Veneers

Does your smile make you happy? That’s what it’s supposed to do—for you and for the people who see you smile. However, if your teeth are riddled with a number of cosmetic flaws, then you may be sacrificing some of your happiness to imperfections that Dr. Anderson can conceal with porcelain veneers in Anthem.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers—also called dental veneers or simply veneers—are strong coverings that Dr. Anderson adhesively bonds to the facial side of teeth that show when you smile. They are made of either dental porcelain or composite resin materials. Both of these reflect light in a way that is similar to natural tooth enamel, so your smile will look completely natural.

In addition, Dr. Anderson custom designs each veneer for a specific tooth. This way, your smile will not look as if it’s made up of a row of identical little white blocks—some too big for their position in your mouth. Instead, your smile will look like your own teeth, only better!

What Can Porcelain Veneers Correct?

Veneers can cover flaws both large and small. These include:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Teeth that have wide gaps between them
• Slightly crooked teeth
• Teeth with permanent stains
• Unevenly worn teeth

How Can I Get Porcelain Veneers?

The process isn’t complicated. In fact, most patients can have their smiles transformed in just two appointments with Tramonto cosmetic dentist Dr. Anderson. After an initial consultation to discuss your desires and gather x-rays, photos and impressions of your teeth, Dr. Anderson begins to design your new smile.

At the first appointment, a slim layer of enamel is gently filed down on each tooth that will have a veneer. Most patients do not require a local anesthetic for this procedure. This step helps to ensure the smooth fit of your veneers, so your smile doesn’t seem to protrude unnaturally. We then take an impression of your prepared teeth that our dental lab will use to create your custom crafted veneers. In the meantime, Dr. Anderson places a temporary set to protect the teeth that she just prepped. This set also gives you some time to adjust to the feeling of veneers in your mouth.

In a couple of weeks the finished veneers arrive in our office. You’ll return for one more appointment so Dr. Anderson can remove the temporaries and replace them with your personalized veneers. With a little tender loving care—don’t bite down on anything hard with your veneers—you can look forward to showing off a smile that will definitely make you and others happy!

Veneers FAQs

Because small alterations are made to your teeth before veneers can be placed, the procedure is considered permanent. Thus, you should know exactly what the procedure entails before you decide to move forward with it. Get in touch with our office any time; our helpful staff at Anderson Dental is always happy to answer any questions you might have. Listed below are the answers to some of the inquiries that we have heard the most often over the years.

Am I a Good Candidate for Veneers?

The versatility of veneers makes them a good option for many patients who have stained, chipped, or irregularly shaped teeth. They’re especially useful if you have multiple cosmetic flaws that you want to address with a single treatment. It’s not recommended to get veneers if you currently have untreated cavities; we’ll need to remove all signs of decay before covering the tooth. Also, if we find signs that you are grinding your teeth at night (which can end up damaging your restorations), we’ll need to give you a nightguard that you can wear while you sleep.

How Long Will My Veneers Last?

Just like crowns and fillings, veneers periodically need to be replaced. Their average lifespan is around 5 to 10 years, but in some cases, they can last longer than that. It all depends on the kind of care they receive. You don’t need to do anything special or change any of your oral hygiene habits; you simply need to brush and floss like you normally would. During your professional cleanings every six months, we’ll check your veneers and make sure they’re still in good shape so that we can address potential problems far ahead of time.

How Many Veneers Will I Need?

Some patients assume that they will need to get veneers to hide all of their teeth, but this isn’t generally the case. For one thing, only the teeth that are normally visible whenever you open your mouth need to be considered for the procedure. Furthermore, the number of veneers needed depends largely on what kind of corrections are being made; multiple veneers are needed if you want to improve your smile’s overall color, but only one or two may be required if only a couple of teeth have cracks that you want to hide. It’s considered a good idea to get an even number of veneers for the aesthetic benefits.

How Much Will Veneers Cost?

As you might imagine, the number of veneers needed to make the desired changes is a key factor in determining what the final cost will be. Many insurance companies won’t pay for veneers since they’re a cosmetic treatment, but there are some policies that may cover up to 50% of the associated fees if they see it as reasonable. Before you commit to getting veneers, we can talk to you about your financial situation and help you explore your options for fitting the treatment into your budget.