Porcelain Veneers Houston
If you are looking for a dentist to craft beautiful porcelain veneers for you here in Houston, you’ve come to the right place! Before we talk about how porcelain veneers are made, let go over what they are and what they aren’t.
What are porcelain veneers?
A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain that is fabricated by our artisan ceramist, and ‘bonded’ onto the teeth. A veneer is capable of correcting for dark tooth color and for less than ideal tooth shape. We can also close spaces and correct minor crowding.
How are porcelain veneers placed on a tooth?
These beautiful pieces of porcelain are chemically ‘bonded’ to the tooth. In most cases, the tooth preparation is minimal and ranges from 0.3-1mm. There are even situations where we can place veneers with absolutely no reduction; these restoration are called Lumineers. Each veneers patient is analyzed on a case-by-case basis, and you can learn about what we consider in this blog post about veneers vs. other choices.
Do porcelain veneers last?
Veneers last many years under the proper conditions. I have had my own veneers in excess of 10 years. We usually study our patient models and plan for correcting and controlling any destructive forces. For example, forces generated by nighttime grinding and clenching. The patient is advised on eliminating any habits as in nail or pen biting. Good oral hygiene and dental check-ups are very important to detect any decay that can go unnoticed beneath any dental work.
I always liken a porcelain veneer to porcelain tile. Have you ever entered a historic monument and noticed how the centuries old porcelain tile is intact?? The same applies to a veneer. Once ‘bonded’ or ‘glued’ in place like a piece of porcelain tile, it is very strong. Of course, prudence and common sense in taking care of these gems, goes without saying. We will always advise our patients on any habits or foods to avoid enhancing the longevity of these beauties.