Porcelain Veneers
At The Smile Artists, watching patients see their brilliant new smile for the first time is the highlight of our day. Sometimes referred to as instant orthodontics, veneers can dramatically transform your smile. A set of veneers can correct chips, stains, and even deeply discolored teeth. But they can also alter the length and size of teeth or help give the appearance of a straight tooth where there is not. While it may sound dramatic, it isn’t. Veneers provide a highly conservative approach to esthetic smile makeovers.
Veneers are the ultimate combination of dental art and science, handcrafted and customized to fit your smile. These paper-thin pieces of porcelain bond to the outside of your natural teeth. But just because they’re thin, don’t be fooled. Veneers are highly versatile and can replicate all the complex nuances of a natural tooth.
Good Planning Paves the Way
There’s a lot of diagnostic work and careful planning that goes into a treatment plan that includes veneers. Models, photographs, and digital x-rays allow you and the doctor to create a perfect blueprint to guide your treatment from start to finish. Like all successful projects, this planning can’t be compromised. Our doctors will consider your input and incorporate your desires into your veneer case, from color to shape and everything in between.
The Next Steps
Once the doctor plans your case, it will take around two appointments before you leave with a stunning new smile. At the first visit, the teeth are gently prepared to allow space for the ultra-thin porcelain to be crafted by a master lab technician.
The doctor will create temporary restorations that mimic the veneers, which you’ll wear for up to three weeks. These temporaries provide a preview of your new smile and lets you try it out to see if any further changes are needed.
Delivering the Magic
After your veneers have been masterfully crafted to our doctor’s specific instructions, you’ll return for a second appointment. our doctors will try in each veneer and evaluate the appearance and fit. They will go through several steps to precisely bond the thin veneers to the surface of your teeth, creating an incredibly strong bond between tooth and porcelain. Minor adjustments to your bite and a final polish will leave you with a smile that may have you wondering why you waited so long to find The Smile Artists.
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Dental Veneers FAQs
Veneers can provide dramatic cosmetic improvements, but it is important to ensure patients are good candidates before moving forward. Though veneers are open to most patients, some candidate requirements include:
- Healthy teeth and gums with no active decay or gum disease
- Sufficient tooth surface for proper bonding
- No current bruxism or clenching (could wear down veneers)
Patients who receive porcelain veneers can typically expect 10 to 15 years for their veneers. However, we have seen patients get 20+ years out of their veneers with excellent care. In contrast, patients may see their veneers wear down quickly with poor oral hygiene and unhealthy habits.
- Consultation: Have a full assessment and go over your treatment options. Build your personalized plan alongside our cosmetic dentist.
- Tooth Preparation: We remove a thin layer of enamel to make space for the veneer to fit properly.
- Imaging & Impressions: We create full digital models of your teeth, which the lab will use to make your veneers.
- Placement: We place and bond the veneers to your teeth, making minor adjustments as needed, to provide fully satisfactory and comfortable results.
Getting veneers involves removing a thin portion of enamel, so they require commitment to continually having veneers. As such, they are not considered a reversible treatment. You can change out veneers, however, if you change your mind about how they look.
Well-made porcelain veneers should look completely natural. However, the opposite is also true. Budget or poorly made veneers can often look notably artificial. Their color can be too white, and the size might not look natural for your smile. Careful and personalized planning is essential for getting results that look great without looking overdone.
The average per-tooth cost is typically $1,500 to $3,000 for porcelain veneers. If you plan to get multiple veneers, the cost usually is lower per tooth. Additionally, the amount of preparation treatment needed can affect the final price.
Unfortunately, dental insurance plans do not provide coverage for veneers since they are cosmetic.
Brush, floss, and attend dental check-ups. These three things alone will do most of the heavy lifting for keeping your veneers in good shape. As with natural teeth, veneers can wear down due to poorly maintained oral health. Likewise, avoid or address habits that would damage your teeth, such as:
- Biting hard objects
- Using teeth as tools
- Chewing your fingernails
- Chewing ice
- Grinding teeth
- Contact sports w/o mouthguards
In most cases, yes! A single veneer can address multiple cosmetic concerns at once. However, individual exceptions may apply.
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