What You Need to Know About Dental Veneers
While dental veneers have emerged as an important tool for cosmetic and functional dentistry, many people still think of them as high-priced cosmetic teeth coverings actors get to create the “Hollywood smile.” Indeed, a California dentist invented the first dental veneers in 1928 by temporarily bonding acrylic shells to the front teeth of his Hollywood star clients. With that fix noticeably enhancing the smiles of those celebrities, dentists worked on discovering more realistic and workable veneer materials over the ensuing decades and expanded their application to resolve other dental issues.
Today, dental veneers are a standard service offered by most dental practices. Island Tower Dentistry’s Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke offers cosmetic porcelain dental veneers to his Marco Island, Florida-area patients and uses them to address several different dental issues. And, yes, if you’re looking for that Hollywood smile, Dr. Van Dyke can provide you with veneers for that, too!
Dental Veneer Basics
A dental veneer is essentially a thin covering of material applied to the teeth to cover imperfections and correct other issues. With its strength and ability to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth, porcelain is now the most widely used veneer material. However, composite resin is still used to make some veneers, especially those designed for temporary fixes. Porcelain can be shaped and tinted to match the specific contours and coloration of a patient’s teeth, which allows dentists to create natural-looking results. Porcelain veneers are also stain resistant, add a strong layer of protection to the underlying teeth, and can last for a decade or two.
What Are the Benefits of Veneers?
As previously suggested, dentists continue to use veneers to create dazzling Hollywood smiles. If your teeth are so stained that not even the most advanced whitening procedures can recover your bright white smile, a row of porcelain veneers can serve as the perfect fix. Veneers can correct staining on an individual tooth or uneven coloration among teeth and can be shaped and colored to match the look of your uncovered teeth naturally. Veneers can also fill any small gaps, chips, or cracks in your teeth or add alignment to the entire row of your upper or bottom teeth. Additionally, veneers can add substance to teeth worn down by time or grinding and fix and cover tooth damage caused by tooth decay.
While porcelain veneers may not be able to fix major imperfections, such as big spaces between teeth or excessive misalignment, they are certainly an effective solution for many common problems that impact people’s smiles. Also, some people’s bite patterns preclude the use of veneers. In such cases, a dental crown might be the more workable option, but this decision should be made in consultation with your dental professional.
What is the Procedure For Getting Fitted with Veneers?
Getting fitted with dental veneers at southwest Florida’s Island Tower Dentistry typically begins with an initial examination and consultation in our Marco Island office, sometimes as part of our Smile Makeover service. Dr. Van Dyke will discuss how veneers can be made to correct your dental concerns and develop a plan accordingly. If you need any non-veneer-related dental work, it will need to be conducted before the veneer fitting.
To prepare for the fitting, Dr. Van Dyke will make impressions of your current dentition, which is then sent to our local dental lab to construct a wax model of your desired dentition. On a return visit, you will assess the new color and shape of your proposed veneers as displayed by the model and either accept them or suggest modifications. Once the wax model perfectly reflects your desires, we’ll begin the installation process.
The first step involves prepping your teeth for the new veneers and then placing comfortable temporary composite veneers on them to serve you during the short healing period while your new permanent veneers are being fabricated. During a follow-up visit, your new veneers will be placed on your teeth without cement to ensure that they meet your desired expectations for color and shape. When you are delighted with their look and feel, they are cemented to your teeth, and Dr. Van Dyke will make any final adjustments.
Can I Afford Dental Veneers?
Thanks to technological advances and several companies—such as Lending Club and CareCredit—that offer patients the ability to pay with payment plans, the cost of dental veneers has become accessible to almost anyone. Note that while permanent composite veneers are marketed as a less expensive option than porcelain veneers, their shorter working lifespan generally negates potential cost savings.
Get Your Dental Veneers at Island Tower Dentistry
To learn more about dental veneers and other cosmetic dentistry options or address any oral health issues, contact Island Tower Dentistry today at 239-394-1004.