Porcelain Veneers in Coquitlam
Request a Veneer Consultation
Considering veneers for a chipped, discoloured, uneven, or spaced tooth? Call (604) 942-6282 or complete the form to request a dental assessment.
Porcelain Veneers in Coquitlam, BC
Porcelain veneers are thin ceramic restorations placed over the front surfaces of selected teeth to change aspects of their colour, shape, size, or appearance. They may be considered for concerns such as chipped, worn, discoloured, uneven, or mildly spaced teeth.
Coast Dental provides porcelain veneers in Coquitlam, tailored to each patient’s dental condition and cosmetic goals. An examination is needed to determine whether veneers are suitable and whether another treatment may better address the concern.
What Happens During a Veneer Consultation?
Planning veneer treatment begins with understanding what you would like to change about your smile. The dentist can then assess your teeth and discuss what treatment may realistically achieve.
Depending on your needs, the consultation may include:
- Discussing cosmetic concerns and treatment goals
- Examining the teeth and gums
- Checking for tooth decay or gum disease
- Assessing your bite and available enamel
- Reviewing clenching or grinding habits
- Taking photographs, scans, or impressions when needed
- Discussing veneer shade, shape, and the number of teeth involved
- Reviewing alternatives and treatment limitations
The information gathered during the consultation helps shape the treatment plan.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are custom-made ceramic shells bonded to the front surfaces of selected teeth. They are designed to change certain aspects of a tooth’s appearance while preserving more natural tooth structure than treatments that cover the entire tooth.
Veneers may be considered for chipped teeth, certain types of discolouration, small spaces, uneven tooth shapes, or mild cosmetic irregularities. A single tooth veneer may be appropriate for an isolated concern, while several veneers may be considered when multiple teeth are involved.
What Cosmetic Concerns Can Veneers Address?
Depending on the condition of the teeth, veneers may be considered for:
- Chipped or mildly worn front teeth
- Certain stained or discoloured teeth
- Small gaps between selected teeth
- Uneven tooth shapes or proportions
- Minor differences in neighbouring teeth
- Selected cosmetic concerns involving one or several front teeth
More extensive damage, significant bite problems, active dental disease, or major tooth-position concerns may require another approach.
The Porcelain Veneer Treatment Process
Tooth Preparation
If veneers are appropriate, the teeth are prepared according to the treatment plan. Depending on the treatment plan, minimal enamel preparation may be needed to provide enough room for the veneer.
Impressions and Shade Selection
Impressions or digital scans may be taken to help create the restorations. The dentist also considers shade, shape, neighbouring teeth, and overall smile proportions during planning.
Temporary Veneers
While the final veneers are being prepared, temporary restorations may be used when appropriate for the treatment plan.
Veneer Bonding
Before final placement, the veneers are checked for fit and appearance. The tooth surfaces are prepared for bonding, and the veneers are secured with dental bonding materials. The dentist then checks the margins and bite, making adjustments as needed.
Are Porcelain Veneers Right for You?
Veneer candidacy depends on the condition of your teeth, gums, enamel, and bite, as well as the changes you would like to make.
The dentist may assess enamel thickness, existing restorations, gum health, tooth position, bite forces, and habits such as clenching or grinding.
Active tooth decay or gum disease generally needs to be addressed before cosmetic veneer treatment. Significant enamel loss, extensive tooth damage, or heavy grinding may also affect whether veneers are appropriate.
Veneers Compared With Other Treatments
Different cosmetic concerns may be better suited to different treatments.
- Dental bonding may be considered for selected minor chips, small spaces, or shape changes.
- Professional teeth whitening focuses on changing tooth colour without altering shape.
- Invisalign treatment moves teeth rather than covering their front surfaces.
- Dental crowns cover more of a tooth and may be considered when greater structural protection is needed.
- Smile planning may combine several cosmetic or restorative procedures when multiple concerns are involved.
Porcelain and Composite Veneers
Porcelain and composite can both be used to change the appearance of selected teeth, but their treatment processes differ.
Porcelain veneers are ceramic restorations fabricated before being bonded to prepared teeth. Composite veneers generally involve applying and shaping tooth-coloured resin directly on the tooth.
Differences may include preparation requirements, stain resistance, repair options, treatment time, and maintenance. The appropriate material depends on the condition of the tooth and the treatment plan.
Caring for Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers require ongoing oral hygiene and dental care. Although porcelain is resistant to staining, natural teeth around veneers and areas near the margins can still change in appearance.
To care for veneers:
- Brush and floss regularly.
- Clean carefully along the gumline.
- Avoid chewing ice or biting pens and fingernails.
- Do not use your teeth to open packages.
- Wear a nightguard if recommended for grinding or clenching.
- Attend routine dental examinations and cleanings.
- Contact the dentist if a veneer chips, fractures, feels loose, or changes your bite.
A veneer can occasionally chip, fracture, or debond. Depending on the condition of the restoration and underlying tooth, repair or replacement may be needed.
Request a Porcelain Veneer Consultation
If you are considering veneers for chipped, discoloured, uneven, or spaced teeth, a dental assessment can help determine whether porcelain veneers may be appropriate for your needs.
Call (604) 942-6282 or complete the appointment form to request a consultation.