If you are concerned about the appearance of your smile, porcelain veneers are a great way to take care of several issues at once. Porcelain veneers are an ideal solution for patients who want to completely make over their smile. Dr. Stewart is an expert in helping patients improve their lives with this natural-looking porcelain veneer treatment and composite dentistry. He has been creating gorgeous smiles with veneers since 1990.

Veneers are super-thin slices of dental grade ceramic that are bonded onto the front of the teeth to improve their color and/or shape. (These are commonly – but not always – made of dental-grade porcelain. Other high-quality ceramics can also be used). Porcelain veneers can be used to repair problems like severe staining, cracks in the teeth, gaps between teeth, chipped teeth and misalignment.

Getting Porcelain Veneers

Getting porcelain veneers in our office usually involves two or three visits. In the first visit, Dr. Stewart will talk with the patient to determine their goals for treatment and how they want their smile to appear.

In addition to repairing obvious flaws, the color and shading and shape of the veneers should be tailored to the unique personality and lifestyle of the individual. For example, some patients want a more aggressive, sharp smile, while others prefer a more subdued look with a more rounded edge to the teeth.

Once the details for the smile makeover are confirmed, Dr. Stewart will prepare the patient’s teeth to receive the porcelain veneers and make detailed impressions of the teeth to send to the laboratory that will craft the veneers. This ensures a precise fit.

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The fabrication of the veneers usually takes 10 days to two weeks to complete. During that time, the patient will receive a temporary cosmetic appliance to wear over the teeth that will mimick the new smile they are to receive.

Once the veneers are finished, Dr. Stewart will place them on the teeth without permanently bonding so the patient can see how they look. Only when the patient is completely satisfied with his or her new smile, will the veneers be permanently bonded to the teeth.

Different Types of Porcelain Veneers

Many dentists advertise their experience with a particular brand of veneer or technique for applying them. However, not every type of veneer is suitable for every patient.

We strongly urge patients who are interested in porcelain veneers to choose a skilled cosmetic dentist who has demonstrated experience with a number of different ceramics and restoration techniques. Your smile is unique to you and an individual and it is important to see a dentist who understands that and will give you a beautiful smile that fits with your face shape and personality.

Getting porcelain veneers is a significant investment, but well worth it if done by a dentist who can ensure that the veneers both improve the look of your teeth but enhance and support their function. Your teeth should be as comfortable and work just as well or better after getting veneers as they did before.