Today’s dental veneers can transform your smile into your most prized accessory. Depending on the type of veneer treatment you request, you can see results in as little as 1-2 appointments.
Modern veneers allow you to easily mask the appearance of aesthetic concerns like:
Crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth
Small teeth or misshaped tooth enamel
Significant stain and discoloration
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are a cosmetic solution for quickly enhancing the appearance of unattractive, yet healthy, teeth. Our cosmetic dentists will dictate the color, shade, size, shape, and contour of each veneer. Paired together, a full set of veneers helps you achieve the picture perfect smile.
Unlike other restorations such as crowns or fillings, veneers only cover the front of your visible teeth. They do not fill the inside or wrap around the back of the respective tooth.
How Many Veneers Will You Need?
Typically installed in sets of 6-10, the average patient gets as many veneers as necessary to cover the top front teeth that are visible when they smile. The number is different for everyone, depending on which teeth are most prominent when talking or laughing. It’s fairly rare to place veneers on the lower front teeth because of the way your jaws bite together.
Porcelain Veneer Treatment Process
The procedure for getting dental veneers involves slightly prepping the front of your teeth to make room for the fixed restoration. For lab-made porcelain veneers, a thin layer of dental enamel is gently buffed away to prevent bulkiness.
During this first appointment our cosmetic dentist gently numbs and preps your teeth then takes a series of impressions for our lab.
All of your molds and images are sent to the lab where each veneer is custom designed by hand. In the meantime, we’ll fit you with temporary veneers to limit sensitivity or any aesthetic discrepancies.
About two weeks later you’ll return to have the temporary veneers removed. Each of your teeth is then fitted with the appropriate porcelain veneer, which is permanently bonded into place.
Types of Dental Veneers
Our cosmetic dentist will help you select the best veneers for your unique smile. Unlike crowns, which need to be fitted for functional purposes, dental veneers are strictly aesthetic. As such, we can adjust them to your preferences. Depending on your background and cosmetic concerns, you may want to consider one of the following options:
Porcelain Veneers
This premier cosmetic dentistry option can give you a brand new smile in just a couple of visits. Porcelain veneers offer optimal aesthetic results that allow you to adjust your smile to your unique preferences. The slightly translucent color also makes them more lifelike.
Porcelain is extremely durable and attractive. Of the different types of veneers available, full-mouth porcelain veneers are the gold standard. When properly cared for, you can expect them to last for an extended time frame of at least several years. Our patients prefer this option when they want to transform their entire smile’s appearance.
No-prep Veneers
Single visit dental veneers eliminate the need for enamel removal prior to implant placement. They’re bonded directly to the shape of your natural teeth, making them completely reversible should you ever decide to have them removed. Popular types of no-prep veneers include Lumineers, which look like traditional veneers in that they cover the entire tooth. Except the material they’re made out of is a bit more like a laminate. Since no-prep veneers add depth to your enamel, certain anatomical characteristics need to be kept in mind.
Clip-on Veneers (Snap-on Veneers)
These removable veneers (sometimes called “instasmile”) slip over your natural teeth to quickly erase any surface flaws. However, snap-on veneers can mask oral care needs related to gum disease and tooth decay, trapping bacteria underneath and causing additional infection. Oral health education and screening are essential with this type of temporary veneer system. They should be used on an extremely limited basis. Although attractive in cost, these types of veneers are not right for everyone.
Composite Veneers
This affordable alternative to porcelain veneers can be completed in just one appointment. Composite resin veneers are ideal for addressing one or two teeth with minor to moderate aesthetic concerns. This solution is great for our patients with small chips, gaps, or surface flaws in specific areas of their enamel. With a same-day composite veneer, the resin is matched and shaped directly onto your tooth in one appointment. Then we cure the composite resin with a bright light. In a matter of minutes, your tooth looks healthy and whole again.
There are a couple of downsides to composite veneers. One, the material is a bit opaquer. If it’s placed over the entire tooth, it won’t look as natural as porcelain. But over a smaller surface area it’s just fine. Second, the material in composite resin veneers is a bit more brittle than other materials. As such it can chip, wear, and stain more quickly. But it’s great for fast and cost-effective results.
Why Get Veneers?
Smile makeover treatments like dental veneers can help a person restore their confidence and enhance their quality of life. Aside from good oral health, the way you look and feel about your smile directly impacts how you spend your time. When you feel great about your smile’s appearance, you’ll want to show it off more frequently.
Investing in cosmetic dentistry options like porcelain veneers is a great way to help yourself put your best face forward. When you make a great impression at that next job interview, date, or party, the effects are far deeper than you might expect.
If you’re always refraining from smiling or laughing around other people, it may be a great time to think about a smile makeover solution.
The smile gallery
Do You Need Braces Before Veneers?
If you’re considering dental veneers to help create a straighter, more attractive smile, one of the most important factors to consider is how your teeth bite together. Placing veneers on your teeth could alter how they bite together, causing undue stress on the porcelain or your teeth (resulting in irregular wear patterns).
Depending on which teeth need veneers, it is sometimes recommended to get braces before dental veneers. For instance, if your front teeth hit “end to end” against one another. Or if there are extremely large gaps between your teeth, where larger veneers would appear bulky or unsightly. Similarly, severe crowding will leave little space for veneers to be bonded over the front of your tooth. Bringing them into a proper alignment would allow your new veneers to fit properly and look as natural as possible.
You might need braces before veneers if you have teeth with:
An under bite
A cross bite
Large gaps
Severe crowding
Teeth that hit end to end
Because dental veneers are usually only placed on the front teeth, you may not need comprehensive full-mouth braces. Short-term orthodontics or aligners may be appropriate for adjusting the front of your smile before veneers are installed.
How to Care for Dental Veneers
To get the most out of your veneers or any cosmetic dentistry service, you want to care for them properly. We recommend sleeping in a night guard if you’re prone to clenching or grinding your teeth, to avoid unwanted chipping or fractures. Plan to brush and floss daily, as your oral health routine will help keep veneers clean and limit the risk of cavities on your supporting teeth. Several people assume that flossing can pull off dental veneers, but it’s actually the lack of flossing that is the biggest risk.
Choose a non-abrasive toothpaste to prevent surface scratches over time. Although porcelain dental veneers will maintain their color, surface stains can still accumulate from dark foods or liquids. Keep these items to a minimum and plan to have your teeth cleaned and examined by our dentist every six months.
Dental Veneers FAQ
Are veneers covered by dental insurance?
Unfortunately, not in most cases. Since veneers are an elective procedure that is not meant for oral health purposes, they do not fall under preventative or restorative insurance benefits. To make the price more affordable, we offer flexible payment plans and financing options.
How long do the procedures take?
Resin veneers can usually be placed in under an hour, depending on how many teeth are involved. Traditional veneers require two separate appointments at about an hour or so. No-prep veneers also require two appointments, but the first visit tends to be significantly shorter.
How long will my dental veneers last?
The better you care for your veneers each day, the longer they will typically last. A set of porcelain veneers can last for several years at a time. Resin veneers typically only last 3-5 years, because the material is a bit more brittle.
Which is better, porcelain vs. composite resin veneers?
For full mouth dental veneers, porcelain is better. But if you only need to correct one or two teeth, resin chairside veneers may be more convenient. Porcelain veneers offer the best long term results but are typically placed in sets of six or more.
Will I need braces before veneers?
If you have severe crowding, gaps, or crooked teeth, you may want to consider braces or clear aligners before getting dental veneers. The way your front teeth bite together could contraindicate veneers placement.
What is the price for cosmetic teeth treatments and are payment plans available?
Wellness Dental care coordinators will work with you to customize a care plan fitted for your unique smile and budget. Pricing significantly varies depending on the type and number of veneers being used.
Should I whiten my teeth first?
Teeth whitening is a great stand-alone cosmetic treatment. If you’re having a limited number of veneers placed it’s best to undergo teeth whitening first so that we can match the porcelain to your smile’s brighter shade from the very beginning.
Is the treatment uncomfortable?
Most veneer treatments are pain free, thanks to effective numbing medication that we use to ensure your comfort. It’s normal to experience some mild sensitivity for a short time if any enamel reduction is performed. We recommend avoiding cold or hot drinks/foods for the first few days.
Enjoy the life-changing reality that cosmetic veneers have to offer. Reserve your smile makeover consultation at Wellness Dental to discover what’s possible.
