What Are Veneers?
The short answer is that veneers are corrective cosmetic coverings that are worn on your teeth. These coverings consist of a very thin coating that is fitted and cemented over your natural teeth.
There are two different types of veneers to choose from when considering this form of treatment. You have the choice of resin or porcelain. Porcelain is a more popular choice because the veneers are able to better resist stains, reflect light, and mimic other physical characteristics like the surface of your natural teeth.
Although called porcelain, they are normally made of an even more advanced form of ceramic. This means they’re not only beautiful, they’re also extremely strong–some are stronger than your natural teeth!
Resin veneers aren’t as attractive or as strong, but they are less expensive, and for some people, they’re the right choice.
What Veneers Can Do for Your Smile
Laminates are a powerful and versatile cosmetic dentistry procedure. If you are looking to brighten your smile, this popular cosmetic dental treatment can correct the discoloration of your teeth. Veneers aren’t limited by the color of your natural tooth enamel–they can be as white as you want them to be, or perhaps contain a touch of color to set off your eyes.
Discoloration is not the only thing veneers can fix. This popular cosmetic dental procedure can fix teeth that are worn down, chipped, cracked, crooked, unevenly spaced (gaps), or irregularly shaped. A full set of veneers can essentially give you a completely new smile.
How Do They Work?
Dental veneers are quite simple. They act as a permanent covering for the front of your teeth. It doesn’t matter if you need one tooth or all of your teeth to be fixed; dental veneers are a great option to correct any problem you might have with your smile. After consulting with your dentist and deciding the best options for you as a patient, veneers are matched to your teeth by color, size, and shape.
Teeth laminates like this are not meant to be removed on a regular basis. Rather, they are intended to last a long time–most last a decade or more–and feel like your own natural teeth without any changes to your daily routine.
Why Should I Choose Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale?
While these dental shells are one of the fastest and easiest cosmetic dentistry procedures in Westchester, it takes a professional to do it correctly. At Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale, our cosmetic dentists include two prosthodontists: specialists in the design, manufacture, and placement of dental restorations. With years of specialized training in the use of dental restorations, as well as decades of experience helping patients achieve the smile of their dreams, they are experts in the veneer application process.
We also have an on-site dental laboratory that lets us complete your veneers more quickly–and allows your prosthodontist to oversee the process and ensure the highest quality and accuracy.
Some cosmetic dentists are simply general dentists who have taken a weekend course. They may not place veneers very often–you may even be their first case.
If you are looking for high-quality veneers placed by someone with the training and experience to do it right, then you should choose Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale.
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are custom designed and shaped for each person and require a little more planning than your semi-annual check-up. The process consists of three parts.
Dental Veneers Consultation
During consultation with your Westchester Cosmetic Dentist, you’ll figure out if installing is the best option. You’ll talk about your aesthetic preferences and the different available options for achieving your smile goals. Then, if you decide that veneers are right for you, your dentist will schedule a detailed design appointment.
Dental Veneers Design
In your design appointment, your cosmetic dentist will get into specific details about your veneers. Often, we will use digital tools to let you see what your new smile will look like when finished.
During the process, your teeth will need reshaping to ensure a healthy and attractive application of veneers. This includes four steps:
- Step 1 – Anesthetic: Your teeth have several nerves and blood vessels inside them that are sensitive to heat, cold, and vibration. Although this process won’t get anywhere near your nerves, anesthetic numbs the areas and avoids pain during the veneer preparation process.
- Step 2 – Teeth Preparation: When sufficiently numbed, the front of your teeth will be trimmed to make a better fit for the veneer to lay flat. This makes the veneer appear more natural and comfortable inside the mouth. It also avoids creating a ledge where plaque can accumulate.The veneer will replace the trimmed area later so that the tooth’s thickness remains the same. If the tooth has been damaged, is crooked, or decayed, requiring extra trimming and adjustment, our cosmetic dentist in Westchester will provide the necessary assistance and advice for the situation.
- Step 3 – Shade Determination: Your dentist will use a color chart to assist with selecting the best shade of veneers. One of the most popular reasons for having veneers installed is to correct tooth discoloration. During this part of the process, you’ll have the chance to pick out a brand new shade, one that will make you happier overall with your smile’s appearance.
- Step 4 – Digital Impressions: Once your teeth are prepared, your cosmetic dentist will take digital impressions of their new shape. This ensures that your custom veneers will fit your prepared teeth.
At the end of this appointment, we’ll send your impressions to our on-site dental laboratory. Having an on-site lab not only helps us complete veneers faster, but it also lets your prosthodontist oversee the process to guarantee the highest quality results.
In some cases, with a few veneers, you might be able to get them manufactured while you wait. Most of the time, however, you will leave our office wearing a temporary. These look attractive, but they are not as durable as your final veneers.
Dental Veneer Placement
When your teeth laminates are ready, your prosthodontist will call you back to the office for a final fitting. You’ll look at the veneers together and even have the chance to try them on before making a final decision. If the shade isn’t quite right, we can sometimes adjust them just a little bit to ensure it’s absolutely perfect.
When you and your prosthodontist are satisfied with the veneers, they’ll be cemented to your teeth, and before long, they’ll feel just like the real thing. You’ll be able to brush and floss normally, caring for your veneers just as you should for natural teeth.
Why Should I Choose Dental Veneers Over Other Options?
Every smile is unique, and every person’s teeth are different. That is why there are so many different options for tooth repair and replacement. Veneers are a beneficial choice for those that already have a healthy smile but are looking to improve the aesthetics of their teeth. This most popular cosmetic dental procedure can correct many aesthetic problems at the same time, making them a powerful, efficient solution.
Other options, like dental implants, are for patients that are missing teeth entirely. Veneers are not meant to replace your teeth, but to cosmetically alter the tooth’s appearance and to make the smile prettier and brighter than ever before. Braces and aligners are valid options for fixing gaps in your smile, but they can take years to show real improvement. They’re also a very expensive process. Teeth whitening sessions, whitening strips, and other processes for whitening your teeth are also valid options, but they too can cost lots of money and time before you see much improvement. Plus, teeth whitening is limited by the color of your natural enamel, while laminates can be as white as you want.
To top it off, veneers are resistant to staining, dental decay, and even normal wear and tear, keeping your smile perfect. Modern veneers are even designed to flex slightly with your natural teeth, allowing them to last for 10 years or more.
Get Dental Veneers in Westchester
Veneers are not the best option for everyone. However, the trusted professionals at Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale are here to offer expert advice and experience in seeing if dental veneers are the best option for you. When all is said and done, your new veneers will leave you happier and more confident in showing off your smile.
Interested in veneers? Contact us today by calling (914) 725-7100 to see what we can do for you!
