Are Veneers Permanent? What Patients Need to Know Before Committing

Have you ever met someone with such an amazing smile that you couldn’t help but smile back? In a split second, you go from complete awe to envy. You chipped a tooth a while back, and now every time you look in a mirror, that’s all you see.

You’ve thought about getting the tooth fixed, but with your hectic schedule, is that even possible? Think veneers, says Ginger Rome, DDS, at The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas. In two to three appointments, you could be that person everyone else envies.

Veneers explained

Veneers are perhaps the most versatile cosmetic dentistry treatment option in your dentist’s toolbox. Veneers, sometimes called dental veneers, are custom-made, ultra-thin composite resin or porcelain shells that your provider bonds to the front of a tooth’s surface to cover minor imperfections.

Veneers can fix a wide spectrum of aesthetic issues, including:

• Chips and cracks
• Tooth discoloration
• Slightly crooked or overlapping teeth
• Oddly shaped or unevenly sized teeth
• Small gaps between teeth

With veneers, your dentist can transform your smile for the ultimate take two. It’s no wonder this popular treatment can trace its roots back to the late 1920s when Hollywood dentist Charles L. Pincus, DDS, transformed smiles for stars like Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, and James Dean.

All smiles, little waiting time

Once you've decided to get that smile you’ve always dreamed about, the last thing you want to do is wait. That’s the beauty of veneers. In less time than it takes to binge your favorite television series, Dr. Rome can transform your smile.

During the first appointment, your dental team conducts a comprehensive dental exam, performs a professional cleaning, and takes digital X-rays. These steps help your provider start from a blank canvas with data to develop your treatment plan.

Next comes the prep work for installing your veneers. After administering a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable, your provider shaves a thin layer of enamel – about 0.5mm or less from each tooth that gets a veneer. Although this step creates a permanent change to your teeth, which you can't undo, it’s essential to ensure that each veneer fits comfortably, is visibly seamless against your other teeth, and does not interfere with your bite.

In the final step of this appointment, Dr. Rome takes digital impressions of your teeth and color matches so that your veneers perfectly match neighboring teeth. At the conclusion of this appointment, she sends this data to a dental laboratory that fabricates your custom-made veneers.

 In some cases, your provider installs temporary veneers while you wait for the dental lab to fabricate your permanent ones.

Great looking, long-lasting

In about two to three weeks, when your custom-made veneers come back from the lab, you return for your final appointment. If Dr. Rome installed temporary veneers, she begins this appointment by removing them and bonding your permanent ones to your teeth. 

Next, she checks the fit, ensuring that the veneers integrate seamlessly with neighboring teeth and double-checks your bite. Then she makes any minor adjustments, as needed.

Dr. Rome sends you home with tips on caring for your new restorations. As with any restoration, your veneers need to be replaced eventually. If you visit your dentist for regular dental checkups and professional cleaning, and follow an attentive at-home oral routine, your veneers can last 15 years or more.

If you’re ready to discover your best smile, contact Dr. Rome to find out if veneers are right for you. Call The Dentists at North Cypress today at 281- 664-8100 or request an appointment online.