Porcelain Veneers

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to your existing teeth to cover malformations such chips, cracks, stubborn stains, and gaps to transform your smile. Porcelain is the material of choice as it most closely resembles the natural properties of enamel, thereby allowing the results to not only be as strong as healthy natural teeth, but it also allows for a natural, aesthetic outcome. Each smile design is unique and customized for each patient to achieve optimal form and function.

Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, well-tolerated by gums, aesthetically pleasing, and less invasive than alternative dental treatments such as crowns.

Why Porcelain Veneers?

Chips and cracks

Porcelain veneers are a great option to fix chips and cracks in teeth. They are stronger, more durable, and are aesthetically superior to bonding in most cases. A new smile can be designed to improve on the previous shape, alignment and symmetry of the teeth and smile.

Discolored teeth

Trauma, certain medications, and aging can lead to permanent discoloration of teeth that cannot be whitened. Porcelain veneers are a great option to mask these issues permanently to achieve a more seamless smile.

Gaps in between teeth

Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice to close gaps, and a great alternative to orthodontic treatment, especially when the shapes and sizes of the natural teeth are not ideal or harmonious with surrounding facial features such as the lips.

Misshapen or misaligned teeth

While orthodontics is a great treatment option in many cases, not all cases will yield optimal results with orthodontic treatment. When teeth are misaligned (crooked), orthodontics can be an excellent treatment of choice to straighten out the teeth for improved bite and aesthetics, but when a patient has teeth that are not ideal in shape and size, orthodontics cannot change the shape or size of these teeth to achieve ideal symmetry and facial aesthetics.

Anti-aging

As we age, our teeth age with us. Consistent wear and tear through usage (ie: eating and drinking), and parafunctional habits such as clenching and grinding cause havoc on our teeth over time. We start seeing chips, cracks, flattening and shortening of teeth that used to taller, and stains that become stubborn and harder to remove with regular cleanings and whitening. The wearing down of teeth, in addition to losing elastin and collagen in our facial musculature as a natural process of aging, will lead to the appearance of a collapsed lower third of the face. This, in turn, will make one appear older. Veneers can restore the loss in height, color, shape, and alignment of aging teeth for a more youthful smile with improved function.

The Veneer Process

For most cases, typically it takes approximately 4-5 weeks from the start to finish of a veneer case. For more difficult cases that require additional surgeries or procedures, this timeline can be longer

Visit #1 – Consultation & Records

The first step of the veneer process is to come and meet our team! This is your opportunity to interview us and discuss with us all of your objectives, concerns and questions. It is also an opportunity for us to really understand your treatment goals so that we are aligned in terms of how to move forward to achieve the smile of your dreams.

During your first visit, we will take x-rays, digital intraoral scans, impressions and photos to determine whether you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers and whether. Once we devise a plan and you choose to move forward with treatment, we use these records in conjunction with our master ceramist to design a “Wax-Up” or “Smile Design” of what your new smile will look like.

Visit #2 – Preparation and Temporary Veneers

10-14 days following your initial appointment, we will have you return to prepare your teeth for your new veneers. During the 10-14 days from your initial visit, we work closely with our master ceramist to design your new smile. The design returns to us in the form of a “Wax-Up” or “Smile Design”, which is basically a blueprint of what your new smile will look like, and it guides us to fabricate your temporary veneers so that you can test-drive your new smile while your permanent veneers are being made.

During this visit, we contour your teeth based on the final design of your veneers. Contrary to popular belief, we DO NOT “shave” your teeth down to “nubs and pegs”. Dr.Mimi has had extensive training in minimally invasive dentistry and will always remove as little tooth structure as possible to create space for the veneers. Veneers can be as thin as 0.3mm (the thickness of a contact lens), thereby eliminating the need for aggressive tooth removal. The photos below will give you an idea of how much tooth structure is typically removed in conservative veneer preparation.

Impressions and records are taken following the completion of the veneer preparation process and temporary veneers are made chairside, based on the Smile Design that was made with our master ceramist. The temporary veneers are fabricated from acrylic and will very closely resemble the shape, size, and color of your final veneers. The temporaries will give you an opportunity to “test-drive” your new smile before finalizing your permanent veneers.

Visit #3 – Post-Operative Discussion

The day after your preparation visit, we have you come back to see Dr. Mimi to discuss your temporary veneer design. This gives you an opportunity to give us feedback on how you like the design of the temporary veneers that we made for you. Any changes on shape, size and color will be made at this appointment so that we can begin to fabricate your final veneers with our master ceramist. You will wear your temporary veneers for 2 weeks before returning to have your permanent veneers bonded.

Visit #4 – The "Seat" Appointment

This is the day you have been waiting for! We will remove your temporary veneers, try-in your veneers, and upon your approval, we will bond the permanent veneers into place for your new, beautiful smile. We will equilibrate your bite to make sure you have normal function and will take scans for a nightguard to protect your beautiful new investment.

Visit #5 – Post-Operative Refinement

We will have you return for a final visit a day or two after your seat appointment to make sure everything is feeling right after you have had a chance to feel them out following the dissipation of anesthetic. Your bite will be equilibrated again if needed, photos of your final veneers will be taken, and you will have a Hygiene Refinement procedure with one of hygienists to remove any excess cement or bonding material.