Porcelain Veneers

While a complex smile makeover treatment plan can help you achieve your ideal smile, many patients would prefer a more convenient way to correct a number of smile imperfections. For these patients, Your dentist might recommend porcelain veneers. Within the industry, porcelain veneers have earned the nickname “the instant smile makeover” for their ability to address a number of cosmetic issues in a single two-phase procedure. Using the same CEREC® technology he uses to craft dental crowns in house, a dentist can design and fabricate your porcelain veneers onsite, saving you time and money. For patients who prefer a no-prep alternative to traditional porcelain veneers, Some dentists also offer Lumineers®, an ultrathin veneer that requires little to no enamel preparation.

Porcelain veneers are thin coverings that mimic the look of natural tooth enamel and can mask a wide range of cosmetic imperfections, dramatically improving the appearance of nearly any smile. Although they are the cornerstone of the most dramatic Hollywood smile makeovers, porcelain veneers allow just about anyone to achieve a dazzling smile in just two trips to the dentist’s office. Cosmetic and general dentists  have placed thousands of porcelain veneers on patients from Pittsburgh to Cleveland, and he would welcome the opportunity to do the same for you.

A Brief Introduction to Porcelain Veneers

Constructed from high-quality porcelain, veneers are delicate shells that cover the front surfaces of your teeth to give your smile a symmetrical, flawless look. Although porcelain is fragile on its own, it becomes exceptionally strong when bonded to a healthy tooth. Many cosmetic dentists use CEREC®, the same technology we use to craft one-visit dental crowns and bridges, to fabricate custom-designed porcelain veneers in a single visit. Before proceeding with veneers, your dentist will first perform a thorough evaluation of your oral health and the strength of your teeth. Once you are deemed a good candidate for veneers, Your dentist will:

1. Prepare the teeth by removing small amounts of your enamel to accommodate the veneers.
2. Reshape the gum line using a dental laser, so that the veneers can rest naturally against the gums.
3. Take digital impressions of your teeth that he will use to design your veneers in a computer-assisted design environment. Once the design is complete, it will go to the CEREC® milling machine, which will use special drills to shape your veneers.
4. Using special tints and glazes, Dr. Sabatini will shade your veneers before heat-setting them for strength.
5. Finally, he will bond your veneers into place after first checking the fit and making adjustments if needed.

Porcelain veneers are an appropriate cosmetic dentistry solution for people with chipped teeth, severely stained teeth, gaps between teeth, crowded teeth, and teeth that are misshapen or disproportionate.

Lumineers®: The No-Prep Veneer

If the thought of having tooth enamel removed to make room for porcelain veneers makes you uncomfortable, Dentists may also offers Lumineers®, an ultra-thin variety of veneers that require minimal enamel removal and, in many cases, no preparation of the teeth whatsoever. Because they are extremely thin, Lumineers® are best for patients without severe staining. However, they feature the same strength and translucence as traditional porcelain veneers and can be an outstanding alternative for appropriate candidates.

Instant Orthodontics with Porcelain Veneers

The Fast Track to a Stunning Smile. If crooked teeth make you self-conscious, then instant orthodontics may be your fast track to a beautiful and more confident smile. All it takes is one or two visits to a cosmetic dentist.

In the past, straightening teeth required braces and repeated trips to the orthodontist. But now, porcelain veneers allow many people to get “instant” orthodontics that visually straighten their teeth while making them symmetrical and uniform. The treatment has the extra benefit of masking other flaws, such as discoloration, to make your smile extraordinary.

Many orthodontists use CEREC® technology to create instant orthodontics in a single visit. That means you can walk in with misaligned teeth and walk out that same day with a smile worthy of the red carpet.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain that cover the front of a tooth. Porcelain has a natural luster similar to the enamel on your teeth, which allows veneers to blend in naturally while masking flaws.  Each veneer is individually crafted to create a uniform and symmetrical smile.

Unlike braces, porcelain veneers can solve multiple problems at once. In addition to visually straightening your teeth, veneers also hide stained or discolored teeth. They can make your teeth more even, improving the symmetry of your smile, by covering chipped or misshapen teeth. Veneers can also mask small gaps between teeth or improve the look of crowded teeth.

Instant Orthodontics Process

The first step in the instant orthodontics process is preparing your teeth. A thin layer of enamel must be removed from the front of your teeth to make room for the veneers and create a good bonding surface.

Your gum line may also be reshaped to create an attractive and uniform gum line. This step also creates an even gum line for placing the veneers.

Next, digital impressions of your teeth will be created so the veneers can be individually crafted for a custom fit. The designs are then sent to the CEREC®computer-guided milling machine.

After milling, the veneers are custom-colored using special tints and glazes so they will match your teeth and blend in seamlessly. At this point, the veneers are heated to add strength.

Before being placed in your mouth, each veneer will be checked with your teeth to ensure a good fit. After any adjustments, they will be bonded in place.

Dental Veneer Cost

Porcelain veneers and composite resin veneers are the two known types of veneers. Porcelain veneers are more expensive but they last longer than composite resin. Porcelain veneers can cost up to $2600 and they can last for more than 15 years. Composite resin will cost up to $1400 and can a lifespan of five to seven years.

The placement of porcelain veneers usually take place over a period of two months with several dental visits. In the first step, one must a through examination done by a  dentist. This examination includes a smile design (makeover) consultation in which the dentist will explain to the patient how they will create a new smile for them. The cosmetic dentist may also show a computer generated image of what the patient might look like after he is done. In the next step, the cosmetic dentist must remove enamel from every tooth getting a veneer. The amount of enamel removed is about 0.3 – 0.7 millimeters (the thickness of egg shell or fingernail). In other step, the dentist must make an impression of the patient’s teeth.  This mold of teeth is then sent to a dental laboratory where a lab technician uses them to create the custom veneers.

In the next appointment, the dentist make sure the veneers are the right fit and color for the patient. If they are not, other sets of veneers will be made until the right look and fit is found.  Next, the cosmetic dentist will bond the porcelain veneers to the patient’s teeth.

Things to Consider

Instant orthodontics creates beautiful smiles, but you should understand that the process is irreversible and a lifetime commitment. Once enamel has been removed from your teeth, you will always need veneers. Though veneers are durable and can last a decade or longer, at times they will need to be replaced. In addition, not everyone is a good candidate for porcelain veneers.

If you are bothered by crooked teeth, we recommend a personal consultation with your dentist to find out if you are a good candidate for instant orthodontics. He can assess your teeth and discuss treatment options suited to your needs, either veneers or other options you may not have considered.