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Veneers in Calgary

Veneers are used to cover up minor tooth imperfections and gaps, making them a great way to get the picture-perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of. Veneers are thin shells that are used to cover the surface of your teeth, improving their appearance.

Veneers offer a cosmetic solution to a variety of tooth imperfections, including chips, stains, small gaps, and minor misalignment issues.

Could your smile use a bit of a boost? Talk to your dentist during your next appointment to find out if veneers might be a good option for your teeth.

Types of Veneers

Veneers can be made of porcelain, ceramic, or composite resin. Each has its strengths: porcelain veneers are less prone to staining, while composite resin and ceramic veneers are more durable.

Ceramic veneers (such as are IPS Empress) are the most easily colour matched and very durable, which is why it’s the veneer material of choice at At Shawnessy Dental. IPS empress can be used for veneers, as well as inlays, onlays, and crowns.

To ensure your veneers blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile, we use VITA Easyshade, which allows us to precisely colour match your veneers to your natural tooth colour.

How Veneers Are Applied

While porcelain and ceramic veneers typically require two sessions to apply, composite resin veneers can often be applied in a single session.

Porcelain & Ceramic

Before applying your ceramic or porcelain veneers, your dentist may numb your tooth with a local anesthetic before gently removing a thin layer of the tooth’s enamel. This is important because your dentist needs to make room on your tooth for your veneer.

Next, your dentist will take a mould of your tooth, which will be used to create your custom veneers. This ensures your veneers will fit your tooth perfectly, making them more subtle and natural-looking. After taking the mould, your dentist may fit you with a set of temporary veneers to protect your teeth while your permanent veneers are being made.

Temporary veneers are very delicate, so you should take care when eating and drinking to avoid accidentally damaging or dislodging them.

When you return for your second appointment (once your custom veneers are finished), your dentist will remove the temporary veneers and treat your tooth with a mild chemical solution. The chemical solution roughens the surface of your teeth, making it easier for your veneers to adhere. Once your tooth is ready, your dentist will permanently affix your veneers in place using composite resin cement.

Composite Resin

Before applying your composite resin veneers, your dentist will first carefully match the composite resin to your natural tooth colour to ensure your veneer blends in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth.

When it is time to apply your veneers, your dentist will treat your tooth with a mild chemical solution, which will roughen your tooth’s surface and make it easier for the composite resin to adhere firmly. Next, your dentist will use a small brush to apply the resin to your teeth in thin layers, using a special light to harden each layer before the next is applied.

Once the final layer has been applied and hardened, your dentist will shape and polish your veneer so that it blends in seamlessly with your other teeth, providing you with a durable, blemish-free, and natural look.

Are Veneers a Good Option for Me?

Not all teeth are ideal for veneers. In order to be a good candidate, you should:

Have teeth that are free of decay. If you have any tooth decay, it will need to be treated before the veneers can be applied.
Have healthy gums. Your gums need to be healthy before veneers can be safely applied.
Have sufficiently thick tooth enamel. Since a small portion of your enamel will need to be removed to make room for the veneer, you need to have enamel that is thick enough for this to be possible. If your enamel is too thin, your veneers won’t adhere properly.
Have mostly intact teeth. If too much of a tooth is missing your dentist may suggest a crown instead of veneers.
Not grind your teeth or clench your jaw. Grinding and clenching your teeth, a chronic condition called bruxism, can easily damage veneers, regardless of their material.

How to Care for Your Veneers

Veneers are permanent and can’t be removed. To preserve both your veneers and your oral health, teeth that have been treated with veneers need to be brushed twice per day and flossed once per day, just like your natural teeth.

If your veneers are not fully sealed or are placed incorrectly, your tooth may become stained or cavities may form underneath your veneer.

You should always exercise caution when eating hard, chewy, or sticky foods, which can easily damage your veneers. Avoid biting into hard foods, such as ice. You should also refrain from biting your nails.

If your veneers become chipped, or a cavity forms beneath them, they will need to be redone. If you don’t want to have your veneers redone, your tooth will need to be fitted with a crown to protect it.

For more information about veneers, and whether they might be right for you, please make an appointment to speak with your dentist.