Do you hide your smile because of stained teeth? Do chipped or oddly spaced teeth make you feel self-conscious?
Not smiling can negatively affect your attitude and what others think about you. Instead of living with tarnished or imperfect teeth, consider a smile makeover with porcelain veneers.
If your teeth are severely stained, chipped, broken, or unevenly spaced, porcelain veneers can provide brightness and uniformity by correcting color and shape. With veneers, you’ll never again want to stifle your smile.
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are an extremely popular and simple way to dramatically improve the appearance of front teeth, those that show in a smile. Each veneer is a custom-made, wafer-thin shell, handcrafted in a dental lab. Permanently bonded to the front surface of a tooth, a veneer can completely alter the tooth’s appearance. Furthermore, veneers are strong and can last up to 20 years.
Depending on your needs and desires, veneers might be an excellent option to make over your smile.
Issues porcelain veneers can correct include:
- Severely discolored teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Uneven teeth
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Teeth that are too small
- Rotated teeth
If you and your dentist deem veneers to be the right treatment for your smile makeover, they could eliminate the need for crowns, bonding, whitening, and braces.
What is the process for porcelain veneers?
The first step is a consultation with Dr. Mallakis or Dr. McDonald, who will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. Good oral health is important to establish before having cosmetic dental procedures.
Once a healthy foundation is established for your smile makeover, you and the doctor can determine whether veneers should be part of your treatment plan. If so, the doctor will explain the procedure, discuss the benefits and limitations, and answer your questions.
The doctor will prepare your teeth for the veneers using a guide to ensure proper space is made, while being minimally invasive.
Once your teeth are prepared, we will use our CEREC PrimeScan to get digital impressions of your teeth and bite. We will then send these impressions to our lab, where they will customize your veneers to fit each tooth perfectly.
Since it can take two to three weeks for the lab to fabricate your veneers, we will place temporary veneers to cover your teeth while you wait.
When your new veneers arrive, you will return to our office for placement. The doctor will secure them, making any necessary adjustments. Your bite will be assessed to make sure that proper occlusion is maintained.
Take care of your veneers just as you do natural teeth. Brush twice a day and floss daily, and attend professional, checkups and cleanings.
You may experience some temporary temperature sensitivity after placement of veneers. This should lessen over a few weeks until it resolves.
Am I a candidate for porcelain veneers?
While porcelain veneers are a great option for most patients, there are a few things to consider.
If you have active gum disease or dental decay, we must re-establish good oral health before giving you veneers.
Also, if you clench or grind your teeth (a condition called bruxism), the dentist will suggest the best treatment option. Some patients require orthodontics to get the best results. Still others only need a simple nightguard to eliminate nighttime grinding.
Are you ready to fall in love with your smile?
To find out if veneers are the best smile makeover option for you, schedule an appointment at Lifetimes Smiles in Escondido. Call (760) 747-1811 today.