Instantly Straighten Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers By Byron J Nordhus D.D.S. on April 13, 2015

Are you self conscious about slightly crooked or misaligned teeth? Perhaps you long for a more beautiful smile, but you do not want to wear braces for a year or more. Maybe you want to straighten your teeth, but you have additional cosmetic blemishes that affect your smile. With porcelain veneers, Dr. Byron Nordhus can enhance your smile in just one or two appointments. He will attach these thin shells to the front of your teeth to hide slight misalignment and give you even, youthful teeth. Instant orthodontics is a great cosmetic option, but it is not suitable for everyone. Dr. Nordhus will evaluate your smile and make an honest recommendation about the most appropriate treatment for you. To learn more about instant orthodontics with porcelain veneers, contact our Wichita practice today.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are custom-made porcelain shells, placed during a minimally invasive procedure. To prep your teeth, Dr. Nordhus will trim off a thin layer of enamel. This step will allow the porcelain to lie flat against your teeth. Then your dentist will take digital impressions of your teeth using our advanced iTero^TMscanner. These precise measurements will enable our offsite lab to create veneers that are a near perfect fit for your teeth. Along with the shape and size, they will match the porcelain to the natural color of your smile. When the veneers are finished, Dr. Nordhus will microetch your teeth and attach the porcelain with dental cement.

Can Veneers Straighten Your Teeth?

The term “instant orthodontics” can be slightly misleading, since veneers will not actually straighten your teeth. Rather, they will conceal crooked teeth, creating an even façade for your smile. Veneers can also close small gaps between your teeth. However, the porcelain shells will not change your bite alignment or the pressure of your bite. Though veneers will not actually straighten your teeth, they can achieve comparable esthetic results in just two office visits. In comparison, braces will typically remain on your teeth for 9 to 18 months. Along with improving slightly crooked teeth, veneers can achieve many other cosmetic effects. These include:

Hiding stains, especially internal stains
Covering up cracks or chips
Enhancing small, worn, or irregularly shaped teeth

Are You a Candidate for Instant Orthodontics?

If your crooked teeth only affect the appearance of your smile, you may qualify for porcelain veneers. However, if you suffer from more severe orthodontic issues, this treatment may not be a good solution. Overbites, underbites, and crossbites certainly impact your appearance. They can also compromise your dental health, leading to tooth erosion, weakened teeth, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and related conditions. Additionally, severe misalignment will put uneven force on your teeth. This will damage the veneers, shortening their lifespan. Dental erosion is another consideration when determining candidacy. If you have worn teeth, you may not have enough enamel to undergo the preparatory process. Dr. Nordhus will evaluate your goals and health needs before suggesting instant orthodontics. He is completely honest with all of his patients, and he will recommend the treatment that is in your best interests.