Veneers can correct a number of aesthetic dental issues, including discoloration, chips, and wearing away of enamel. They can also make teeth that are poorly spaced or mildly misaligned to appear more even, and they do so without the use of orthodontia. In some cases, a veneer can correct multiple problems at once.
The veneer itself is a thin layer of porcelain that fits over the damaged tooth. It is typically constructed of dental ceramic and is usually between .5 mm and .6 mm in thickness, approximately two times as thick as an egg shell. Some brands of veneer can be thinner still.
In many cases, the dentist will prepare the patient's tooth for the veneer by trimming away a portion of the enamel similar in thickness to what the veneer will be. He or she will then use a mould to take an impression of the teeth. The dentist sends this mould to a laboratory, which uses the impression to create a veneer.
When the veneer is ready, the patient returns to the dental office, where the dentist cleans and roughens the shaved tooth. He or she then uses specialized dental cement to affix the veneer permanently to the tooth and ultraviolet light to harden the cement. The finished product will typically last five to 10 years before the patient can expect to replace it.
Dr. Garcia can be reached by phone at 505-821-6119 or through his website, roderickgarciadmd.com.