Do Porcelain Veneers Function Like Natural Teeth?

With innovative cosmetic dentistry, chipped, stained, misaligned, and gapped teeth no longer have to inevitably diminish the natural brilliance of your smile. At Sycamore Family Dentistry, Dr. Jacob Sheppard and his professional team work with individuals throughout Midlothian, VA to help them achieve fuller, gorgeous smiles to enhance overall aesthetics and oral health. Patients who’ve sustained damage and discoloration to their front teeth can be fitted for naturally-colored, medical-grade porcelain veneers.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are medical-grade shells that cup over the front teeth to conceal chipped, discolored, stained, or crooked teeth. Each shell is secured to the teeth with an adhesive bond that can withstand typical eating and speech patterns. At Sycamore Family Dentistry, Dr. Sheppard carefully inspects the overall health and shape of your teeth to determine if porcelain veneers are right for you.

Benefits of porcelain veneers

Porcelain veneers provide individuals with numerous benefits, including:

• A customized, natural-looking fit
• Stain-resistant porcelain material
• Conceal damaged, stained, or discolored teeth
• Long-lasting results
• Little to no maintenance or upkeep after adhesion

Candidates for porcelain veneers

Both men and women are excellent candidates for porcelain veneers if they are in good overall health and have:

• Stained or discolored front teeth
• Chipped, crooked, gapped, or misshapen front teeth
• No active gum disease or tooth decay of the front teeth

Dr. Sheppard will assess your teeth to ascertain if you can safely wear porcelain veneers. Individuals need to have teeth with enough surface area to support each veneer. Patients with unresolved gum disease, teeth-grinding, jaw-clenching, or tooth decay may have to participate in specific dental treatments prior to receiving their veneers.

Do porcelain veneers function like natural teeth?

In combination with the already existing teeth, the porcelain veneers can function like natural teeth. In other words, porcelain veneers are adhered to the front of teeth and can be used for chewing, sipping, slurping, speaking, or any other oral function that natural teeth participate in on a regular basis.

How the treatment process works

Patients attend a scheduled appointment at Sycamore Family Dentistry within the comforts of one of our private treatment rooms. Dr. Sheppard will remove a very thin portion of enamel from your front teeth, which helps the veneers better adhere to the surface. Digital impressions are taken and sent to the lab, where your customized porcelain veneers are developed. While waiting for your fitting appointment, you will be sent home with temporary restorations to protect your exposed teeth. Once your veneers are ready, you will return to our office, and Dr. Sheppard will apply a bonding agent to each tooth. Once the veneers are properly fitted, you may return home and resume normal daily activities.

Is there any recovery time after receiving porcelain veneers?

Patients typically avoid eating or drinking for a couple of hours after their procedure, but can resume a normal eating and dental hygiene pattern the same day. Some patients report tooth sensitivity to extreme temperatures, but this should resolve within a couple of weeks. Porcelain veneers are considered a long-term cosmetic procedure that can last for many years with the right lifestyle choices.

Consider the following tips to get the most mileage from your porcelain veneers:

• Avoid excessively chewy, hard, or sticky foods
• Limit high-staining foods (tea, coffee, tomatoes, or acidic foods)
• Eat a healthy diet
• Stay hydrated
• Brush and floss twice daily
• Attend routine dental checkups and professional cleanings

Learn more about the benefits of porcelain veneers

If you would like to learn more about porcelain veneers and improving your natural smile, contact us at Sycamore Family Dentistry and schedule a consultation today. Dr. Jacob Sheppard and his team will work with you to determine if porcelain veneers are the right treatment to help you achieve a more functional, gorgeous smile.