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What You Need to Know about Porcelain Veneers
Are you considering cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of your smile? If so, then you should take a serious look at porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are one of the most versatile and powerful cosmetic dentistry treatments available. They can address almost any cosmetic complaint you might have about your smile. They can even address it better than other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Plus, porcelain veneers are highly durable, making them a great investment in your smile.
Want to learn how porcelain veneers can help your smile? Schedule a consultation with Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Ryan Clancy, and he can show you exactly how veneers can improve your smile.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic that Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Clancy can put over your natural teeth to repair and/or conceal imperfections. Although the original veneers were really made of very fragile porcelain, modern veneers use advanced ceramics to combine beauty and strength. In fact, common veneer materials are at least twice as strong as your natural tooth enamel.
In addition to being strong, veneers are highly resistant to acids in foods and beverages. This not only keeps them from eroding, but it also keeps them from staining. Veneers don’t have the same ridges and pores as your natural teeth, and because acid can’t etch them, they don’t develop irregularities that trap stains.
As we noted, porcelain veneer material is also beautiful. If you want, it can precisely match the color of your natural teeth. Or the veneers can be whiter than your natural teeth. In fact, they can be as white as you like. We typically strive for whiteness that is bright enough to make you happy with your smile but isn’t so bright that it looks fake.
In addition to color, veneers mimic the luster of natural teeth–the visual quality of the surface. Veneers have a similar translucency that makes them look more like natural teeth than some other restorations.
What Can Porcelain Veneers Do for You
We mentioned that porcelain veneers are versatile cosmetic treatments that can work on almost any cosmetic complaint you may have. It’s true: practically any cosmetic complaint short of a missing tooth will respond to treatment with porcelain veneers.
Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Clancy can use veneers to improve the appearance of:
- Gaps between teeth
- Discolored or stained teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Small teeth
- Worn teeth
- Crowded or crooked teeth
Veneers can close gaps in your teeth by building up the teeth on either side of the gap. This is much faster than closing a gap with orthodontics–it takes weeks rather than months. It’s an especially good choice if you have other cosmetic complaints about these teeth.
Veneers can cover up discolored or stained teeth so that they look beautiful and white. Often, this is the only way to get your teeth as white as you want them. Natural teeth will only whiten so much with teeth whitening, but veneers can be as white as you like.
Veneers can repair cracked or chipped teeth to make your smile whole again. It may take a little longer to get veneers than dental bonding, but the results are more attractive and much longer-lasting.
We can use veneers to reshape your natural teeth. If you have unusually shaped teeth, such as peg laterals, veneers can build up around the tooth to give it a more normal tooth shape. Veneers can also build up small teeth, including retained baby teeth, and restore worn teeth to their proper height.
Veneers can correct crooked and crowded teeth in some situations by reshaping your teeth instead of moving them. When we use veneers in this way, we often describe it as “instant orthodontics” because it’s so much faster than traditional orthodontics.
Understanding the Porcelain Veneers Process
The porcelain veneers process starts with a consultation. Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Clancy will first listen to your cosmetic goals. Then he will evaluate your teeth to make sure that they’re healthy enough to support veneers and to decide if veneers are the best choice for your smile makeover.
If veneers are right for you, Dr. Clancy will prepare your teeth for veneers at your second appointment. He will remove a small amount of material from each tooth you want to veneer. This makes room so the veneers fit smoothly on your teeth without making them look too bulky or creating a shelf where plaque can accumulate. This is the big difference between traditional veneers and Lumineers.
Once he has prepared your teeth, Dr. Clancy will take impressions of them. You and he will work together to specifically design your new teeth. You’ll get temporary veneers in the same shape as your veneers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Clancy will send your impressions and the design information to the dental lab. Talented and experienced lab technicians will make your beautiful and durable veneers. When your veneers are ready, Dr. Clancy will invite you back for a fitting.
Using temporary adhesive, Dr. Clancy will put your veneers on for a trial. If necessary, Dr. Clancy can make small adjustments to ensure your veneers are perfect for you.
When we’re happy with your veneers, we will bond them “permanently” to your teeth.
Are you wondering what your smile might look like before we start? It’s only natural to want to understand the outcome of your smile makeover. We use PreVu, a dental simulation technology, to show you exactly what your new smile will look like before we start.
Smile Makeover in One Day
In some instances, your smile makeover with porcelain veneers will only take one day. Depending on the health of your teeth and gums, we can use our “teeth-in-a-day” CEREC milling machine to create your permanent porcelain veneers right in our office. This outstanding dental technology, combined with Dr. Clancy’s skill and experience, allows us to create your permanent brand-new smile in just one appointment. We’ll prep your teeth, take impressions, and then Dr. Clancy will create your veneers and bond them to your teeth.
Porcelain Veneers Last a Long Time, Guaranteed!
We know that many people think of porcelain as being a fragile material. However, as we’ve noted, veneers are actually made of very strong material, which gets even stronger when bonded to your tooth.
Porcelain veneers can last for decades. In some studies, about 95% of veneers last more than 10 years, and 85% last more than 20 years.
Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Clancy is so confident that your veneers will last; he guarantees it. We offer a 5-year guarantee on all of our veneers. If they’re damaged in some way beyond your control within five years of placement, we will replace them free of charge. We’ll talk to you about the details during your consultation.
Get Porcelain Veneers in Woburn and Winchester
Are you convinced that porcelain veneers are right for your smile? Let Woburn and Winchester cosmetic dentist Dr. Ryan Clancy give you the smile makeover you deserve.
Please call (781) 396-8558 or use our online form to request an appointment at Divine Smiles, serving the Woburn and Winchester area from our location in Horn Pond Plaza, across from Whole Foods.
By Ryan M. Clancy, DMD, MAGD, LVIF, FPFA, FIAPA | November 2nd, 2022 | Porcelain Veneers
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