Before dental veneers can be placed on your teeth, your dentist will need to complete some fairly specific treatments and preparation procedures to ensure that the tooth coverings are as successful as possible. The treatments are quite important, so keep reading to learn what they are and how they will provide you with aesthetic success.
Dental Cavity Removal
Dental veneers are caps and they completely cover the enamel that sits on the front, top, and sides of the teeth. The covering will protect the enamel from any acidic or bacterial attacks that contribute to the formation of cavities. And, if you have cavities at the start of your aesthetic treatments, then you will absolutely need to have them removed before you have the veneers cemented in place.
If cavities are not removed, the decay will continue to spread and will likely reach the deep interior surfaces of the teeth, meaning that a root canal must be completed and a crown may be needed on the tooth.
Cavity removal will also involve the placement of a filling made from a resin-based material. This tooth-colored filling will not show through the veneer and this means retaining its aesthetic appearance.
Unlike a dental crown, the backs of the teeth remain exposed, so you will need to pay attention to the cleanliness of these surfaces. An inspection every six months with your general dentist will also help to identify any newly formed cavities so appropriate treatment can be provided.
Thinning And Roughening
While there are some slimmer types of veneers that are touted as low or non-prep varieties, all veneers do require some dental preparations. Cleaning of the teeth is always required to make sure that bacteria, food, and plaque are completely cleared away. This helps to prevent future cavity concerns much like the filling procedures.
In addition to cleaning, some of the enamel is removed because the teeth will be far too thick if the coverings are added right over the enamel. The thickness of the veneer will determine how much enamel is removed.
Also, since an adhesive cement material will be required to secure the dental veneers in place, a surface must be created that allows the adhesive to stick. This means roughening the surfaces of the teeth with either a grinding or an acid etching procedure.
Since the tooth surface will be forever changed in the process, your dentist will inform you of every step of the preparation and exactly why the procedures need to be completed.
Share
