Porcelain Veneers in Whitby

First impressions are everything, If you’re not satisfied with your smile, you can quickly lose confidence in both personal and professional settings. That’s why so many people turn to cosmetic dentistry to enhance the appearance of their teeth. 

At Dundas Street Dental Centre in Whitby, we provide porcelain veneers. Veneers are an effective way to improve the overall look of your smile. This is a particularly good option for patients who have chipped teeth or thin enamel. If you’re interested in porcelain veneers, read on to discover how this innovative procedure can change your life. 

What are veneers? 

Veneers are very thin shells that are attached to the front portion of the teeth. They’re usually made of porcelain or composite resin. But at Dundas Street Dental Centre, we use porcelain because they tend to last much longer. 

These cosmetic devices are generally applied to the front six teeth where they’re most visible. Porcelain veneers, however, are very versatile in that they can also be used on the lower teeth and premolars. 

How are they applied? 

Like most major dental work, patients are given a local anesthetic before application. To prepare the teeth, we will lightly buff each one to account for the added thickness of the veneers. Most dentists typically remove a half-millimeter off each tooth. 

Our team will then make a mold of your teeth. This mold will be used to make your custom veneers. In the meantime, we may apply temporary veneers to replace the layers of your teeth that were removed. Once the porcelain veneers are ready, here’s what the application process entails:

1. Temporary veneers are removed 
2. A special solution is applied to the teeth to form a bond
3. Porcelain veneers are glued to each tooth, one by one, using composite resin cement
4. A light beam is then used to hardened the cement

Once the application is finished, you may feel a mild sensitivity. We typically recommend over-the-counter painkillers, which should relieve any discomfort. If you were already suffering from sensitivity due to thinning enamel, porcelain veneers may actually eliminate the problem. 

How can I take care of my porcelain veneers? 

There’s a common misconception you must avoid many foods when eating with veneers. But that’s simply not true -- it’s possible to eat pretty much anything. Porcelain veneers can stand up to all types of chewing motions. The only foods you may want to be cautious of are hard ones, like seeds and nuts. You should also avoid foods with heavy dyes as they can cause discolouration. 

When it comes to oral care, brush and floss porcelain veneers as you would natural teeth. At Dundas Street Dental Centre, we still recommend a professional cleaning and dental check-up every six months.

Although this cosmetic procedure may seem like a large investment up front, keep in mind high-quality veneers can last up to 15 years. They can also prevent the need for more invasive treatments in the future, which means you may be saving thousands of dollars in the long run.

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