Veneers

Do you long for a brighter, whiter, more beautiful smile? If so, a Smile Makeover may be what you need. A Smile Makeover can improve more than just your smile, it can improve your life!

Did you know...?

• Approximately 99.7% of Americans believe a smile is an important social asset.
• 96% of adults believe a nice smile makes people more attractive to the opposite sex.
• Approximately 74% of adults feel that an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for career success.
• Smiling can actually make you feel better by producing a hormone known as "cerebral morphine”.

While Smile Makeovers can be a compilation of several different procedures, the most significant of these procedures are porcelain restorations called Veneers. Porcelain veneers can help change the size, shape, color, alignment and overall look of your teeth. Veneers are seamless coverings for your teeth. They are virtually undetectable even when viewed from mere inches away. Veneers do not stain, and, with good home care and routine dental visits, can last for upwards of 10-15 years.

In a recent study conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), participants were asked: "What is the first thing you notice in a person's smile?". Some of the most common responses were: straightness, whiteness of teeth, cleanliness of teeth, and the sparkle of the smile. By completing a smile makeover with porcelain veneers, you can achieve the beautiful, healthy looking smile you desire. Want more information about veneers? Please read our question and answer section below. You can also visit our Smile Makeover gallery to view some of our very own before and afters and see for yourself the difference veneers have made in the lives of so many of our patients.

What are Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers are thin, semi-translucent pieces of porcelain that are permanently bonded to the front portion your teeth. While not suitable for every patient, veneers are typically the most aesthetic alternative for a variety of dental conditions involving the front teeth. Some of conditions that can be corrected by veneers include:

• Discolored, Yellow, or Stained Teeth that are resistant to whitening
• Broken or chipped teeth
• Gaps or spaces between teeth known as Diastemas
• Old, stained, unsightly fillings
• Crooked teeth

What are the Advantages and Benefits to having Veneers?

• Veneers can be used to restore your smile in a very healthy, "natural" looking way
• Veneers are generally the most aesthetic option for restoring teeth in the front of your mouth
• Only a very conservative amount of tooth structure is removed during the veneer procedure
• Porcelain veneers are the most aesthetic biocompatible material that can be used next to the gum tissue
• Veneers can address multiple issues that cannot be corrected by other procedures alone such as orthodontics or whitening
• Your smile can be completely transformed in the matter of a few weeks instead of months or years

How are Veneers different from Bonding or Crowns?
For many years, tooth colored resin filling material known as bonding was used to cover the front surface of teeth. Bonding lacks the strength and natural appearance of porcelain veneers, so, now days, it is typically only used to fill in small surfaces or cavities and repair small chips in teeth. A full porcelain crown is used when a substantial amount of tooth structure has been lost or decayed or when a tooth has been previously treated with a root canal. A crown covers all surfaces of the tooth structure where a veneer only wraps around the front of the tooth.

How are Porcelain Veneers done?
Once you have made the decision to move forward with your smile makeover, we will take dental records and photographs of your current smile. We will use this information to begin working with you to design your new smile. We will then create a model or “waxup” of your new smile that we will use as our blueprint for your new smile. Once we receive this blueprint, your teeth are prepared for the veneers and an impression is taken. At this appointment, you can say goodbye to your old smile and hello to a preview of your new one, because today you will receive your “Prototype Smile”. Your prototype smile is a beautiful set of temporaries based on our blueprint that you will wear until your final veneers are fabricated. Unlike any other cosmetic surgery procedure, the prototype smile allows you to evaluate what you like or don’t like about your newly designed smile. Changes can be made while you are wearing your prototype smile to ensure that your final smile looks exactly the way you want. Each porcelain veneer is custom made to the exact specifications created by you and the dentist. With this technique there are no surprises and the final result is nothing less than spectacular. Once your veneers have been fabricated, the prototype smile is removed, and, upon your approval, your final veneers are permanently bonded to your teeth. You will leave that day with the smile of your dreams and a new lease on life.

If you would like more information about veneers or would like to schedule a complimentary smile consultation, please call our office at 480-860-0092.