For example, if your teeth are crooked, but not crooked enough to justify wearing braces for any length of time, remedy the situation with porcelain veneers. If you have a bit of a gap that mars your smile, but doesn't drastically destroy it, porcelain veneers may be used to fill that gap quite easily. Porcelain Veneers are a much quicker and more convenient solution to many minor teeth defects, so it's no wonder why they have been nicknamed "instant orthodontics"!

Why Porcelain? Porcelain looks like tooth enamel because of the way it deals with light. When light shines on a natural tooth, it travels through the translucent enamel and reflects off of the next tooth layer, the dentin, which is darker yellow in color. This absorption and reflection of light is what gives our teeth that pearly sheen. So it's no wonder why porcelain has become so popular for use in veneers and a very common material used in cosmetic dentistry.

Dental porcelain, like glass, resists staining. So if you can't get your day started without two cups of strong coffee, or if you're attached to that glass of red wine at dinner each night, rest easy about the porcelain in your smile. Those staining substances will scarcely affect it as the years go by. The porcelain used for veneers will typically last as long as the tooth to which it's bonded. Retaining its shiny white look is no problem for the porcelain in your new, more attractive smile.

What is a Porcelain Veneer? A Porcelain Veneer is one of the miracles behind modern cosmetic dentistry. It's a thin, delicate shell of white porcelain that can be easily matched to the shade of your teeth and permanently bonded to the front surface of any tooth. Porcelain Veneers are almost as thin as a contact lens and look very real, which means they achieve instant results without the discomfort and hassle often associated with other procedures, like braces and crowns.

Porcelain Veneers will go unnoticed in your new smile. Light shines on the porcelain, travels through the translucent top layer and reflects off of the layer below, which is the dental bonding that keeps the veneer attached to the tooth. The light can't travel through the bonding, like the dentin of a natural tooth, so it bounces back, recreating the same pearly sheen seen on natural tooth enamel. Your smile will look as natural as ever before!

The shape of a Porcelain Veneer will vary in order to fix different tooth defects. If the problem is uneven teeth, the veneer will be designed to fix the slightly shorter tooth so that it will once again line up evenly with its neighboring teeth. If the defect is a slightly crooked tooth, the veneer will be shaped slightly thicker at one side, to provide a straight front surface for that tooth. Minor tooth defects are easily repaired with the right Porcelain Veneer.

An Easy, In-Office Procedure The procedure for Porcelain Veneers requires only two visits. In the first visit, your teeth are prepared, and an impression is taken of your mouth. The impression is sent to the dental lab where the Porcelain Veneers are made specifically for you and your needs. Temporary veneers are available while you wait the one to two weeks until your second visit.

During your second visit to your cosmetic dentist, your new Porcelain Veneers are temporarily affixed to the teeth, fine-tuned, and then permanently bonded. Keep in mind that a strong and permanent bond for the Porcelain Veneer is key so when bonded, it becomes part of that tooth and undistinguishable from neighboring natural teeth. To create this proper bond, the tooth must be slightly scuffed or roughened on its front surface.

Porcelain Veneers are a simple in-office cosmetic procedure. You'll leave the office that same day with a bright, new, natural-looking smile!