knowledge for peace of mind
Veneers in Chandler, AZ
What are Veneers?
Sometimes our diet, a high impact injury, our age, or even certain medications can affect the appearance of our teeth beyond what routine dental care can correct. Veneers can provide a protective and aesthetically pleasing cover for these affected teeth, and they can last between 5-10 years before needing replacement.
Veneers covers can be made out of porcelain or composite resin material. During your meeting with the dentist, you’ll discuss these options and their unique benefits before deciding which is best for you.
Porcelain Veneers Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made shells, crafted to snugly fit the front of the tooth. These veneers are strong and long-lasting, they look natural and they don’t stain easily.
Composite Resin Veneers Composite Resin Veneers are made from a tooth-colored material that’s usually used in fillings. These covers require a smaller amount of enamel to be removed than for porcelain veneers and they’re easy to fix if they become damaged. These aren’t as strong or as wear-resistant as porcelain veneers, but any chip or crack can be fixed quickly and easily.
SYMPTOMS
Signs You May Need Veneers
Some situations in which veneer teeth are a good choice for patients include:
- Significant amounts of tooth decay
- A chipped or cracked tooth
- Stained teeth that can’t be whitened with bleaching or other treatments
- Gaps between the teeth
- Misaligned, uneven, or misshapen teeth
It should be noted that veneers aren’t a good choice for people who are prone to clenching and grinding their teeth, or for people with gum disease.
TOOTH DECAY
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache
- bad breath
- pain while drinking or eating
- presence of holes in the tooth enamel that can become discolored
CHIPPED TOOTH
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache (notably when eating hard foods)
- headache
- noticeable differences in how the teeth come together during biting
REPLACING AN OLD CROWN OR VENEER
- tooth sensitivity
- toothache when eating or drinking
Distraction Methods – Therapeutic interventions – Pain management
What To Expect During the Veneer Process
Throughout the veneer process, it’s important to communicate any feelings of sensitivity, discomfort, unease, or anxiety to your dentist. Peace of Mind Dental Studio employs a variety of physical and emotional support tools to increase our patient’s sense of wellbeing, and communicating any physical discomfort within your teeth or gums can help us stop any issues from occurring later on.
Your First Visit
While veneer teeth are an excellent choice for long-term results, part of the process is removing some of the affected tooth’s enamel for the veneer to fit comfortably in your mouth. Enamel can’t be replaced, so a careful evaluation of your oral health is necessary before any procedure begins. If a filling or other restorative care would be better, the dentist will suggest such a procedure.
The Procedure First, we apply a strong topical numbing gel to the area of your mouth that will be operated on. This topical will help you feel any pain during the next step when we inject a local anesthetic to numb your teeth and gums.
We also employ a tool called DentalVibe, which applies gentle vibrations during the injection to distract your nerves from any pain and better apply the anesthetic. We aim to provide the most painless veneers in Chandler, AZ.
Next, we’ll take an impression after the dentist has completed the proper tooth prep. This highly detailed dental impression will be taken to accurately capture the shape of the prepared tooth. The impression will be sent to a professional lab for your veneers to be fabricated.
After the impression, we’ll fabricate and apply a temporary crown to cover the exposed tooth structure and bring the tooth back to its original shape. Remember that this temporary crown will not be as strong as the final veneer covering.
Tips for Keeping Your Temporary Crown Safe After your first visit, you’ll have a temporary crown in your mouth for two weeks. You’ll be able to eat and drink, but it’s important to take some precautions.
- Chew on the opposite side of your mouth as the crown
- Refrain from eating anything sticky
- Avoid biting anything hard, like chips or hard candy.
If your temporary crown is dislodged before your second visit, please call our office so we can replace it for you
advice & tips
keeping your temporary crown safe
After your first visit, but before your permanent crown is in place, you’ll be able to eat and drink but with some precautions in place. Here is some guidance to keep your procedure moving well.
- We recommend chewing on the opposite side of the mouth while wearing a temporary crown.
- Refrain from eating anything sticky.
- It’s important to floss your temporary crown by advancing the floss between the teeth as normal but instead of pulling the floss out the same way it went in, bite down and slide the floss out sideways with one hand. This will reduce the chances of you inadvertently pulling off your temporary crown while flossing.
If your temporary crown is dislodged prior to your second visit (when the permanent crown will be placed), please call our office so we can replace it for you.
Your Second Visit
It will take approximately two weeks for your porcelain veneers to be fabricated and returned to our office for your second visit.
During this appointment, the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent veneer will be placed, adjusted, and verified with an x-ray. If you experience any sensitivity in the area, we can numb it just as it was numbed in the first visit.
Once the dentist has confirmed the fit is correct, the veneer will be permanently cemented in place and it will harden before the appointment is over. You can then go about the rest of your day in Chandler, veneer worry-free.
AFTERCARE
Caring For Your Veneers
While veneers are incredibly strong and stain-resistant, it’s important to take care of them to avoid having to replace them early. Additional tips for taking care of your veneers include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing
- Keeping up on routine dentist appointments, such as cleanings
- Reducing excessive biting
- Avoiding biting your fingernails and chewing on hard objects like pencils or ice
It may take a few days to get used to the feel of your veneers, but if your bite does not feel right after the veneer has been placed, please call the office and we’ll correct your bite. Additionally, if you’re experiencing sensitivity in the area after a few days please call our office. We’re always available to help our patients maintain the best veneers in Chandler, Arizona.
You may notice…
A small percentage of patients will experience minor temperature sensitivity after a crown or a veneer. This usually dissipates with time. If it does not, it is important to let the dentist know.
—
If you experience biting sensitivity after your appointment and it is not going away, please contact the office.
CROWN & VENEER FAQS
Answering your questions about crowns…
What's the difference between a crown and a veneer?
A veneer is a more conservative option as it only covers half of the tooth, while a crown surrounds the entire tooth. Aside from that, the reasons you might require one, and the general process are very simliar.
Will the crown or veneer procedure be painful?
Our office starts with the strongest topical anesthetic to reduce the chance of feeling anything during the numbing process. Then we will numb the tooth and surrounding tissues with local anesthesia so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
In addition to our topical anesthetic, we utilize a painless oral injection system, DentalVibe®, to reduce any discomfort during the numbing process. DentalVibe is a unique tool that can help alleviate dental fear and anxiety, allowing you to undergo the treatments needed to maintain a healthy mouth. DentalVibe provides gentle vibration to the site of the dental injection that overloads the nerve that sends pain signals to the brain so you don’t feel the injection. Most patients who have a DentalVibe injection aren’t even aware they’ve had an injection! The vibrations disperse the anesthesia once it’s injected to allow it to get to work even faster…plus the sound of the vibration creates an added distraction!
DentalVibe is especially helpful in reducing dental fear among children. Many adult patients feel they wouldn’t have developed dental fears if they had this tool when they were younger.
We also employ a whole host of patient comforts to create a soothing experience. Learn more here.
How long will a crown last?
You should expect your crown/veneer to last 8-15 years. The broad range depends on your oral hygiene practice and personal habits such as chewing ice, grinding teeth, nutrition etc. We can offer guidance on how to maximize the lifespan of your new investment.
Will a crown improve my smile?
If it can, we will make sure it does! If the tooth being crowned is chipped/broken/misaligned, we will do everything possible to make the crown aesthetically pleasing and in the most ideal alignment.
Can I get a dental crown during pregnancy?
Generally, elective procedures are not recommended during pregnancy, especially the first trimester. However, dental emergencies do arise for those who are pregnant and in certain situations the only option to stabilize a tooth that is significantly broken down is by placing a crown. At Peace of Mind Dental, we will perform the most conservative treatment needed for our patients who are pregnant and postpone any elective work until after the pregnancy.
Have more questions? Please call us at 480-608-5444 or email us and we’ll be able to talk you through the process.
Tips & advice from Dr. Silverman: