Foothills Dental 780 865-7673

Dental Veneers: The Procedure

1st Step: Every patient must have an exam and discuss their cosmetic preferences with one of the Dentist at Capital Smiledocs Dental. The oral health of the patient and any malocclusion (crowding and incorrect bite) must be addressed before veneers will be recommended. An impression is taken of the upper and lower teeth and the lab will fabricate a wax model of the future veneers. The patient will be able to choose the style of veneer desired from our photo examples.
How many Dental Veneers do I need?
Many patients are interested in placing a veneer on one or two teeth to improve their appearance. While this can be done, we highly recommend placing veneers on each tooth seen when you smile. Some people have smaller mouths and may only have 4 or 6 teeth visible when smiling or talking. Others may have a “Julia Roberts” smile and need 6 to 10 veneers made. We use the best labs in Ottawa, Ontario and we make our veneers as natural looking as the patient desires.
2^nd Step: The patient will return to review and revise the wax model of the veneers.  This is absolutely necessary to review with the patient because it provides a physical, visual example of the final result.  Wax-ups, as they are called, provide the patient with a chance to review and change any part of the veneer that they don’t like. The size, shape, length, texture, or color will all be considered and the patient will be able to make educated decisions for their permanent veneers.
3^rd Step: Once the look of the veneers is chosen, the patient will return for the veneer preparation visit. The Dentist will slightly reduce the chosen teeth and take the final impression for the lab. Temporary veneers are made in the office to replicate the permanent veneers. The patient will wear these for a few days while the lab creates the permanent veneers.
Note: Some patients may require Laser Gum Recontouring.  When preparing for veneers, the gumline can be moved or re-shaped to prevent a “gummy smile” and the veneers will be made to sit perfectly along the gumline. We use a very gentle laser that promotes quick healing and little to no discomfort.
4^th Step: The temporary veneers are gently removed, the tooth is cleaned from any cement, and the Permanent Veneers are placed on the teeth with permanent cement. Any slight or small adjustments will be made by the dentist to ensure correct bite and esthetics of the teeth.