How to Use Veneers to Close a Diastema

A diastema is a gap between teeth. Diastemas do not pose an oral health concern. However, especially when a diastema appears between front teeth, people may find them cosmetically unpleasing. A cosmetic dentist can apply veneers to close the diastema and improve your smile. According to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, there are two types of veneers available. Traditional ceramic or porcelain veneers require significant removal of tooth enamel and possible the dentin, under surface of the tooth, in order to bond the veneers. These veneers encase both the front and back of the tooth. Commercial minimal preparation or "no-prep" veneers can be places only on the front surface of the tooth and may not require removal of any tooth enamel. Regardless of your choice of veneer, the procedure of application is similar.

Things You'll Need

• Cosmetic dentist
• Temporary and permanent veneers

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Instructions

Repairing a Diastema with Veneers

• 1

  Contact your dental insurance provider, if available. Some insurance companies pay a percentage of cosmetic dentistry, while others consider cosmetic dentistry an elective and will not pay anything.

• 2

  Make an appointment with a cosmetic dentist to discuss the application of veneers to close the diastema. The dentist will evaluate the size and position of the diastema as well as the health of your teeth and gums.

• 3

  Determine if porcelain veneers or minimal prep veneers are right for you. Discuss your long-term goals with your dentist as well as any pre-existing tooth sensitivity. Your dentist will determine if the diastema is too large to cover with a minimal prep veneer, you may have no choice but to use porcelain veneers.

• 4

  Use a color chart to choose the color of veneer you think looks most natural. Your dentist will help you with this selection.

• 5

  File teeth into the correct shape for veneer application. The dentist will remove at least a small layer of enamel to accommodate the thickness of the veneer. If the teeth being covered are also misaligned, the tooth may require reshaping in order for the porcelain veneers to sit straight.

• 6

  Cast the newly reshaped teeth. This mold will be sent off to create the permanent veneers. If you are using minimal prep veneers, there is no need for casting. The facing veneer can be places on the same day as the shaping because these veneers do not encase the entire tooth. In this case, you will skip directly to Step 10.

• 7

  Apply temporary veneers. These veneers will resemble the final product, but will not fit tightly. Because the enamel has been removed, you will experience increased sensitivity at this time. Using a sensitivity reducing toothpaste may help lessen the symptoms.

• 8

  Make an appointment for application of permanent veneers. The process of constructing porcelain or minimal prep veneers may take one to two weeks.

• 9

  Return to the dentist for final application.

• 10

  Clean, polish and etch the teeth to be covered. This will prepare the teeth for bonding.

• 11

  Apply tooth cement and then position the veneers. The dentist will adjust the veneers to sit aesthetically among the surrounding teeth as well as snugly against the anchor teeth. The dentist will provide you with a mirror to check the positioning of your new veneers before permanently setting the cement.

• 12

  Use a special light to penetrate the veneers and permanently set the cement. This light causes a chemical reaction that bonds the veneer to the tooth.