Do you have crooked or chipped teeth? If your teeth are making you feel awkward or uncomfortable smiling in public or for photos, there's a way to get your smile in tip-top shape without braces. Veneers can make your crooked teeth look perfect in mere hours rather than the months or years braces would take. Here's some basic information on getting veneers.

How Veneers Work & The Varieties They Come In

Veneers are a little like dental crowns, but instead of covering the top of your teeth, they're affixed to the front of your teeth. They look exactly like healthy, perfectly symmetrical teeth, and hide any irregularities of your real teeth. They're usually made out of either porcelain or resin. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the two materials:

• Porcelain - This type of veneer mimics the look and feel of real teeth better and resists staining from food and drinks. However, it requires that more of the tooth is shaved down before the veneer can be attached.
• Resin - Resin doesn't match the appearance of a natural tooth quite as well as porcelain, but they're also much thinner than porcelain, meaning more of your natural tooth can be preserved.

The Application Process

Veneers generally require no anesthesia and the process of applying them to your teeth is usually painless. Veneers are created in three parts:

1. The Examination - Your dentist will examine and x-ray your teeth to determine if veneers are right for you.
2. The Prep Work - Once your dentist has decided veneers are right for you, they'll start preparing the teeth that will have veneers applied. Your dentist will remove a small amount of the enamel from the chosen teeth so the veneers don't stick out in comparison to their neighboring teeth. The amount of enamel removed is usually less than a millimeter. Once the enamel is removed, your dentist will make a mold or impression of your teeth to be sent to the company creating your custom veneers.
3. The Application - Once your veneers are back, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth and will determine if any additional enamel needs to be removed for the veneers to fit properly. Using a special dental cement, they'll affix the new veneers to your teeth and use a high-intensity light to quickly harden the cement. Once the cement is dry, the process is complete!

These methods can improve the look of crooked, chipped or irregularly shaped teeth quickly and painlessly. With perfectly symmetrical teeth, you'll be smiling for photos in no time. For more information, contact Bristol Dental Group or a similar company.