Veneers
What makes a smile beautiful? That’s a complex question, but some qualities of a lovely smile are immediately identifiable: good tooth color, shape and alignment are a few of the most important ones. If your teeth could use improvement in any of these categories, porcelain veneers could be just what you’re looking for.
A dental veneer is a wafer-thin layer of super-strong porcelain that convincingly substitutes for natural tooth enamel. When bonded to your teeth, veneers can create a natural-looking, beautiful new surface. That’s because dental porcelain, like natural tooth enamel, is translucent and tough. But it doesn’t stain like tooth enamel does.
Recent years have brought remarkable advances in dental porcelain technology. These days, veneers can be made so thin that they can sometimes be bonded directly onto your existing tooth surface. In other cases, a very thin layer of tooth enamel — as thin as the veneer itself — needs to be removed to fit the new porcelain surface and make it look as lifelike as possible. Either way, the results are sure to make you smile.
Versatility of Porcelain Veneers.
Veneers can be used to improve any of the following characteristics of your teeth:
Color — Teeth can become stained by the foods and drinks we like, from smoking, and even normal aging. Veneers are available in numerous shades, from the most natural to the brightest Hollywood white.
Size & Shape — Teeth can become worn down from grinding habits, or may not have the shape or size you want to begin with. For example, some people consider rounder teeth more feminine and squarer teeth more masculine. Veneers can be shaped and sized in whichever way is most flattering to your face.
Alignment & Spacing — Veneers can be used to close small gaps between teeth or make slight corrections in alignment while improving tooth color and shape.
Limitations of Porcelain Veneers.
There are some situations in which veneers would be inappropriate. For example, if you have significantly misaligned teeth or a large gap, orthodontics might be a more appropriate solution than veneers. And if you have lost a lot of tooth structure from decay or trauma (or a particularly severe grinding habit), it might be better to restore your teeth with porcelain crowns that cover the entire tooth.
Creating a New Smile with Porcelain Veneers.
The first step in creating a new smile with porcelain veneers is to communicate exactly what you don’t like about your smile as it is now. It’s a great idea to bring in pictures of smiles you do like, as a starting point for discussion. It’s possible to see how veneers would look on your teeth in one of several ways. A model of your teeth can be created over which wax “veneers” can be placed; sometimes acrylic (plastic) or tooth-colored filling material can be placed directly onto your teeth to demonstrate the effect veneers would have on them.
Once the plan has been agreed upon, your teeth will be prepared by removing a small amount of enamel, if this step is necessary. Molds of your teeth will be taken and used by a skilled dental laboratory to create your veneers, and you will receive a temporary set of veneers to wear during the few weeks it will take to create your permanent veneers. When the veneers come back from the lab, they will be cemented onto your teeth.
Caring for Your Veneers.
Just like the teeth nature gave you, teeth restored with veneers need gentle brushing and flossing every day. This will remove dental plaque and ensure good gum tissue health around the veneers. Regular checkups at the dental office will remain as important as always to your oral and general health. And keep in mind that as tough as veneers are, they may not be able to withstand forces that come from using your teeth as tools (to open packages, for example) or biting into very hard foods like candy apples — which isn’t good for your natural teeth, either! And if you grind or clench your teeth at night, you might be advised to get a custom-made nightguard to protect your veneers — and your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Veneers
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What is a cosmetic veneer?
A dental veneer is a thin, custom-made porcelain restoration that is designed to cover the front and sides of a tooth to improve its appearance. They are made from porcelain and can address various cosmetic concerns such as discoloration, chips, gaps, and misalignment. The process usually involves preparing the tooth by removing a small amount of enamel and bonding the veneer to achieve a natural and aesthetic look.
How will my veneers look?
Both restorations are absolutely beautiful. They will blend seamlessly with your natural dentition and achieve any smile correction that is desired.
How beautiful?
Dr. Spina tells his lab technician that if he wants to get married and he doesn't have a ring, just one of their crowns, it has to be so beautiful that she says "yes".
Where are the veneers made? Why is that important?
All restorations are made by Friendship Dental Lab in Baltimore, MD. It is critically important to the long-term success of your restoration that it is made in the USA. Because the laboratory is local, Dr. Spina can personally go to the lab and verify each step of the fabrication meets his and FDA standards. Some offices outsource lab services to China, Romania and Mexico. Dr. Spina feels there is no way to verify material used and quality control in labs that are not based in the USA.
What are the risks?
Anytime the tooth is worked on for cosmetics or restorative needs, there is a risk that the nerve of the tooth will respond badly to the procedure. In that case, an endodontic procedure may be needed.
Dr. Spina just finished my veneers and now I can’t stop smiling.
Love him.
—Jackie Davenport
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