The most appealing smiles are perfectly symmetrical, with teeth on opposite sides of the mouth being mirror images of each other in terms of shape and size.
However, nature gives many patients teeth that are far from perfect. One tooth may be undersized, while another may be oddly shaped. To create smile symmetry in such cases and enhance the shape and size of teeth, a cosmetic dentist can use porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers can reshape and resize the teeth. For example, if one tooth is distinctively smaller than all of the others, a veneer can be placed to create the appearance of a normal-sized tooth. If a tooth has an unusual shape, the veneer can be used to create more acceptable contours.
The porcelain materials used in the veneers offer a lifelike dental restoration. Porcelain shares a number of optical qualities with biological tooth enamel, making it an ideal material to replicate a natural tooth.
Another benefit of porcelain veneers is the quick turnaround time for treatment. Veneers are typically placed over the course of two dental appointments separated by just a few weeks. The dentist collects information that will be used to create the veneers, which are then crafted by a dental lab. A few weeks later, the patient returns to the office to have the veneers placed.
One important consideration in getting veneers is that porcelain will not be able to be whitened at a later date. For this reason, it is important to get your teeth whitened prior to veneer placement. Postponing teeth whitening until afterward may result in a veneer that is a different shade than the other teeth.
Veneers can also be used to conceal damage to the teeth, such as chips and cracks, which also leads to a more symmetrical smile.
A symmetrical smile can give you confidence and boost your self-esteem, and porcelain veneers can help you achieve all of those goals. Talk to Dr. John M. Hucklebridge, your cosmetic dentist serving Plano TX, about a treatment plan and reasonable expectations for results in your case.
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