Cosmetic Dentist
Our professional Oak Lawn dentist recommend porcelain veneers for some patients seeking their ideal smile. It’s an option when the original tooth has poor color, shape, and contours. Veneers are also a good choice for tooth fractures, and gaps between teeth. They are the perfect choice in cases where tooth position causes small bite-related problems. Superficial stains don’t respond well to tooth whitening or bleaching in some people. In these cases, a porcelain veneer can accomplish the smile you desire.
What is a porcelain veneer?
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth while providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel. It is often the material of choice to make slight position alterations or to change tooth shape, size, and/or color. We discuss what corrections or alterations you want to see in your smile. We’ll help you understand the extent of cosmetic improvements you envision. We follow with a smile analysis to determine the necessary steps to achieve the smile you desire. Before your final decision, we’ll show you how your new smile will look. Step one is deciding that porcelain veneers are for you, but prepare for a multi-step process. Porcelain veneers require laboratory time for preparation. Expect to wait at least a week before they’re ready for application.
The Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Veneers are individually sculpted for each patient. It’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth. Unlike natural teeth, custom-made veneers resist coffee and tea stains, and cigarette smoke. That’s because they are made of high-tech materials.
- With veneers, as opposed to crowns, your natural teeth remain largely intact with only a minimal amount alteration to fit the veneer.
- For teeth that resist whitening, veneers make even the darkest teeth appear bright white. We recommend them to quickly fix minor twists, overlaps, and small gaps.
Call for consultation at 708-425-5300
What you need to know about Aesthetic Dentistry
- This procedure will permanently alter your teeth. Because we remove a portion of the original tooth enamel, placement of a porcelain veneer is not reversible. Although adjustments and even new veneers can be made, you cannot return to the original condition of the tooth.
- After the porcelain veneers are in place, you may experience sensitivity to hot and cold due to the removal of a thin layer of enamel. This typically disappears within a few days.
Porcelain veneers behave like your own teeth in a healthy mouth properly treated. However, while they’re very strong, veneers are also brittle. Avoid the same excessive stresses you would avoid with non-veneered teeth, such as biting fingernails, chewing ice or opening bottle tops with your teeth. You never want to open bottle tops with your teeth, whether you have veneers or not. If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, Dr. Mike may recommend you be fitted for a nighttime bite guard so you don’t damage your veneers. Upkeep and Maintenance Treat your veneers as you would your original teeth with routine brushing and flossing. We’ll recommend a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste. We’ll give you other recommendations for care as well. One week after your veneers are placed, you’ll be scheduled for a follow-up visit. Dr. Mike evaluates how your mouth is reacting to the veneers. Even if you feel the veneers are a success, this appointment is vital to your future oral health. Once your veneers are placed and problem-free, you’ll resume a regular schedule of oral health maintenance. We polish your porcelain veneers with a specially formulated, non-abrasive paste. Plus, Dr. Mike inspects your teeth for any sign of potential failure.
