Would you like to make slight adjustments in the color, size, or position of some of your teeth? You may want to consider porcelain veneers.
Located in Cabot AR, the dental practice of Samuel F. Jirik is committed to providing patients with advanced dental solutions in a relaxed, comfortable office environment.
Contact us today for more information about our practice or any of the dental services we offer our clients. We look forward to hearing from you!
Why porcelain veneers?
If you have teeth that are only slightly crooked, discolored, or out of position, you probably don’t want to go through the hassle of having them removed and replaced. While some patients opt for cosmetic crowns, these usually don’t need to be used unless the affected tooth is cracked, decayed, or otherwise seriously damaged. Porcelain veneers offer patients that want to adjust the appearance of some of their teeth a convenient and easy solution.
Veneers are thin, custom-made moldings that cover the fronts of problem teeth. We take extra care to custom-create your veneers by taking moldings and sending them off to a dedicated dental laboratory. Once your tailor-made veneers are returned to our office, we apply them to the teeth using an adhesive material that bonds it to the original tooth structure. Once the veneer has been put on, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between it and your natural teeth.
How are porcelain veneers made?
Porcelain is used in veneers because of its attributes: high strength, hardness, glassiness, high durability, translucence, and high resistance to staining. Porcelain veneers are created in a dental lab based on the color matching and dental impressions made with Dr. Jirik.
Veneers are made in layers. The porcelain powder corresponding to the basic tooth color is mixed with water, and is then fired in an oven, not unlike porcelain dishes. Then a laminate is made by uniting layers of porcelain together in a process known as lamination. Once your veneers are delivered to our offices on Main Street in Cabot, you come in for your second appointment, and you custom-made veneers are permanently cemented onto your teeth.
What are the benefits of porcelain veneers?
Because porcelain veneers are molded with the patient’s individual mouth and mind, they are almost entirely indistinguishable from the rest of your teeth. And unlike normal teeth, veneers resist coffee, tea, and cigarette smoke stains.
While dental crowns can provide many of the same benefits as veneers, they require that the tooth is significantly altered in order to secure the dental crown. With veneers, your natural teeth are able to remain largely intact, with only a minimal amount of alteration necessary.
Who is a good candidate for porcelain veneers in Cabot?
Applying porcelain veneers to the fronts of your teeth is a cosmetic procedure; veneers cover any flaws or imperfections in your teeth and present a perfect smile to the world. But it’s important to note that these are only cosmetic improvements. Any serious decay, deep cracks, or other problems with your teeth and gums need to be addressed before Dr. Jirik can apply veneers. The teeth under the veneers may not be perfect aesthetically, but they need to be healthy.
How many porcelain veneers can I have placed?
That’s completely up to you and your goals for the aesthetic appearance of your smile. A full set of porcelain veneers is typically considered to cover eight teeth. These are the teeth that are most prominent visually on the upper jaw. These are the central and lateral incisors, canines, and the first premolars. A full set of porcelain veneers can give you a perfect smile.
But not everyone is interested in that many veneers. Some of our patients only want to cover specific imperfections such as a single misshapen tooth or a small gap between two teeth. In these cases, one or two veneers could do the job.
What to expect
Getting porcelain veneers is a beneficial process that occurs over a few dental visits. After a consultation and deciding to move forward with this smile-enhancing cosmetic treatment, patients may undergo a cleaning. If tooth repair is needed, such as fillings, appropriate care is provided. The final pre-treatment step may be to whiten teeth. This is advantageous for people who are having just one or two veneers placed. Veneers cannot be whitened so brightening natural enamel before getting veneers ensures a consistent, radiant smile.
To begin the veneer process, Dr. Jirik administers a local anesthetic. This maintains comfort as teeth are reduced slightly using a dental instrument. The reduction of teeth is necessary so the thin veneers lie flush and teeth do not appear too thick.
After teeth are reduced, impressions are taken. This creates a mold of the teeth to receive veneers. The mold is sent to the dental lab responsible for manufacturing the veneers. Temporary veneers may be placed over the teeth that have been reduced. This diminishes sensitivity while waiting for the final restorations to be placed.
A second visit is arranged to finalize the smile makeover. During this visit, temporary veneers are removed and teeth are cleaned of any dental cement. The new veneers are placed on teeth using a mild adhesive so they can be evaluated for shape, shade, and fit. If necessary, Dr. Jirik makes minor adjustments to the veneers. Once the appearance of the new veneers is perfect, the thin shells are bonded to teeth.
How long does the procedure take?
The complete process of getting porcelain veneers can take a couple of weeks. This allows time for the dental lab to fabricate beautiful, lifelike covers for the teeth. Each visit may take an hour or two, depending on the number of teeth that are being treated. Our team can inform you about each of your appointments so you know how much time to allot.
What to expect during recovery
There is no need to take time off to recover from porcelain veneer treatment. If your teeth feel sensitive or sore, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever to manage comfort. For a few weeks after porcelain veneer treatment, the bite may feel slightly odd. This is because the teeth have been reduced and added to through this cosmetic process. By two weeks after final veneers are bonded, the teeth should feel normal again.
How do I take care of my porcelain veneers?
Once Dr. Jirik has placed your custom-made porcelain veneers onto your teeth, there’s nothing special you need to do to care for your new, beautiful smile. All that’s needed is the usual brushing twice daily for two minutes with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, and once daily flossing.
It is important to understand that, while your porcelain veneers cannot develop decay, the tooth surfaces of the natural teeth still can. But diligent, attentive brushing keeps these surfaces clean.
Will my teeth with porcelain veneers match my adjacent teeth?
Once Dr. Jirik has placed your custom-made porcelain veneers onto your teeth, there’s nothing special you need to do to care for your new, beautiful smile. All that’s needed is the usual brushing twice daily for two minutes with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, and once daily flossing.
It is important to understand that, while your porcelain veneers cannot develop decay, the tooth surfaces of the natural teeth still can. But diligent, attentive brushing keeps these surfaces clean.
Are there any downsides to porcelain veneers?
The biggest downside of porcelain veneers is their irreversibility — once you receive a porcelain veneer, you will never be able to let that tooth it’s placed on stand on its own again. This is because a portion of the original tooth enamel is reduced when the veneers are put on. Following treatment, you will have some increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures because of this reduction in tooth enamel. Fortunately, this sensitivity typically fades within a few days.
Interested in porcelain veneers, but not sure if you’re a good candidate for the procedure? Contact the practice of Samuel F. Jirik, DDS today to schedule your consultation appointment.
Will porcelain veneers damage my teeth?
Some patients have heard that placing veneers onto the front surfaces of the teeth somehow damages the teeth by denying them oxygen or something. That is completely false. Porcelain veneers in no way cause any damage to your teeth.
Dr. Jirik shaves down the front surfaces of the teeth that will receive veneers from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. This is necessary to make room for the veneers to be placed on the teeth and keep the teeth the same size as they were prior to the veneers. This removes some of the enamel from the teeth, and this means those teeth will need porcelain veneers to cover them for the rest of their life.
Do porcelain veneers need to be replaced?
Veneers can last for 10 years or longer when you take care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing remain critical even when the front of a tooth or teeth is covered by a veneer. It is still possible for decay to develop at the margins of the veneer. The gums can become inflamed or infected by oral bacteria. These problems could degrade a tooth, requiring the replacement of veneers in the repair process.
Patient Testimonial
Dr. Jirik is an excellent dentist and very professional...and the staff is great. I highly recommend him. - Jason W.
Can my dental veneers break?
Dental porcelain is made to be very resilient. However, like natural teeth, a veneer can chip or crack. Depending on the circumstance, a veneer can fall off completely. How does this happen? By biting something too hard for the veneer to handle. For example, biting on a pen cap or using teeth to open packages. It is not difficult to take good care of veneers and avoid using teeth improperly. Doing so significantly increases the life span of your beautiful new smile.
Can I only eat certain foods with veneers?
It is possible to eat most foods when you have porcelain veneers. The exception is to eat hard foods carefully, avoiding biting them with the front teeth. Additionally, studies show that the tensile strength of veneers makes them susceptible to damage. Tensile strength is the durability of a bond when twisted. For veneered teeth, damage could occur if you bite into something and twist, like tearing off a bite of jerky or taffy. This type of biting should be avoided. It is possible to drink dark beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine when you have veneers. However, natural enamel can be stained by these substances so you will want to rinse your mouth with water after consuming food or drinks that can stain the teeth.
Is a porcelain veneers procedure painful?
This treatment is not painful. A local anesthetic numbs the part of the mouth being treated when teeth are reduced. During the second visit, patients generally do quite well without any anesthetic. This is because that visit focuses only on removing temporary veneers and applying the new covers. Some patients may experience sensitivity that lasts a week or two after the final veneers are applied. Using a sensitive-teeth toothpaste may help and, if needed, an over-the-counter pain reliever may be taken. After about two weeks, sensations should return to normal.
Are dental veneers covered by insurance?
Porcelain veneer treatment is cosmetic. It is not categorized as a restorative dental treatment, even though veneers are often used to disguise imperfections like cracks or chips. Being that the purpose of porcelain veneers is to improve the appearance of the smile, dental insurance companies do not cover the costs of treatment.
How do crowns compare with porcelain veneers?
Porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers both vastly improve the looks of the teeth to which they are applied. But they are different. Veneers are purely cosmetic. Applied to the fronts of the teeth, they change the look of the teeth, but do not affect function or strength. Some tooth enamel is removed when veneers are placed, but it is minor compared to a crown. With a crown, healthy tooth material is removed from all sides and the top of the tooth to create room for the crown to fit over the entire tooth down to the gum line.
The biggest difference is function. A crown is placed on a tooth in many cases when the health of the tooth is compromised. This can be a case of extensive decay, a large crack, or a cavity that is failing and needs to be enlarged. In these instances, the crown is saving the tooth from needing extraction. The cosmetic function is secondary. Crowns also serve as the anchors for bridges, placed atop the two healthy teeth on both sides of the missing teeth being spanned by the bridge.
Schedule Your Cabot Porcelain Veneers Consultation Today
If you're interested in learning more about porcelain veneers please contact us for a consultation at (501) 843-9561 or fill out our contact us form. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action.
