Dental Design is home to Dr. S. Jeremy Tu, a trusted local cosmetic dentist who provides comprehensive dental services in Iowa City, IA. Dr. Tu is passionate about helping patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their smile and transforming it into a smile they love. While healthy teeth are important, loving how they look will benefit your self-esteem and well-being, which is also important.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are an advanced cosmetic dentistry treatment that can hide almost any blemish that deals with your teeth. They are very thin shells made from durable ceramic. Veneers are fabricated from molds of your teeth, so they will fit perfectly against the front and sides of your teeth.
Dr. Tu offers porcelain veneers in Iowa City, IA. He will analyze your smile and listen to your concerns to determine which teeth should get veneers. We often recommend teeth veneers to address the following issues:
- Aging teeth that have worn down
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Stained, discolored, or yellowed teeth
- Stained, unsightly or washed-out fillings
- Misshapen or crooked teeth that do not need orthodontic treatment
- Gaps between teeth
Who is a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?
To be a good candidate for porcelain veneers, there are certain qualifications you must have. The most important requirement is you must be in good oral health. You cannot apply dental veneers to teeth that are unhealthy or when gum disease is present and expect a good outcome. Your dentist may need to perform any necessary treatments, such as gum disease therapy, before beginning the veneer process.
Being in good oral health is important but it is also equally important to be committed to remaining in good oral health after the porcelain veneers are in place. This is a permanent treatment so you have to take good care of your veneers and teeth in order for them to last.
Dental veneers adhere to the enamel on the tooth’s surface. If you have lost a significant amount of enamel, then this treatment may not have a desirable outcome. When Dr. Tu analyzes your teeth, he will be able to tell if you have an adequate amount of enamel on your teeth.
If you constantly grind your teeth, veneers may not be the solution for you. While they are made out of a very durable material, they are still not as strong as natural teeth. They can easily crack and chip if they have to endure constant grinding. If you suffer from teeth grinding while you sleep, you will need to invest in a night guard to protect the veneers.
The Porcelain Veneers Process
The veneer process will require several visits to our local dentist office. The first appointment involves preparing your teeth. Dr. Tu will remove a minimal amount of tooth enamel from the surface of each tooth receiving a veneer. We can administer a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. After that, we will need to take impressions of your teeth. These impressions are what the dental laboratory will use to fabricate your teeth veneers. We will fit your for temporary veneers to protect your teeth until the permanent ones are ready.
At the next appointment, we will place the porcelain veneers on your teeth to make sure they fit properly. If necessary, Dr. Tu can make minor adjustments. Once you are happy with the fit and color, the dentist will permanently bond the dental veneers to your teeth.
Design Dental is the area’s most trusted cosmetic dentistry office. Dr. Tu can completely change the appearance of your smile with porcelain veneers. If you want to learn more about porcelain veneers in the Iowa City, IA area, contact us today to begin your smile enhancement journey. You can reach us at (319) 284-4361 or you can also request an appointment online. After a thorough dental examination, Dr. Tu will set you up with a personalized treatment plan that will address all your concerns.