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Porcelain veneers are emerging as one of the more popular methods of correcting cosmetic dental issues. If you are considering getting porcelain veneers it is important that you educate yourself on what happens during the porcelain veneer procedure. Knowing what happens will help better prepare you and help you decide whether or not the procedure is right for you. 

Before the Porcelain Veneer Procedure

The first step in getting porcelain veneers is smile planning. Your cosmetic dentist will discuss your desired outcome and what you can realistically expect when getting porcelain veneers. The dentist will use cosmetic dental imaging to show you what your smile will look like after the porcelain veneer procedure. They may also discuss alternatives if porcelain veneers are not suitable for your dental issues.

During the Porcelain Veneer Procedure

Once you have settled on a design for your smile your second office visit will be used to prep your teeth for your porcelain veneers. The front of the teeth needs to be filed away so the veneers fit naturally. Only a half a millimeter of your tooth front will be removed. Once the front of your tooth has been buffed away the cosmetic dentist will make a mold of your teeth. This mold is used to create your porcelain veneers. When they are done taking the mold of your teeth they will place a temporary veneer for you to wear until your custom fit veneers come in. On your third office visit the dentist will place your custom fit porcelain veneers. Your dentist will match the color of your veneers to your teeth and make sure the alignment of the veneer is correct. The veneer is bonded to your teeth with dental cement and it is set using a special light.

After the Porcelain Veneer Procedure

With proper care porcelain veneers can last for may years. In fact, many patients have had veneers that lasted 10 to 15 years. To extend the longevity of your porcelain veneers you must follow a regular oral hygiene routine, avoid grinding or clenching your teeth and wear a mouth guard during contact sports. For more information on porcelain veneers as well as porcelain crowns, dental implants and implant dentistry, smile makeover options, teeth whitening and bleaching, and more, it is important to visit a skilled cosmetic dentist serving Houston and Harris County.

Dental implants are an excellent alternative to other dental treatments that replace lost and damaged teeth. Dental implants provide a permanent remedy to missing teeth, which is one reason why they are growing in popularity. However, the process for receiving dental implants is long and you must be a good candidate for the procedure, making the option of dental implants not right for everyone.

Before Getting Dental Implants

Your first step is to schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Candidates for dental implants / implant dentistry need to be in overall good health and you will have to have healthy bone structure in your jaw and healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist will also discuss the procedure at length to determine if you are dedicated to the long process involved with getting implants, as the entire procedure can take up to a year to complete depending on the extent of your treatment.

During Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants actually require two separate surgical procedures unlike other tooth replacement methods where no surgery is involved. The first part of the surgery involves putting the implant rods into the jaw bone. This is a very invasive surgery and healing from this treatment can be a bit painful. Complete healing of this first surgery generally takes about three to six months, though it can take substantially longer as well. The next surgery is when the prosthetic teeth are actually attached to the titanium rod. This procedure is not nearly as invasive as the first surgery, but it still must be taken very seriously.

After the Dental Implant Surgery

You will have detailed instructions provided to you by your dentist that you will need to follow to ensure there are no complications after surgery. It is possible that your body may reject the initial implant rod, however this will usually occur in the months following the first surgery rather than after the teeth are put into place. For the first few weeks after the surgery, your dentist may recommend a soft food diet, and will provide medication if necessary to treat any discomfort or pain you are experiencing. For more information on implant dentistry as well as porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, smile makeover options, teeth whitening and bleaching, and more, it is important to visit a skilled cosmetic dentist serving Houston and Harris County.