Few of us are born with perfect smiles. From alignment issues to gaps, there are too many things that can go wrong with your teeth and your gums.
And if you’re like 10% of the population, you have what’s considered a gummy smile.
Fortunately, there’s a way to restack the deck Mother Nature dealt you. Here at AnneMarie Olson, DDS PA, our expert dentists, Dr. Olson and Dr. Kacie Culcotta show you how veneers are your answer to a gummy smile.
As their name implies, dental veneers are thin shells of tooth-like material that fit snugly over the front of your natural teeth. Veneers are often made from composite resin, but the best and longest-lasting veneers come from porcelain, which most closely imitates the appearance of your natural tooth enamel — that’s why we choose porcelain veneers for our patients.
We take an impression of your teeth to maximize comfort and ensure that each veneer fits perfectly.
Veneers typically take at least two appointments in addition to your initial consultation, and the process may require the removal of some tooth enamel to accommodate their thickness. We do this prior to taking the impression of your teeth.
After we’ve taken the impression, we send it off to a dental lab where they use special technology to customize your veneers. We give you temporary veneers while you wait.
Once your permanent veneers are ready, we etch and clean your teeth to ensure a strong bond between tooth and veneer. We may make some minor adjustments at that time, or you may come back in a week or two for these.
We use veneers to address a wide range of smile issues. For instance, gaps in teeth can be addressed with orthodontics, but if you have only one unsightly space, braces may be overkill. A pair of veneers work to fill in the gaps of your smile without the time and expense of orthodontic treatment. Veneers can even straighten out crooked teeth.
But dental veneers aren’t all about cosmetics. Chipped or cracked teeth can also be treated with veneers if they’re structurally sound. The cemented veneer reinforces and strengthens the tooth, reducing the chance of further damage.
In the case of a gummy smile, the dentist can remove tissue to “elongate” the tooth. The now-exposed portion of the tooth gets covered and blended into the new gumline by the custom veneer. Bonus: gum tissue tolerates porcelain well, meaning that contact with porcelain won’t cause any adverse reaction for your gums.
With your new veneers, you can greet everyone with a smile that emphasizes your pearly whites, not your gums.
If you’re ready to see all that veneers can do for you, don’t hesitate to request an appointment at our Austin, Texas office today.
