Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and it can greatly impact how others perceive you. A confident, radiant smile can boost self-esteem, make a positive impression on those around you, and even improve your overall well-being. However, if you're unhappy with the appearance of your teeth due to stains, chips, gaps, or misalignment, you may feel hesitant to share your smile.
At Laurel Bowie Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, we understand that everyone deserves a smile they can be proud of. That's why we offer a range of cosmetic dentistry services, including porcelain veneers – a highly effective and minimally invasive solution for transforming the appearance of your teeth.
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin facings custom-crafted from high-quality dental porcelain. These durable, stain-resistant shells are designed to seamlessly bond to the front surfaces of your teeth, concealing a variety of cosmetic imperfections and creating a natural-looking, flawless smile.
Veneers can address an array of concerns, including:
Veneers offer a multitude of advantages, making them an attractive option for many patients seeking cosmetic dental enhancements. Some key benefits include:
Getting porcelain veneers typically involves three visits to our dental office. During your initial consultation, we'll discuss your smile goals and assess the health of your teeth and gums. We may also take impressions, photographs, and X-rays to help plan your treatment.
Tooth preparation: Before placing veneers, a small amount of enamel is gently removed from the surface of each tooth receiving a veneer. This creates space for the veneer and ensures a natural-looking result. After preparing the teeth, we'll take an impression to send to our dental laboratory, where your custom veneers will be crafted.
Temporary veneers: While your permanent veneers are being fabricated, we'll place temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth and maintain their appearance during the interim period. Temporary veneers usually stay in place for about two weeks.
Veneer placement: Once your custom veneers have been returned from the laboratory, you'll return to our office for their final placement. We'll first check the fit, color, and shape of each veneer, making any necessary adjustments before bonding them to your teeth. Using a special cement, we'll apply each veneer to its corresponding tooth, using a curing light to activate the adhesive and secure it in place. After ensuring a proper fit and making any final adjustments, your new smile will be complete!
Maintaining the longevity and appearance of your porcelain veneers requires good oral hygiene habits and regular dental check-ups. Here are some tips to help you care for your veneers:
At Laurel Bowie Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, we're committed to helping you achieve the confident, radiant smile you've always wanted. If you're interested in learning more about porcelain veneers or any of our other cosmetic dentistry services, please don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation.
We look forward to helping you transform your smile and improve your overall well-being with the power of porcelain veneers!
Determining if a veneer is suitable or a full-coverage crown is required depends on the extent of the tooth's defects and the remaining amount of healthy tooth structure. For teeth with imperfections that cannot be remedied with a teeth whitening procedure, dental veneers often provide the desired cosmetic improvements. However, a significantly undersized, misshapen, chipped, or darkly stained tooth usually requires a full coverage crown.
Porcelain veneers are fabricated from the highest grade of dental ceramics, which reflect light in much the same way as the enamel of natural teeth. In addition to this feature, dental porcelain is resistant to stains and discolorations, keeping your smile white and vibrant for years to come.
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin customized facings that become strong and durable once bonded to the underlying teeth. With proper hygiene and routine dental care, veneers provide a cosmetic solution that not only looks and feels completely natural but is also long lasting.
However, just as harmful oral habits can affect your natural teeth, they can also cause damage to your veneers. To prevent chipping, cracking, or dislodging a veneer, avoid nail biting, chewing on hard candies, ice, pens, or pencils, and opening bottles or other objects with your teeth. Also, remember to protect your smile on the playing field by wearing a properly fitted sports mouthguard.
Tooth grinding or bruxism is another important consideration in care. If you clench or grind your teeth, you may need to wear a night guard to help protect your new smile or discuss other options with our office.
As versatile as they are beautiful, dental veneers can be applied to a single tooth in need of cosmetic improvement or multiple front teeth to dramatically improve the look of your smile. Whatever the case may be, dental veneers provide highly satisfying results to create a smile; you'll feel confident sharing with the world.
Among the many benefits offered by dental veneers is their ability to mask a range of imperfections at once. In addition to covering stains or discolorations on the front surface of a tooth, the size and shape of a veneer can also be customize to improve the tooth's contours and dimensions. At the same time veneers create a whiter and more vibrant smile; they can also lengthen or widen a tooth, close minor gaps, and address other minor alignment issues.
The two most common types of veneers are porcelain veneers, also known as porcelain laminates, and composite veneers. Although porcelain veneers are the most commonly offered option in care, composite veneers fabricated directly on the tooth can also achieve excellent results. You may have also heard the term no-prep veneer. It refers to a type of porcelain veneer that requires little to no preparation of the underlying dental enamel. At your consultation visit, we'll discuss your best options in care.
Once they're in place, your veneers are also easy to care for and maintain. Simply by brushing, flossing, and visiting our office for periodic checkups, you can successfully protect and preserve your new and beautiful smile.
Although certain procedures that are considered cosmetic may not be covered by dental insurance, veneers remain a worthwhile investment in your smile. Based on the unique considerations of each case, we develop treatment plans that consider specific dental needs, cosmetic goals, and budget. Our experienced and friendly office staff can address all your insurance questions and review various payment and financing options.
At the office of Laurel Bowie Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, we value patient input and pay close attention to your treatment goals, concerns, and expectations in care. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, we recognize that every smile is unique and never take a “one size fits all” approach to care. We utilize the most advanced diagnostic technology and treatment methods to assess your smile and to design your porcelain veneers for a precise fit and optimal aesthetics.
As experienced providers of care, we provide highly personalized treatment, combining state-of-the-art technology with an artistic touch to produce long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing results of care.
