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Laminate Veneers cover and protect teeth. They are an excellent, affordable, and highly practical tooth restoration that can solve any number of dental problems. Teeth that are stained can be whitened by thin veneers. Chipped teeth can be smoothed and made to look whole and attractive once more. Misaligned teeth can be straightened without the need for orthodontics.
In light of the more complex and expensive alternatives, laminate veneers are often the best choice for the patient on a budget who wants a lasting solution without the complications and costs of multiple dental visits or dental surgery.
But what, exactly, is a laminate veneer?
It is actually a very thin sheet of porcelain that is designed to cover the front of the tooth. However, it can also be customized to fit the sides of a tooth in order to close a gap. Sometimes as well, a very small piece of laminate can be affixed to the end of a small tooth to increase its length. In some cases, misshapen teeth can be repaired this way as well by applying a smooth, thin veneer to their surface to cover up the asymmetry of the tooth.
The procedure itself is very simple and requires only two visits to the dentist. The first thing the dentist does is to examine your teeth and take x-rays of them. This lets the dentist know if any serious tooth decay or damage lies hidden inside the mouth that may require other corrective treatments or dental procedures.
If nothing is found, the next step is to prepare tooth surfaces in order to make the laminate veneers fit to form without looking thick or bulky. While this does involve removing a small amount of tooth surface, so little is removed that the majority of people do not need an anesthetic.
After the teeth have been prepared, the dentist next takes impressions of your teeth and makes a mold of your bit. This mold is then sent to a lab. Here, dental technicians will make your thin veneers custom-fitted to the exact dimensions of your teeth.
When your laminates arrive back in our office, we call you in to place them on your teeth to make sure they fit. After this, we bond them to the teeth and use a special, high-intensity to harden the cement.
Your bite will then be tested, and any minor adjustments that need to be made will be made. Thin veneers are extremely strong. With the right care, you can expect them to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Some even last longer.
It is important that you continue to practice brushing and flossing as always. Although your veneers are tougher than tooth enamel, take care of them as you would your natural teeth. Labels: laminate thin veneers, laminate veneers, porcelain veneers, thin veneers
Cosmetic Porcelain Dental Veneers
Ask the Dental ExpertsOur philosophy is to help our patients achieve and maintain exceptional dental health. We work hard to make sure that our level of care is deserving of our patients’ respect and confidence. Our tradition of preventive dentistry is the basis for all service and care in our practice. We welcome all questions and comments regarding dentistry in the hope that we increase your dental "IQ" and help you make better dental health decisions.I am interested in veneers for my lower teeth and was wondering how much this would cost at your clinic. Also, where are you all located? Thanks, Scott.
Hi, Scott… thanks for your interest. The cost of this type of project will vary depending on several factors…how many teeth are involved, difficulty of managing your bite, need for any soft tissue treatment, etc. We would want to see you, get some x-rays to avoid surprises, get some photos and discuss options with you personally. This is not something to be quoted at arm’s length….. too complicated and too many variables.
I suggest that you make an appt for an exam and consult so we can give you correct information.
Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905 Labels: cosmetic dental veneers, porcelain veneers, Veneers
If you feel you are suffering from an aging smile, do not despair or give up on yourself. There are many cosmetic dental treatments that you can receive that can correct these problems. Each of these restorative treatments has its own advantages and disadvantages associated with it, so ask your dentist which one is right for you.
Porcelain veneers
Porcelain veneers can restore a natural-looking appearance to an aging smile. They are made from thin shells of porcelain that are approximately the thickness of false fingernails. The dentist bonds them to either the front or the top of your teeth. Because porcelain veneers are so thin, light can pass through them and allow them to take on the appearance of underlying tooth enamel.
Advantages
Veneers are very tough, and they will last for many years. They will radically improve the appearance of your aging smile. Should your veneers ever become damaged; the dentist can easily repair them.
Disadvantages
The only disadvantage to veneers is the small amount of tooth reduction that is needed. This is non-reversible, so once veneers are bonded to your teeth, you will have to rely upon them for the rest of your life.
You should only allow a trained, experienced cosmetic dentist to bond porcelain veneers to your teeth. The process is simple enough, though, if performed by the right hands, and it only takes two appointments to complete.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Another way to cosmetically improve an aging smile is through cosmetic dental bonding. This is a three-step procedure that can be done in only one office visit. It consists of three simple steps. First, the dentist etches the front of the teeth with a mild acid. He or she then applies a special bonding resin to the etched surface, which is in turn hardened with a high-intensity light.
Advantages
Dental Bonding material is made to match the natural color of teeth and looks indistinguishable from the natural.
Disadvantages
The acid used in bonding removes a portion of tooth enamel, so you must rely upon bonding for remainder of your life.
All Porcelain Crowns
One embarrassing, and sometimes painful, result of an aging smile is tooth abfraction, or cracked teeth. Porcelain crowns can make these teeth appear as good as new. We recommend all porcelain crowns because they look just like natural tooth enamel, and because they also mimic the shape of natural teeth. Crowns give structural support and protection for teeth and help close gaps between teeth.
Advantages
All porcelain crowns that are made by a trained, experienced cosmetic dentistry center will appear to be natural teeth. They can superbly improve your appearance, and they will last for many years, or even possibly the rest of your life. They also require the least amount of tooth reduction, which really does not matter anyway if a tooth is cracked, decayed, or damaged.
Disadvantages
The only negative associated with all porcelain crowns is they may wear on opposing natural teeth if you bite down too hard. Labels: cosmetic dental bonding, porcelain crowns, porcelain inlays, porcelain veneers
Ask the Dental ExpertsOur philosophy is to help our patients achieve and maintain exceptional dental health. We work hard to make sure that our level of care is deserving of our patients’ respect and confidence. Our tradition of preventive dentistry is the basis for all service and care in our practice. We welcome all questions and comments regarding dentistry in the hope that we increase your dental "IQ" and help you make better dental health decisions. I would like to close the gap in my two front teeth. I would like to discuss the options that I have for that procedure.-Krystal
Hi, Krystal – good question. If there are no surprises (underlying pathology, surprise decay, old trauma, close bite,etc..etc..), there are a couple of ways to do this:- If the space is manageable and not too wide, then a simple solution is to do bonding (add to the width of each of the involved teeth with tooth-colored bonding material). This is a conservative technique that ends up with a nice result, is done usually in one day, and it is the least expensive option. The downside is that the materials are somewhat more porous, and over time, there is some degradation and staining and over time these restorations need maintenance… modifying, resurfacing, repolishing, redoing the whole thing….but a nice, conservative treatment.
- If the space is more complicated, either very wide, or the teeth are broken down, or the teeth have existing fillings in them that are very large, then we would consider doing laminate veneers or porcelain crowns, depending on the situation. There are a lot of small details that would lead us to one type of restoration or the other. These restorations are more expensive, but they are amazing in the natural contours and colors they produce. In many cases, these are the best choice for longevity of the esthetics they produce.
Really, the only way to hear all of the options that are appropriate for you is to come have a complete examination. Then all the factors involved can be considered and explained to you. There is often a choice, and with a complete exam, you can hear it all
Thanks for the question!!
Chuck Campbell, DDS Before Laminate Veneers 
Labels: cosmetic dental veneers, porcelain veneers, Veneers
Cosmetic dental veneers are overlays that restore a white, uniform appearance to teeth by covering the damaged or discolored enamel. Porcelain dental veneers are the most cosmetic and durable veneers that can be used to restore a natural, healthy smile. They are applied topically and require no anesthetic—making them one of the most painless experiences you can have in a dental chair. Even better, they are designed to last, and will not require repeated treatments and follow-ups if they are professionally designed and applied.
If your smile has become less than perfect, cosmetic dental veneers may be the ideal solution for you. If your teeth have been chipped over time, have little pits or holes in the surface, or are simply shaped in an irregular way, a crown would be too drastic for you. We can fit porcelain veneers right over the odd shapes and damaged portions of your teeth and create a whitened, smooth appearance. If you have been thinking you might need braces to correct minor tooth alignment problems, you might actually not. Cosmetic dental veneers have been successfully used to fill out the gaps between teeth and make individual teeth look more distinctive and proportional.
Of course, the most common reason people get porcelain veneers is to correct tooth discoloration. Any number of things can cause teeth to stain badly. Cigarettes and coffee are often the most common reasons people end up with very badly stained teeth. Even if you have never smoked, you may very well drink a lot of coffee and still end up after a period of years with yellowed teeth. Porcelain veneers have proven the most effective form of veneer to correct this problem. Porcelain is extremely hard, and it is completely non-permeable. If you get porcelain dental veneers and then continue to drink coffee, they won’t stain the way your teeth did.
You may not smoke or drink coffee, however, and conclude that you will never need cosmetic dental veneers. This may not be the case if you drink tea as a substitute for coffee. The more exotic teas that are becoming increasingly popular are full of dyes that can stain your teeth just as surely as coffee or cigarettes. Some prescription medicines also contain chemicals that can discolor teeth. While it is possible to eliminate caffeine from the diet, it is not possible to do without certain medications. If you are in this position, please consider the very viable solution of cosmetic dental veneers.
Another reason you might want to consider porcelain veneers is the presence of too many visible fillings in your mouth. You may have been very cavity-prone as a child and have been treated with a significant number of silver-amalgam fillings. Cosmetic porcelain dental veneers can easily cover up these dark spots on your smile and make you look like you never had a cavity in your life.
Not all people who come to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center for tooth veneers are coming because of damaged or chemically-discolored teeth. Some were cavity-prone children in their younger years, and have lived many years as adults with visible amalgam fillings that put dark spots in their smiles. Porcelain veneers, though amazingly tough, are nonetheless thin enough to cover up these cavities.
Remember too, that a cosmetic improvement to your teeth is just that—cosmetic. You do not have to have anything seriously wrong with your teeth to give yourself a lasting, white, and attractive smile that will last the rest of your life. Give us a call today for more information.Labels: cosmetic dental veneers, cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers
What is cosmetic dentistry?
Cosmetic dentistry is a ranged of highly advanced, specialized dental services that blend advanced medical knowledge with personalized aesthetics. Our ultimate goal is to restore the confidence and optimism of each patient with a brand new smile that looks as good, if not even better, than the original.
What are some basic elements of cosmetic dentistry?
Some of our services include, sophisticate, natural-looking tooth whitening, replacement of outdated and actually unhealthy mercury fillings, and veneer reshaping of individual teeth to correct overlaps, gaps, and crooked services.
How individualized are your services to each patient?
Our services are extremely personalized. They have to be, because every smile is unique. Our dentists take the time to listen carefully to the wants and needs of each patient in order to get a sense of the personality and lifestyle of the individual. The dentist will then take careful facial measurements of the patient that will allow new features that are proportional to the bone structure, age, and gender to be molded into the teeth.
To what extent do cosmetic dentistry services utilize advanced technology?
Modern technology is a very important component of our work. One of the most important pieces of technology we use is intra-oral camera. This camera examines the teeth and produces a high-resolution, full color image on a monitor. We can examine every detail of a group of teeth or gum line and we can make a more accurate diagnosis and plan for corrective treatment. We can then create an image of what the outcome will look like, show it to the patient, and ensure both comfort and satisfaction prior to beginning any work.
Do you replace old fillings?
Yes, and we strongly recommend that anyone with old or failing silver-mercury fillings come to the Cosmetic Dentistry Center to have these fillings removed and replaced with more modern, natural-looking, and stronger porcelain inlays and composite resins. Mercury is not a healthy substance for the human body, so when old fillings fail, it is advisable and remove it with substances that are much better for the body, will hold up better to the test of time, and truly look better in a smile because they blend in with the color and structure of teeth themselves.
Do you do teeth replacement?
Yes. Tooth replacement is a cornerstone element of cosmetic dentistry. It is our firm belief, and something of an understood mission statement at our center, that no human being should ever have to live with missing teach. The replacement of missing teeth and the restoration of a natural, healthy-looking smile restores not only beauty to the face, but self-confidence to the heart and increased physical comfort to the mouth with a more even and contiguous bite.
What methods do you use to replace missing teeth?
Our website itemizes many of the advanced methods we use to reconstruct a smile to its original—if not better than original—state. Some of these options include bridges, retained dentures, and implants, to name just a few.Labels: bridges, cosmetic dentistry, Dental Implants, porcelain inlays, porcelain veneers, retained dentures, tooth whitening
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