No matter how nice your smile is, no one has perfect teeth. There may be subtle differences in tooth size or alignment; a tooth may be chipped or cracked; or some teeth could be stained from a reaction to a drug such as tetracycline that was given to you as a child. Porcelain veneers are a beautiful way to correct these cosmetic flaws without resorting to crowns or orthodontics.
At Gonzalez Dental Care, we place veneers, giving patients a beautiful smile in just two appointments.
At Gonzalez Dental Care, we place veneers, giving patients a beautiful smile in just two appointments.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over the front of your natural teeth to alter the tooth position, shape, size, and color. Veneers provide an aesthetic solution to various tooth imperfections. At our practice, we only use porcelain for our veneers because its appearance closely resembles that of natural tooth enamel.
What Aesthetic Problems Can Be Addressed With Veneers?
Veneers are the ultimate restoration for:
- Revitalizing the surface of a tooth
- Concealing chips
- Covering badly stained, discolored teeth
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Masking alignment problems
- Covering cracks or wear
- Providing an alternative to orthodontic work
They Are Only Cosmetic
It’s important to note that porcelain veneers are only a cosmetic solution and are applied atop healthy teeth. Issues such as decay or gum disease must be taken care of before veneers are applied. Veneers simply cover cosmetic problems.
Why Use Porcelain For Veneers?
Some dentists use composite resin veneers, but Dr. Gonzalez and our team use only porcelain. Porcelain has high strength, hardness, glassiness, high durability, and high resistance to staining. Also, the translucence of porcelain very closely resembles natural tooth enamel in the way it absorbs and reflects light. We feel porcelain veneers are superior to resin veneers in appearance and durability.
Benefits Of Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are a beautiful way to cover existing cosmetic flaws with your smile, giving you a perfect smile if you choose to cover all your visible teeth, or improving the appearance of a tooth or two. These are not painful treatments; there isn’t any downtime. Porcelain veneers are quite strong and highly resistant to staining. These treatments are very satisfying for our patients from Pembroke Pines and the surrounding areas.
The Dental Veneer Procedure
Porcelain veneers require two appointments at our beautiful offices on Pines Boulevard. We start with a thorough cleaning. We may opt to perform some whitening if your teeth are stained from coffee and the like; this will return them to their natural color. To match that natural color, our three dentists use a shade guide to determine the veneer color.
Next, we prepare your teeth for the veneers. To do this, we shave a tiny amount of the enamel from the front of the teeth (from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm). This makes room for the veneers on the front side of each tooth. When this process is complete, we take impressions of your teeth and send these off to the dental lab for the fabrication of your custom veneers. In most cases, this takes around one to two weeks. In the meantime, we will attach temporary veneers to your teeth to protect them.
When your veneers arrive at our office, you return for your second appointment. We check the fit and the color match of each veneer. If necessary, we may shave a bit off here or there. Once satisfied with the fit, your porcelain veneers are permanently cemented onto your teeth, and you can show your new smile off to the world.
Next, we prepare your teeth for the veneers. To do this, we shave a tiny amount of the enamel from the front of the teeth (from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm). This makes room for the veneers on the front side of each tooth. When this process is complete, we take impressions of your teeth and send these off to the dental lab for the fabrication of your custom veneers. In most cases, this takes around one to two weeks. In the meantime, we will attach temporary veneers to your teeth to protect them.
When your veneers arrive at our office, you return for your second appointment. We check the fit and the color match of each veneer. If necessary, we may shave a bit off here or there. Once satisfied with the fit, your porcelain veneers are permanently cemented onto your teeth, and you can show your new smile off to the world.
How Do I Care For My New Veneers?
Porcelain veneers don’t require any special cleaning or maintenance at home, just regular brushing and flossing. While you can eat basically whatever you like, you may want to avoid things such as candy apples or chewing on bones, as veneers can sometimes detach.
How Long Can I Expect My Veneers To Last?
A set of porcelain veneers can last anywhere from seven to 20 years. This sounds like a wide range, but it is due to the health of the underlying teeth and gums. If a veneer does come off for some reason, in most cases it can be reattached.
You do need to know that porcelain veneers are a lifetime commitment. Because the placement requires shaving the enamel off the fronts of the teeth, those teeth will forevermore need to be covered with veneers. So, once your veneers have reached their lifespan, you’ll need to have another set placed.
You do need to know that porcelain veneers are a lifetime commitment. Because the placement requires shaving the enamel off the fronts of the teeth, those teeth will forevermore need to be covered with veneers. So, once your veneers have reached their lifespan, you’ll need to have another set placed.
Is There Recovery After Having Veneers Placed?
There isn’t any recovery after the two appointments involved in receiving your veneers. When Dr. Gonzalez, Dr. Colon, or Dr. Carmenate shave down your teeth to make room for your veneers, we use local anesthetic so you don’t feel anything. Then we place temporary veneers while we’re awaiting your custom porcelain veneers to be made in the dental lab. Your teeth can be a little more susceptible to sensations of hot and cold until we place your permanent veneers, but that’s about it
Risks Of Getting Veneers
These procedures don’t involve any incisions, so there isn’t any risk of infection or excessive bleeding. These are virtually risk-free cosmetic treatments.
Are Porcelain Veneers Covered By Dental Insurance?
Veneers are deemed to be an elective procedure, so they are not covered by insurance plans. We do offer various options for financing your veneers if you would like to do so.
Schedule A Consultation
If you would like to know more about porcelain veneers, contact our Pembroke Pines office at (954) 432-4800.
