What Happens During the Veneers Procedure Wyoming Dentist

If you have ever felt self-conscious about your smile, you owe it to yourself to ask our cosmetic dentist about porcelain veneers. Veneers are essentially teeth covers made of wafer-thin porcelain. Veneers not only cover discolored teeth, but can be used for chipped tooth repair. The veneers procedure takes two appointments.

What is the Process of Getting Veneers?

Dr. Jeff Helmus will need to remove a thin layer of enamel from the fronts of your teeth to make room for the veneers. He’ll then take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab where your veneers will be made. While you wait for your permanent veneers, our dentist will place temporary covers over your teeth. When you return for your second appointment, our dentist will replace your temporary veneers with the permanent ones, bonding them to your teeth.

Continue reading for more details on the veneers process.

Consultation with Dr. Helmus

Any smile makeover starts with a consultation with our cosmetic dentist. During your appointment, Dr. Helmus will be able to explain the pros and cons of dental veneers so you can make an informed decision for your smile. For example, he may recommend a crown for a fragile tooth weakened by injury or decay.

Veneers are used for front teeth that show when you smile or laugh. To restore back teeth, you’ll want to ask Dr. Helmus about other options. As a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Helmus will be able to help you determine the best treatment plan for your smile.

Porcelain veneers can fix:

  • Tooth discoloration
  • Chipped tooth
  • Small gaps between front teeth
  • Irregularly-shaped teeth

Prepping Your Teeth for Veneers

Since porcelain veneers cover the front surface of teeth, Dr. Helmus will need to remove enough enamel to make room. Otherwise, your veneers will make your front teeth seem big and bulky. If you experience any discomfort while our dentist removes tooth enamel, let him know so he can use local anesthesia.

Once enough enamel is removed, we’ll take impressions of your teeth. These dental impressions are then sent to an off-site lab in charge of making porcelain veneers and other restorations. It’ll take about 1 to 2 weeks for your dental veneers to be made, which is when our office will schedule your next appointment.

Bonding Veneers to Your Teeth

When you come back for your second appointment, your dental veneers will be ready. Don’t be alarmed if our dentist needs to make slight adjustments to the color and fit of your veneers. This is a normal part of the process to make sure your veneers look and feel natural. For example, Dr. Helmus may slightly alter the color of your dental veneers to match your natural tooth enamel.

Once our dentist is satisfied with how the veneers look, he’ll start prepping your receiving teeth. Our dentist will clean, polish, and etch the fronts of your teeth so veneers bond strongly and last for years to come. Once your porcelain veneers are placed, our dentist will remove any excess cement and check your bite to make sure your veneers fit correctly.

Dr. Helmus is a veneers dentist in Wyoming, MI. To request an appointment and learn if you’re a candidate for porcelain veneers, call River Ridge Dentistry at (616) 538-7320.