Veneers are a fantastic way to create the smile you have always wanted.  Veneers are ultra-thin sculpted pieces of tooth-shaped porcelain that fit over the front of your teeth. They are wonderful for fixing teeth that are significantly discolored, chipped, pitted, malformed, crooked, or have unwanted spaces/gaps.

They have a "life like" appearance with the strength, beauty, and durability only porcelain restorations can provide. People are often concerned that too much tooth structure will have to be taken away but that isn't always the case. A thorough examination and smile analysis is always needed to know exactly how much if any tooth structure needs to be removed.  Unlike crowns or caps, porcelain laminate veneers don't require the removal of much tooth structure and are therefore much more conservative. As always, good communication between the patient and dentist is very important.  Make sure to communicate your cosmetic expectations with your dentist, this will allow the dentist to understand your goals and advise you whether these expectations are attainable, given your dental condition.  If your treatment involves placing veneers on a limited number of teeth, and your goal is to whiten your teeth, dental bleaching may be recommended before the veneers are made. Many times we combine dental bleaching with porcelain veneers to create that beautiful smile.

During the first visit, if tooth reduction is necessary, the teeth are prepared and  minor contouring is done.  Impressions of the prepared teeth are taken and sent to a dental laboratory.  The lab uses these impressions to create stone models of your teeth, on which the veneers are actually made. Also at your first visit, the prepared teeth are fitted with temporaries while the porcelain veneers are being created at the lab.  At the second visit, the temporaries are removed, the teeth are cleaned and the veneers are tried on the teeth. This allows the patient and the dentist to evaluate the cosmetic changes.  Once the restorations are accepted by the patient and the dentist, the veneers are bonded directly onto the teeth and polished to a natural, aesthetic smile. Veneers are stronger and have a longer life than bonding, but the process requires more time. Treatment may take two or more office visits to complete and we find that with proper oral hygiene measures the results will typically last for many years.  Once in place, veneers virtually become part of the teeth.  You can use them like you would your own teeth because the bond is extremely strong.  The final result can be a dramatic change that can improve the quality of your life.  The results are instant and spectacular!