$\"Shreveport$ At Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care, a leading Shreveport cosmetic dentistry practice, the porcelain veneers procedure can be performed in just two visits. The expert cosmetic dentists at Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care customize the porcelain veneer application and care plan for each patient to help keep their porcelain veneers beautiful for many years.

How Are Porcelain Veneers Administered?

Porcelain veneers are custom-made porcelain shells that affix to the front surfaces of a patient’s teeth. They are made of high quality porcelain. Porcelain veneers are usually applied in two visits.

During the first visit, a patient’s teeth are prepped and measured for their veneers. This involves the removal of a small part of the front enamel of the tooth, to make room for the veneer and to encourage the adhesive to bond to the tooth’s surface. Prior to the removal of enamel, a localized anesthetic may be applied to decrease any sensitivity during this procedure. Molds are taken of each tooth, and a patient may receive temporary veneers to wear while his or her permanent ones are crafted.

After their initial visit, patients’ molds are sent to a dental laboratory, where their veneers are crafted to match each individual tooth and match with the color and look that they’ve chosen.

For patients in Shreveport, porcelain veneers are applied during a second dental visit. They are tested against each tooth to ensure that they fit properly and do not interfere with the patient’s natural bite. One of the expert dentists at Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care will clean, polish, and roughen the front of the natural teeth in preparation for bonding, again, with localized anesthetic if necessary. Each veneer is cemented to its respective tooth. Once the veneers are bonded to the teeth, the dentist will ensure that they look and feel comfortable, and patients are free to go.

Patients should attend a follow-up visit to ensure that the veneers feel natural and allow a normal bite. If patients are experiencing any discomfort at all, they should schedule an appointment immediately so that the veneers can be adjusted.

After the Procedure

Caring for porcelain veneers is as easy as caring for natural teeth. Since they are strongly affixed to the front of natural teeth, the teeth can be brushed, flossed, and rinsed in a regular dental hygiene regimen.

Veneers usually last between five and 10 years, and patients should take care to take care of them and maintain regular visits to a dentist to ensure that they are not cracked, chipped, or loosened. If a veneer falls off or is damaged, it will have to be replaced, as the natural tooth below will no longer match the look of other veneers.

Porcelain veneers have a beautiful, natural look that mimics the translucency and beauty of a perfectly white, beautiful natural smile. They are stain resistant and should maintain their white color even as a patient consumes foods and drinks that would stain natural tooth enamel. However, these products are still not recommended in excess, and the teeth should be cleaned immediately after their consumption.

For more information on porcelain veneers, schedule a confidential, educational consultation with the expert staff at Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care.