Porcelain Veneers Overview

June 7, 2017 - 2 minutes read

Having a beautiful, healthy smile is a huge part of enjoying your life to the fullest. When you are not comfortable showing off your pearly whites, you may find that you shy away from events or activities where you would be forced to smile. As your cosmetic dentist in Wailuku, Maui at My Maui Dentist, it is our goal to ensure that you are always happy with your grin. One way we help our patients fix a variety of dental problems is porcelain veneers.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin shells, usually made of porcelain, but sometimes also made of ceramic, that fit over the front of your teeth. They are designed to look just like a natural tooth. They can be dyed to match your surrounding teeth, or made in a bright white to give you a dazzling smile. A cosmetic dentistry specialist can cover a wide range of dental issues with veneers, including crooked teeth, chipped teeth, gaps, stained teeth, teeth that are unevenly sized, and more.

What Is the Dental Veneers Process?

In order to get porcelain veneers, first you will visit our office in Wailuku, Maui. There, we prepare your teeth for the veneers by removing around a single millimeter of enamel from the front of your tooth. This ensures that the veneers don’t feel too thick in your mouth and cause issues speaking. Then we take a mold of your teeth and send it to the lab, where your custom veneers will be made. Finally, when the veneers return, we affix them to your teeth with a strong bonding agent used specifically in cosmetic dentistry.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

The lifespan of veneers can vary depending on many factors. If you are careful to protect your teeth, maintain good oral hygiene, and return to your dentist for regular checkups, your porcelain veneers should last around 10 years – although some patients have veneers that are in great shape after multiple decades.

Find Out if You Are a Candidate

To find out if you could be a candidate for porcelain veneers, contact our office in Wailuku at 808-242-7007, or online.