Porcelain Veneers in Northeast Philadelphia

How Do Veneers Help My Smile?

These veneers are made of a whisper-thin layer of dental porcelain that looks just like your tooth’s natural enamel. With its natural, light-reflecting properties and life-like surface, porcelain veneers never look too opaque, synthetic or unnatural. The method used to cement the veneers to the face of the tooth also creates a smile that is as natural-looking as it is functional. Below, we describe just a few of the ways that these veneers can improve your smile’s appeal:

• Size and shape: A chipped or worn down tooth can make you feel uncomfortable when you’re interacting with other people. The same is true if you feel like some of your teeth are too big, too square, too pointy or a combination of all of these imperfections. Veneers can entirely change the shape and size of your teeth, building a cohesive smile one tooth at a time. Since veneers are hand-crafted to fit your exact tooth, they create a smile that looks and feels natural.
• Tooth color: Aging, drinking coffee and tea, and using tobacco products can lead to teeth that are discolored, dingy or even yellowish. If you can’t achieve the bright smile you want with traditional teeth whitening treatments, talk to your dentist about veneers. With veneers, you can instantly restore your teeth’s natural brightness, or you can even choose a brighter, whiter shade to brighten your smile.
• Alignment and spacing: Small gaps in your teeth can make you feel uncomfortable about smiling or chatting with others, but you don’t have to settle for unevenly spaced teeth. Veneers are an excellent way to adjust the spacing in your smile, providing an immediately improved smile. Another benefit of choosing veneers is that they can adjust minor tooth alignment issues. If you’re looking for a way to correct slight spacing and alignment issues without braces, veneers provide an effective option.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?

The number of teeth that need cosmetic enhancement is just one of the many factors that go into determining your total porcelain veneers cost. Other issues include the type of veneer you choose and whether you need dental treatment prior to getting veneers. Our dentist can provide you with an estimate after your dental evaluation.

What Are the Differences Between Veneers and Crowns?

A veneer is just as permanent as a crown and just as effective at changing the outward appearance of a tooth. Both types of restoration can be made of dental porcelain or composite resin, and both can be easily made and fitted to the tooth.

They do have some notable structural differences though. Veneers porcelain fits over the front surface of the tooth, but crowns cover the entire core of the tooth, all the way down to the gum. Sometimes, crowns are even referred to as caps since they adhere to the whole tooth like a cap.

If you’ve lost tooth structure due to decay, trauma, disease or teeth-grinding, porcelain crowns offer structural advantages over veneers. This is true even though more of your natural tooth has to be removed to allow for the placement of the crown. With a veneer less than 1 mm of your tooth is lost to the application; with a crown, at least 2 mm of the tooth has to be removed. When it’s securely adhered to the tooth, though, the crown actually strengthens the tooth. For this reason, a crown is often recommended for molars since crowns provide the strength a back tooth needs to accommodate the back part of the jaw’s tremendous biting force.

What Does Veneer Application Entail?

If you and our dentist decide that porcelain veneers in Northeast Philadelphia are right for your situation, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This mold is used to create a veneer that is custom-fit to your tooth.

When the veneer is ready for application, the dentist may first have to remove a bit of your tooth’s enamel. Usually, less than 1 mm of enamel is removed during your porcelain veneers procedure. The veneer is then cemented into place with a special adhesive. You shouldn’t feel any pain during the application procedure. And once the veneer is set, it won’t move around or present problems with eating and drinking. In fact, once it’s in place, the veneer should feel so comfortable that you won’t notice it’s there.

How Long Will Veneers Last?

As long as you care for your veneers well and you avoid pitfalls like using your teeth to open a bottle or a bag, your veneers can keep your smile shining for decades to come. Be sure to take care of your veneers by brushing and flossing daily and having your porcelain teeth examined by your dentist regularly.

Are Lumineers^® Durable?

One of the biggest advantages to the Lumineers brand of veneers is the longevity of the veneers. In most cases, you can expect your Lumineers veneers to last for 20 or more years. With a lifespan this long, you might expect Lumineers to be thicker than other veneers, but the opposite is the case. Lumineers are known for being so super-thin that they require little to no removal of your natural tooth enamel.