What are Porcelain Veneers?

Your teeth are healthy but due to a variety of reasons traditional whitening methods aren’t working. Or maybe in a friendly backyard football game one of your front teeth got slightly chipped or you have that one tooth that has always been just a little sideways compared to its mate on the other side of your mouth. These are all great reasons to consider porcelain veneers. Simply put, porcelain veneers are custom made porcelain shells bonded over the front of the tooth to change its color, shape, size or to mask chips or cracks. Porcelain veneers reflect light and resist staining better than a resin composite veneer, though the basic concept is still the same.

Applying dental veneers is a fairly simple process, requiring only two dental visits and a follow-up appointment. The first appointment is to prepare the tooth for the veneer by shaving off a thin layer of the natural enamel to accommodate the additional thickness of the veneer. A new popular option is a “prepless” veneer which requires no or minimal grinding of the tooth’s outer layer. A model of the tooth will then be taken so the actual veneer can be made.

After the veneer is constructed your dentist will ensure the shell is the right size, shape and color before cementing it to the natural tooth. A specialized curing light is used to activate the chemicals in the compound. Then any stray bits of cement are chipped away, your bite is checked and a follow-up appointment scheduled.

While veneers provide a very natural appearance it is important to remember the process is not reversible so don’t hesitate to discuss all options with your dentist before committing. Interested in learning if porcelain veneers are right for you? Please contact Ellis Dental today.

Photo Credit

When Should You Consider Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized branch of dental care comprised of numerous procedures. Often people will seek cosmetic dental solutions even when their teeth are healthy simply because they aren’t happy with their appearance. If the condition of your teeth makes you reluctant to interact with people in the workplace or in a social setting, this can quickly begin to erode your self confidence. Lack of good self esteem can have a huge impact on everything from personal relationships to professional success Many people seeking cosmetic dental assistance have suffered an accident, injury or medical condition leaving them with teeth which are not aesthetically pleasing. Or perhaps they grew up in a household where dental hygiene was never a priority and as a result now have decayed misshaped teeth. Others are finally driven to consult a dentist because these oral traumas have made it painful to eat or drink. Obviously if rotten teeth and physical discomfort are present, these concerns need to be addressed as soon as possible. There are so many options, both long and short term, which can reduce a person’s pain making it much easier to take in nourishment as well as improve their physical appearance. Plus we now know tooth decay and periodontal disease have serious health ramifications and need to be addressed in a timely manner.

Ellis Dental is concerned with all your dental needs. We believe no one should ever experience dental pain and we also understand completely the correlation between a beautiful healthy smile and good self esteem. If you experience pain when chewing, drinking a cold or hot beverage, have a chipped tooth, are missing a tooth or have those old unattractive metal fillings please call us today at 314.965.1334 and let’s discuss how we can give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

Photo Credit