Porcelain Veneers and the Dentist

Porcelain veneers are one of the many products offered at the local cosmetic dentist’s office. Dentistry doesn’t just address disease and decay. It now is able to enhance the way a person’s pearly whites appear. This may appear secondary and even frivolous but it is not. The way a person looks has a profound effect on how they feel about themselves.

Lowered self-esteem, shame and embarrassment can result if a person has snaggletooth, discoloration or stains on each of tooth. When a person feels good about their smile, they are likely to flash it more often. They are more apt to speak up in a crowd or laugh out loud. To feel proud of one’s own smile is another way to boost social and business success. Here are some things to think about:

- A dentist trains for many years before putting the initials DDS behind his or her name. Four years of undergraduate schooling is followed by dental college. In order to even be admitted to this graduate program, an application process is followed that only allows the cream of the crop into training to become a oral health care practitioner. These individuals are likely to be math and science brained high achievers. After studying basic oral health care, many docs branch out into specializations such as orthodontia or cosmetic dentistry.

- Porcelain is an extremely hard material which makes it an ideal choice for covering tooth enamel. The word “porcelain” is derived from an Italian word, porcellana, which translates into the word, cowrie seashell. This type of seashell is translucent, shiny and actually resembles a porcelain product. Sinks, toilets, bathtubs and tile are all items made from this material.

- These porcelain veneer products are relatively new on the market and have been improved vastly over the years. Originally manufactured by a practitioner in California in the 1980’s, the first ones had trouble with adherence. The type of cement which was used would wear out over time. This isn’t the case, today. Resin cement such as Panavia is used with great success.

- Porcelain Veneers are applied over the enamel to either enhance the appearance or protect weakened surface enamel underneath. A technician makes the product in a laboratory and it is bonded to the problematic tooth at a later date.

- Other cosmetic procedures which have become quite popular over the years include bleaching, filing down jagged edges, crowns, filling in gaps and indentations. Orthodontia has been around for quite some time and is one of the original appearance enhancing techniques. In the olden days, metal braces were the only option but today there are many straightening devices.

Some examples are Invisalign straighteners which are nearly invisible sets of trays that slip over the teeth. Invisalign trays can be removed for x-rays or eating. Brightly colored bands are another option which is popular with the teenaged set. Teens are still the predominant age group to go through orthodontia.

There is no reason to go through life with an unattractive smile. Cosmetic dentistry and orthodontia have developed to the point where modern techniques to enhance the teeth are highly effective.