How Long Can a Dental Laminate Last?

Commonly known as veneers, a dental laminate is a cosmetic tooth cover that transforms the way your smile looks. These tooth-shaped shells are attached to the front of your teeth, so they cover up any visible flaws.

The practice of cementing dental laminate over teeth started as a way to make the smiles of movie stars look more attractive. Many celebrities known for their amazing smiles have veneers covering the front of their teeth.

The procedure is now available for everyone, and it can be used to address issues like discolored, deformed, chipped, crooked or short teeth. Veneers can also be used to fix minor teeth alignment issues, but only when the patient has other issues that justify using veneers.

Veneers provide a long-term solution to any aesthetic issues on your teeth, and they can last up to 15 years when well cared for.

What to expect when improving your smile with dental laminate

Installing veneers typically requires removing enamel from the front of the patient’s teeth. The thickness of the enamel removed is proportional to the thickness of the veneers that will be placed on the patient’s teeth. Removing it prevents the restoration from making the patient’s teeth appear larger than usual. It is a permanent alteration that cannot be reversed in the future, so dentists often give patients some time to decide.

Patients who would rather not have their teeth permanently altered can explore no-prep veneers. These are super-thin veneers that do not require removing enamel before cementing them to teeth.

The process of placing veneers starts with the dentist administering a local anesthetic. This numbs the patient’s teeth, so they do not feel pain as enamel is removed. Once all the teeth that will be fitted with veneers have been prepared, an impression of the patient’s mouth is taken by having them bite down on a mold. The mold is sent to a dental lab where restorations like veneers are made. It takes about two weeks for the finished cosmetics to get back to the dentist. The patient’s teeth are covered with temporary veneers to serve as artificial enamel for the time being.

The patient comes back to the clinic when the custom veneers are ready. The temporary veneers come off, and the permanent ones are placed on the patient’s teeth. Alterations are made as needed before cementing the veneers into place. The patient’s smile should be transformed entirely at this point.

Simple things patients can do to get the most out of their dental laminates include:

• Practice good oral hygiene
• Use a mouthguard when engaged in contact sports
• Avoid tannin-rich foods and beverages that stain teeth, like pasta sauce or red wine
• Use a nightguard to protect teeth from the effects of bruxism

Ready to transform your smile?

Dental laminates are a powerful tool that can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Give us a call or visit our Trophy Club clinic to explore dental laminates and other options.

Request an appointment here: https://trophysmilestudio.com or call Trophy Smile Studio at (817) 210-4049 for an appointment in our Trophy Club office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Veneers and Dental Laminates in Trophy Club, TX.