veneers need to be bonded to the teeth to stay in place. By removing a small portion of enamel, this creates a surface where the veneers will easily adhere.
- Without removing any enamel, your teeth would appear to be bulky after the veneers are placed. By removing some of the enamel, your smile appears to be more natural and the veneers blend in better.
How Much Enamel Needs to Be Removed?
Your dentist will remove enough enamel where the veneers can be properly placed, but not so much where it causes damage to the structure of the teeth. Sometimes, teeth only require minimal shaving, but most of the time, you can expect about half of a millimeter to be taken away. Your dentist wants to conserve as much natural tooth structure as possible to keep your smile healthy. However, you should be aware that enamel doesn’t grow back, so getting veneers is an irreversible procedure.
Veneers are great at improving the appearance of the teeth. They ate customized to be the exact color for beautiful, natural-looking results. Aks your dentist if you would make a good candidate for the procedure. Veneers may be a commitment, but having confidence is priceless!
About the Practice
At Michel Dental, Dr. Michael E. Michel, Dr. Michael Weber, and Dr. Matthew Tingey work together to treat patients in the Topeka community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about veneers or to schedule a consultation, visit their website or call (785) 273-0801.