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Partial
Dentures
Q:
What are porcelain veneers?
A: These are also called "porcelain laminates," "porcelain
laminate veneers," and just "veneers". For our purposes,
we will just call them veneers. Veneers are formed porcelain shells
that are used to create a new front surface to a tooth. These are thin
sculpted pieces of tooth-shaped porcelain that fit over the front of
the teeth and are the premier standard of care in cosmetic dentistry.
Permanently bonded to the front surface of a tooth, to restore or improve
position, shape and tooth color, they can make a dramatic, immediate
difference to one's smile and overall facial appearance. Veneers are
wonderful for fixing common problems such as midline spaces (the gap-toothed
look of the two front upper teeth) or chipped, crooked, missing, discolored,
pitted, malformed or improperly positioned teeth. Once only accessible
to the wealthy and top Hollywood stars and models, veneers are now a
popular way for many people to obtain the smile of their dreams.
Q:
Is there really a difference between the porcelain veneers you can get
from one dental office and another?
A: Yes, there is a real blend of art and science behind high-end aesthetic
dentistry. All veneers are not created equal. Our cosmetic dentists
have extensive training in the art of smile design, which determines
the colors, line angles, shapes, thickness, translucency, occlusion,
and many other factors that our dentists prescribe to our laboratory.
The lab then hand makes the veneers to our specifications. Veneers should
be custom-designed to fit your face, smile, gender and personality.
Done correctly, they look and feel like real teeth. You can be as much
a part of the selection process as you wish, but part of why you select
a cosmetic dentist is his or her experience and artistry in what looks
great. Intraoral computer imaging as well as before and after photos
of other cases will help you decide on the style, shape and color that
work best for you. Veneers are bonded in place with a high intensity
curing light. You can tell the quality by the photos of the work you
see in our office.
Q:
How are veneers made?
A: Veneers are made from a thin shell of porcelain and are permanently
bonded to the teeth. Our selected, world-class dental ceramists fabricate
the veneers from our impressions and color mapping specifications. Each
veneer is custom-designed to fit naturally and comfortably over each
tooth like a ballet slipper. After placement, these veneers are designed
to look like beautiful, natural teeth.
Q:
What are veneers used for?
A: Veneers can be used to correct the size, shape, color and alignment
of teeth. So if your smile suffers from teeth that are stained, crooked
or malformed for any reason (cracks, chips, fractures, spaces, smoking
or tetracycline stains, etc.), then you may be a great candidate for
porcelain veneers. Many people want straighter teeth without the hassle
and time orthodontic braces require. Now, teeth can be straightened
with porcelain veneers and crowns. Most people can get the shape, length
and degree of whiteness they want, and they don't stain!
But
what many people don't realize is that the shape of veneers in combination
with occlusal adjustments, such as opening the bite, can also have profound
impact on the entire face. This can result in giving the appearance
of a face-lift or elimination of wrinkles without any plastic surgery.
So in developing your personalized Smile Design, we take into account
building out certain teeth or reduce others to achieve such desired
objectives. This is why for a number of our clients, they actually look
10 years younger after our Smile Designs and just imagine their rejuvenated
spirit!
Q:
What's the difference between plastic veneers, bonding and porcelain
veneers?
A: Composite bonding (also sometimes called "direct veneers"
or "plastic veneers") is a tooth-colored plastic resin material.
Bonding can usually be placed in one visit and is used many times to
repair a smaller chip in a tooth or to make aesthetic improvements in
more than one tooth. Bonding usually requires little to no tooth reduction
or anesthesia. Because they are made out of porcelain in a lab, porcelain
veneers are usually more aesthetic in terms of the spectrum of colors,
realism and translucency. Porcelain veneers are also more of a long-term
solution than bonding, as they do not stain, discolor, and are stronger
than bonding. Porcelain veneers usually require only a couple of office
visits - the first visit to prepare the teeth and the second to seat
the veneers.
Q:
How quick can veneers give me a gorgeous smile?
A: Our clients can usually get the smile of their dreams in a couple
of visits. At the first veneer appointment, your teeth are prepared,
impressions are taken, and you will walk out of the office with custom
temporary veneers. In the second appointment, we permanently seat the
veneers. Imagine getting a new smile within one month -- one that actually
fits your face and personality and gives you the confidence to express
the real you!
Q:
Can veneers help correct my crooked teeth faster than braces?
A: Porcelain veneers are a perfect alternative to braces for many adults.
Veneers can correct the shape of teeth that are not aligned correctly,
have gaps and spaces. Older patients, who have always wanted straighter
teeth but no desire to undergo years of treatment with braces, usually
love this new technique. Instead of months and years in braces, crooked
teeth can usually be corrected in as little as two weeks with veneers.
In fact, even if you have had braces in the past but the size and shape
of your teeth is not pleasing to you, veneers may be the perfect solution.
See our Smile Gallery for amazing examples of what "instant ortho"
looks like.
Q:
What are the pros and cons of braces vs. veneers?
A: Sometimes called, "instant ortho," veneers can give the
appearance of straightening teeth, closing gaps, and changing the shape
of teeth to give a perfect smile. A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain.
After reducing the enamel on the tooth, the veneers are bonded in place
covering the visible part of a tooth. Seated correctly, they are strong
and should last a very long time. The bite is most often enhanced and
veneers do not stain or discolor.
Q:
How are the teeth prepared for veneers?
A: Unlike crowns, usually only a thin layer of enamel is removed from
the teeth to make room for the veneers. This allows us to make the veneers
to the proper contour without them appearing to be bulky or unnatural.
In some individuals, the amount of tooth reduction is dependent on the
final effect.
Q:
How are veneers placed on the teeth?
A: New advances in bonding technology allow us to create an extremely
strong bond between your teeth and the veneers. The teeth are first
prepared with a bonding adhesive and special resin cement is used as
the "glue." The resin cement is available in a number of different
colors to give the best possible aesthetic result. The veneers are bonded
to the teeth using a special dental curing light, which helps to create
a stronger, longer-lasting bond between the veneer and your tooth. The
durability, look and simplicity of application make it easy to see why
veneers have become one of the most popular dental treatments available
today.
Q:
How many veneers are needed for a new Smile Design?
A: This depends entirely on the desired result. If there is only one
tooth that is discolored or malformed, then a single veneer may be able
to be used. To get a more balanced and even looking result, many times
it is recommended that several veneers (from 4 to 8) be done at the
same time. This allows us to get the most beautiful result possible.
When closing large gaps between teeth, 6 to 10 veneers may be necessary
to get a proper aesthetic result.
Q:
How long will porcelain veneers last?
A: There are no hard and fast rules about how long porcelain veneers
will last. While you can certainly expect your veneers to last many
years (some patients have had them for 20 or more years), it is unrealistic
to expect them to last forever. With good home care and by exercising
good judgment, it seems likely that a porcelain veneer could last well
in excess of 10 to 15 years. Ask about our 5-year limited warranty.
Q:
Will my teeth be sensitive after I get veneers?
A: Some people experience sensitivity (to hot and cold or pressure,
etc.) after the placement of veneers. Some sensitivity is absolutely
normal and usually dissipates spontaneously from a day or so to a couple
of weeks. The reason for the sensitivity can arise from the amount of
enamel left on your tooth after preparation, the proximity of the nerve,
as well as several other factors. If this sensitivity remains or concerns
you at all, please contact your dentist.
Q:
Will I need to change my diet after getting veneers?
A: Once placed, your veneers are very strong and will resist most of
the forces placed upon them by a normal diet, so a normal diet should
pose no problem at all. Porcelain has great crushing strength but poor
tensile strength. Therefore, you should avoid anything that will bend
or twist the veneers. As with your regular teeth, opening bottle caps
with your teeth or crunching on hard candy or ice is not a good idea.
Q:
How do you maintain new porcelain veneers and what follow-up care is
recommended?
A: With proper home care and scheduled dental visits, veneers can provide
you with a beautiful smile for many years. A week or two after the placement
of your veneers, we ask that you return to our office for a cosmetic
polish and treatment evaluation. This visit is extremely important.
It gives us the opportunity to evaluate the placement of the veneers,
the tissue response and to answer any questions you might have regarding
your new smile design. For example, if you grind or clench your teeth,
please let us know. We can fabricate a soft night guard for you to wear
to minimize the stresses placed upon your teeth while you sleep.
The
maintenance of your porcelain veneers is relatively simple. Brush and
floss as you normally would to prevent oral hygiene problems. Once placed,
veneers are typically the kindest restoration to the gum tissues that
we currently have available. Don't be afraid that you'll damage your
veneers by either flossing or brushing. Any non-abrasive toothpaste
is acceptable. A good home care regimen will help ensure the aesthetic
success of your veneers.
Q:
When would porcelain veneers maybe not be right for me?
A: If you have unhealthy teeth. Porcelain veneers cannot be placed on
teeth where there is decay or active periodontal disease (gum disease).
These conditions must be treated by your dentist before porcelain veneers
can be successfully fabricated and placed:
If
you have weakened teeth. If a significant amount of tooth structure
has been lost as a result of decay or fracture, or else already replaced
by a dental filling, the tooth may not be a good candidate for a porcelain
veneer. Porcelain veneers do not significantly strengthen the teeth
on which they are placed. Teeth that have, or have had, a history of
a loss of a significant amount of tooth structure are usually better
treated by placing a dental crown on them, not a porcelain veneer.
If
you have an inadequate amount of enamel on the tooth. A porcelain veneer
can only be successfully bonded onto tooth enamel. Some teeth, as a
result of excessive wear or previous attempts at dental bonding, may
have little or no enamel remaining on their front side. These teeth
do not make good candidates for porcelain veneers.
If
you clench or grind your teeth. Persons who clench and grind their teeth
can make poor candidates for porcelain veneers. The forces created by
these activities, termed bruxism by dentists, can easily chip or break
porcelain veneers. Possibly a person can successfully control their
bruxing habits during their waking hours, but during sleep a bruxer
has essentially no control over this activity. If a person who bruxes
does have veneers placed, they must be committed to wearing a plastic
dental night guard when they sleep so to minimize the amount of stress
placed on their veneers.
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