Veneers – Kent, WA
Quickly Create a Flawless New Smile
Let’s face it, not everyone is born with a naturally attractive smile. Genetics, poor lifestyle habits, and trauma to your mouth can leave you feeling insecure about the appearance of your teeth. While you would like to improve how they look, you do not want to undergo an invasive or lengthy procedure. What if you could get the results you want with a simple solution? Now you can with your cosmetic dentist. With veneers from our Kent, WA cosmetic dentist, you will have the smile of your dreams in just two appointments.
How Can Porcelain Veneers Help Me?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. This allows them to be effective for hiding several cosmetic imperfections, like dark tooth discoloration that cannot be resolved with traditional whitening treatments.
Often, they are used to correct chips, cracks, and shorter than average teeth. They will instantly improve their size, shape, and proportion. In some cases, you can even use them as an alternative to orthodontics to close gaps or make your teeth appear straighter. You can cover minor alignment concerns without having to spend months wearing braces.
You will achieve natural-looking results because porcelain closely mimics the appearance of your enamel. Not to mention, it is stain-resistant, so you can rest assured that your new smile will stay bright.
What Can I Expect During the Treatment?
When compared to veneers of the past, those made from porcelain allow the procedure to be minimally invasive. They are thinner, so less of your tooth’s structure is removed during the bonding process.
After an initial consultation you will be scheduled for the first phase of your treatment. Your teeth will be cleaned, and their surfaces will be lightly etched. This is necessary to ensure that they will sit flush. Then, we take impressions, which are needed to create your veneers to meet your exact specifications in a dental lab.
It will take about two weeks for them to be ready. In the meantime, we will attach temporary ones. After your final veneers have been sent back to our dental office, you will return for your second appointment to have them bonded in place.
Invest in Your Confidence
If you do not love how your teeth look, it is time to see if porcelain veneers in Kent, WA are right for you. Contact our dental office today to schedule your consultation for a beautiful smile.
Benefits of Veneers
- Veneers can be used to address a wide variety of cosmetic concerns, allowing us to make multiple improvements with just one treatment.
- Since veneers only cover the front part of your tooth, they don’t call for us to remove as much enamel as we would need to for a dental crown.
- Not only are veneers highly durable, but they are also very simple to care for. You can therefore generally expect them to last for many years.
Veneers Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone can have a picture-perfect smile with veneers in Kent; however, they are a big commitment. It’s normal to have a few concerns before you are ready to move forward. Your cosmetic dentist, Dr. Dhaliwal will explain everything during your veneers consultation. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions to ease any apprehensions until your appointment.
Are Veneers Permanent?
Veneers aren’t permanent because they need to be replaced about every 10 years; however, they aren’t reversible either. A small amount of enamel is removed during the preparation process. Although this doesn’t harm the health of your teeth, your enamel won’t grow back. Your teeth will always require the protection of restorations, whether veneers or crowns.
How Many Veneers Will I Need?
Your cosmetic dentist in Kent can bond a veneer to a single tooth to improve its color, size, and shape. However, the overall goal of the procedure is to enhance the smile as a whole. Every mouth is unique, so there’s not a cookie-cutter treatment plan. After examining your mouth, Dr. Dhaliwal will explain how many you’ll need to reach your goals. Generally, they are recommended for the teeth most visible when smiling. Some patients may need as few as 4 to 6, while others may require up to 8 or 10.
Do Veneers Feel Like Real Teeth?
Early veneers had a bad reputation for feeling bulky, but that’s not an issue any more thanks to porcelain. The durable material allows less of your enamel to be shaved off during the bonding process to ensure the veneers sit flush. You won’t feel any uncomfortable ridges or ledges when running your tongue over your teeth. While they may feel a little foreign initially, after just a few days, you may even forget they are there.
Can I Use My Dental Insurance to Pay for Veneers?
Veneers are considered elective in most cases, so it’s rare for the procedure to be covered under dental insurance plans, but there are some exceptions. If your dentist determines they are necessary for your oral health, you may be able to use your coverage to offset the cost. This can be the case when needing replacements. Not to mention, your benefits may be used for certain steps in your treatment plan, like fillings or gum disease therapy. If applicable, we will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your annual allowance.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
Porcelain is stain-resistant, which means you don’t have to worry about your veneers changing color over time, but your underlying teeth can still discolor. If you notice your pearly whites aren’t as bright as they used to be, whitening products won’t help. Even professional treatments won’t have any effect on the restorations. Your cosmetic dentist will recommend avoiding whitening products because they can weaken the bonding material holding your veneers to your teeth. If you are concerned about color discrepancies, your dentist may suggest a whitening treatment before placing your veneers.
What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?
The amount of enamel that will need to be taken off your teeth will be very small. Furthermore, the veneer will be attached using a bonding material that is safe for your mouth. In short, the procedure will not have an adverse effect on your teeth.
That said, while veneers will not raise your chances of suffering from tooth decay, they also won’t prevent it. In order to stop cavities from forming under your veneers, you should continue to practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for biannual checkups.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?
As part of the process, you will need to wear temporary veneers for a while. During this time, it is highly recommended that you stay away from hard foods that could damage the veneers as well as sticky foods that could pull them off your smile. Be wary of dark-colored foods as well; temporary veneers aren’t as stain-resistant as permanent ones.
Once you receive your final veneers, you can start enjoying a wide variety of foods again. That said, you should still exercise caution around hard or crunchy foods.
Do Veneers Give You a Lisp?
Veneers slightly change the thickness of your teeth, which can affect the movement of your tongue when you attempt to make certain sounds (particularly “s” and “v”). Due to this, you may develop a lisp when you first have veneers placed. But don’t worry; this problem will go away after your tongue has gotten used to your veneers. If you want to reduce the amount of time it takes to get over your lisp, give yourself plenty of practice by identifying the words you’re having trouble with and repeating them. Reading aloud can also help.
Is It Painful to Get Veneers?
The process of having veneers placed shouldn’t cause any discomfort since a local anesthetic will be applied to keep your mouth numbed. However, once the procedure is complete, there may be some soreness, and your teeth might be unusually sensitive. The more veneers you’re having placed, the higher the chances of discomfort occurring.
The good news is that you can find relief by taking ibuprofen or another over-the-counter painkiller. It may also help to periodically rinse with salt water. Any discomfort should eventually go away on its own.