Do you have some little defects in your front teeth? Do you feel that your smile could be vastly more attractive if just a few little things were fixed? Porcelain veneers may be the way to go.

What are porcelain veneers?
They're very thin little covers, or shells, that fit over the front surface of your tooth, giving it a new appearance. They instantly fix such defects as:

• Small gaps between teeth
• Chips and cracks
• Stains and discoloration
• Unevenness of shape

Dr.Meiselmanwould shape each veneer exactly, to improve the appearance of each tooth, such that your entire smile would be dramatically different.

Dental porcelain
Our natural tooth enamel is translucent. That means light goes through it to the dentin layer underneath, where it bounces off and reflects back to our eyes, and this creates that shiny, pearly look.

Dental porcelain is does the same thing. The porcelain veneers are bonded to the tooth with dental cement. Light goes through the porcelain, and reflects back off the cement underneath. This gives the same bright pearly look as we see on enamel. That's why porcelain veneers look like natural teeth.

Porcelain strength
By itself, porcelain is brittle. But after it's bonded to your teeth, it becomes very hard and durable, and porcelain veneers will typically last at least 10 years. Dental porcelain is also very stain-resistant, and won't become yellow over the years like our natural teeth.

How porcelain veneers are done
It's done in two visits to your cosmetic dentist. In the first visit, Dr. Meiselman will prepare the teeth by scuffing their surface a little, to make a good surface for the porcelain veneers to adhere to. He'll also reshape them slightly to make room for the thin layer of porcelain. After these things are done, he'll take an impression of your teeth, from which the porcelain veneers will be made.

In the second visit, he'll attach the porcelain veneers temporarily, and if they need any fine-tuning or adjusting, he'll do this until both he and you are pleased with the result. Then he'll permanently bond the veneers to your teeth, and you'll walk out with a whole new smile.

Caring for your porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers require the same care that natural teeth do, that is, daily brushing and flossing. You should go for a check-up and professional cleaning every 6 months or so, just as you normally would. With good care, your porcelain veneers will look as good after ten years as they originally did. If you have any questions regarding porcelain veneers or any of our cosmetic dentistry procedures, or if you'd like to schedule a smile makeover appointment, contact us at Aesthetic Dental Consultants of Staten Island, NY, give us a call at 718-984-3470, or email us at drmeiselman@imakesmiles.com.