A veneer is a wafer-thin porcelain shell that we can bond to the front of a tooth. This improves the tooth’s appearance so you can smile with confidence. Veneers are an easy and effective way to repair chipped, stained, or cracked teeth.
Compared to dental crowns, veneers are also less invasive and can help you save as much natural tooth structure as possible.
Here’s what you can expect during the veneers process, which takes two trips to our office.
Consultation With a Cosmetic Dentist
Have you ever felt embarrassed about your smile? If so, you owe it to yourself to schedule a consultation with our cosmetic dentist.
Dr. Bandos will examine your teeth, gums, and any X-rays we take during your visit. She’ll also look over your health history to create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs.
If you have any of the oral health issues listed below, please do not hesitate to contact our practice. We’d love the opportunity to restore your teeth so you can smile with confidence.
You may be a candidate for veneers if you have:
- A chipped front tooth
- Small cracks in front teeth
- Small gaps between front teeth
- Misshapen front teeth
- Stains that we can’t fix with teeth whitening
Our dentist will be able to help you explore your options so you can get the smile you’ve always wanted.
Tooth Preparation
First, Dr. Bandos will inject a local anesthetic into the soft tissue by your tooth. This will work fast to numb the tooth and surrounding gums. That way, you don’t feel any discomfort during the veneers procedure.
Next, Dr. Bandos will need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the fronts of your teeth to create space for the veneers. Once we’re done prepping your teeth, we’ll take dental impressions and send them to an off-site lab.
Dr. Bandos will also use a shade guide to select the perfect color for your veneers. That way, they look natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth.
From there, the lab will use your impressions to create custom dental veneers for your smile. It will take a few weeks for the lab to make your veneers, so we’ll place temporary veneers over your teeth. These temporary restorations will protect your teeth until you come in for your second appointment.
Permanent Veneers Placement
When you arrive for your second appointment, your permanent veneers will be ready.
Dr. Bandos will remove your temporary veneers and check the size, fit, and shade of your new veneers.
She may also need to make small alterations to the veneers so they blend in with the rest of your smile.
Here’s what one of our patients had to say about her experience with Kalamazoo Smiles.
She was so caring and took pride that…it had to be to her perfection as well as my own.
Once the veneers look perfect, Dr. Bandos will clean, polish, and etch the surface of your receiving teeth. This is to ensure that your teeth create a strong bond with your new porcelain veneers.
Our dentist will then use a special type of cement to attach the restorations to the fronts of your teeth. After removing any excess cement, our dentist will check your bite to make sure it’s in proper alignment.
When you leave our office, you’ll have a smile that looks and feels natural.
Learn More: How to Take Care of Your Porcelain Veneers →
Request an Appointment With Dr. Bandos
Dr. Katherine Bandos is an experienced cosmetic dentist in Kalamazoo, MI. As such, she’d be more than happy to determine if you’re a candidate for a cosmetic dental procedure.
To request an appointment, please call Kalamazoo Smiles at (269) 353-3700. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
