Porcelain Veneers
In just two dental visits, special thin laminates, called veneers, can correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth and reverse years of stains caused by foods, caffeine and tobacco use.
The process involves buffing the tooth, removing an extremely thin layer of the tooth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression of the tooth, and final bonding of the veneer to the tooth with special cement.
Another process called bonding can accomplish some of the same things, but it does not last as long. Material that looks much like the enamel on your teeth is used during a bonding procedure. The material is shaped to the tooth, and when it becomes hard it is polished.
In addition, dental contouring and reshaping can correct chipped, cracked, crooked, or even overlapping teeth. This procedure can alter the shape, length, or position of teeth.