VENEERS

Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.

Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by Dr. Otrhalek. Veneers are usually irreversible because it`s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.

Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.

During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerine on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.

During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. After one or two weeks, you`ll return for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.

Dr. Otrhalek, a leader in cosmetic dentistry, has been placing veners on his patitents'' teeth for many years on the east side of Detroit. All of his patients have been very pleased with their results and we know that you will, too. Contact Dr. Otrhalek at (313) 884-0040 or email him for a cosmetic consultation.

What makes Lumineers different from other veneers?

Lumineers by Cerinate are porcelain veneers that offer the painless way to a permanently whiter and permanently aligned smile. Dr. Otrhalek, a certified Lumineers dentist can apply these contact lens thin material to your teeth. Without any grinding or shaving, they transform your teeth into a natural, beautiful smile that looks perfect for everyone. Lumineers can even be placed over existing crown or bridgework without having to replace them. Lumineers is the painless, permanent cosmeitc solution for stained, chipped, discolored or misaligned teeth and your dentist doesn''t have to removed painful tooth structure for Lumineers to be placed.

In just 2-3 visits to your Lumineers dentist, you can have a custom-made smile that is clinically proven to last over 20 years and it is completely reversible since your natural tooth structure is still intact! Contact Dr. Otrhalek, a certified Lumineers dentist, for a Lumineers consultation.