Do you cringe when you see the way your smile looks in photos? You should know you aren’t alone!
A recent survey found that about 60% of Americans aren’t happy with how their smiles look in pictures. Many of them wish they could do something to improve their smiles dramatically.
Getting veneers is an easy way to accomplish this goal. You can place veneers on teeth to experience a huge improvement in the way your smile looks.
Before you begin trying to build the perfect smile, though, you should learn how long the veneer procedure takes. You won’t necessarily be able to walk into a dentist’s office today and walk out with porcelain veneers.
Find out how long you can expect the veneer procedure to take below.
Getting Veneers Will Usually Be Done in Stages
There is a good reason why you won’t be able to get veneers put on your teeth within a matter of just hours. It’s because a veneer procedure isn’t really a procedure at all. It’s actually a cosmetic dentistry process that will play out over the course of several stages.
You should find out what will happen during each of these stages so that you’re prepared for the entire veneer procedure to play out. Here is what will take place during each stage.
Stage 1: Consultation
When you’re thinking about getting veneers, you’ll need to kick things off by scheduling a consultation with a dentist in your area. During this consultation, a dentist will evaluate your teeth and help you decide if veneers would be the right option for you.
A dentist will start by taking a look at your teeth to see if you have any signs of gum disease. If you do, this might need to be dealt with before you do anything else.
From there, a dentist will often take X-rays of your teeth and get wax impressions made of them. By doing this, they should be able to show you exactly what you’re going to look like with veneers.
You will then be able to ask a dentist any questions about the veneer procedure so that you can decide if getting veneers would be your best choice.
Stage 2: Preparation
If you decide that you would, in fact, like to move forward with getting veneers, you’ll need to make another appointment with a dentist to go through the preparation process. There are a few things a dentist will need to do to get your teeth ready for veneers.
For starters, a dentist will scrape off some of the enamel from the teeth that will be getting veneers. They’ll then make a better impression of your teeth so that they can send it to a laboratory so that veneers can be made for you.
Once that’s finished, a dentist will typically put temporary veneers on your teeth until the real ones arrive. You’ll be able to get a good feel for what it’ll be like to walk around with veneers in your mouth when you have temporary ones in place.
Stage 3: Placement
As long as everything goes according to plan, you’ll only need to make one more appointment with a dentist to complete your veneer procedure. During this stage, a dentist will go ahead and actually put your custom-made veneers on your teeth.
To do this, a dentist will use a special bonding cement that will hold your veneers steady. They’ll clean up any excess cement and make small adjustments to your veneers to ensure they’re comfortable.
It might take you some time to get used to talking, chewing, etc. with veneers. But a good dentist will make them feel as natural as possible and allow you to get the hang of them quickly.
The Stages of Veneer Placement Take About Three Weeks
Every dentist’s office is a little bit different, so it’s pretty much impossible to tell you exactly how long a veneer procedure is going to take. But generally speaking, the process should take about three weeks to complete.
You can speed things up by making sure that you make all three of your appointments for your veneer procedure in advance. It’ll guarantee that you don’t get stuck waiting for an appointment to get veneers.
Veneers on Teeth Will Last for a Long Time
The good news for those who choose to have a veneer procedure performed is that you shouldn’t have to go through it again in a few years. Most porcelain veneers will last for at least 10 years, and some will even stick around for 15 or 20 years.
You can make the most of a veneer procedure by making sure to take great care of your teeth and your veneers from the second you have them put in your mouth. It should keep your veneers around for a lot longer and prevent you from experiencing any problems with your oral health because of them.
Don’t be afraid to ask the dentist who puts veneers in place for you how to maintain them properly. They’ll be able to give you a complete breakdown of how you should brush, floss, etc. with veneers.
Contact Us to Schedule a Veneer Procedure
Have you been kicking around the idea of having a veneer procedure done? If so, Katy Gentle Dentists would love to speak with you more about getting veneers.
We can also provide you with a number of other dental services if you’d like. From teeth whitening to dental implants, we can do it all. We’ll make sure that you have an excellent experience when you visit our office in Katy, TX.
Call us today for more information on getting veneers.