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Okay, so I’ve decided I wanted porcelain veneers. What does the process involve?

You can think of a veneer as a thin sheet of porcelain that is designed to precisely fit over your teeth. They are often custom shaded to match the color and appearance of your teeth.

At the first appointment, we will remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth. This step is needed so that the veneer does not end up looking too bulky with a poor fit. Whatever amount of enamel we remove will be roughly the same amount that we will replace with porcelain. After the enamel is removed, we will take a mold of your teeth. The lab will use this mold to design your veneers. We will often send smile photographs to the lab as well to give them more data to work off.

Once we receive your veneers, we will fit them to your teeth and adjust them if needed. Once we deem the fit perfect, we will bond the veneer to your teeth. We will also follow up by polishing the veneers so that they feel smooth and blend in perfectly with your natural tooth.

Will my porcelain veneers look natural?

If you’re looking for a solution that will resolve certain cosmetic dental problems, veneers are an excellent choice! For many people, they are one of the most effective, natural-looking solutions available today.

At our Queen Anne dentist, Dr. Goel, creates veneers that blend perfectly with the appearance of your natural teeth. You don’t have to be concerned that people will notice the difference. The best dental restoration, cosmetic or otherwise, is completely indistinguishable from your own teeth.

When creating your custom veneers, Dr. Goel will first talk to you about your desired results. Communication is essential, because we want you to be completely thrilled with your new porcelain veneers.

Once we know what you want your new veneers to accomplish, we begin the process by removing a very small amount of your tooth enamel. This is necessary to allow the veneer to fit naturally, and the amount we remove depends on your individual case.

Next, Dr. Goel takes impressions of your teeth that will be used to create your veneers, which usually takes about two weeks. You will return to our office, and we will check the veneers for proper fit, then bond them securely to the surface of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers are an appropriate cosmetic treatment, but may not be the best for your situation. Please contact our Queen Anne dental office to arrange a consultation with Dr. Goel so we can discuss your options.

What can I do to take ensure that my new dental crown will last for a long time?

A dental crown is often a big investment, so it is only natural to want to know how you can take care of it so that it lasts. With proper home care, and in the absence of any significant health problems that may alter saliva flow/chemistry, dental crowns can potentially last a lifetime. Grinding and clenching habits can put excess stress on the crown, and this can potentially lead to the crown breaking in the future. We often recommend a night guard in cases where patients have grinding/clenching habits.

Maintaining good oral hygiene at home, as well as making your regular dental checkups and cleanings is the best way to ensure that your crown lasts you a lifetime. During exams, we will take a close look at your crowns to catch problems when they are early and to prevent any substantial future damage. 

Will porcelain veneers look natural, and match the rest of my teeth? I don’t want a fake looking smile!

Porcelain veneers can rapidly solve a number of cosmetic problems, and they are virtually indistinguishable from your own teeth in appearance. You can think of a porcelain veneer as a thin sheet of porcelain that is bonded to your teeth. The porcelain, although thin, is also quite strong and durable, and can withstand the natural wear and tear that you teeth endure.

The porcelain is often translucent, and is very similar in characteristics to enamel, allowing it to blend in seamlessly. Moreover, the porcelain can be layered and colored by the lab ceramist to give it a natural, “imperfect” appearance, if that is what you desire. At Queen Anne Dental, we have helped create lots of beautiful smiles using veneers. Patients are often pleasantly surprised by how beautiful and  natural the end result is.

At our Queen Anne dental office, we have helped enhance lots of smiles using porcelain veneers. Our patients are always thrilled to see how the natural beauty of veneers can truly transform their smile.

We know that you will also be pleased at the difference porcelain veneers can make if your smile is less than perfect. Please contact our office for more information and to make an appointment for a consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of!

Can you fix teeth that are chipped or broken?

Yes! Depending on the extent of the damage, you have several options for repairing broken, chipped teeth.

The most straightforward, and least invasive method for fixing a small chip is to simply buff it out by smoothing the enamel. We can also use composite resin tooth colored fillings to fill in small defects. The color of this material can be matched perfectly to the natural shade of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers are another option, and can give you a very natural, beautiful, lifelike smile. Porcelain is a very strong, but translucent material that allows it to closely match natural tooth enamel.

Teeth with severe fractures may require dental crowns. Modern dental crowns are quite strong and can reinforce a weakened tooth for many years, you take care of it properly. 

I’m unhappy with the appearance of my smile. Can you help me?

Most definitely! Depending on your unique situation as well as your needs, we can offer a tailored treatment plan that will provide you with the results you seek.

Whitening treatments will leave your teeth looking naturally white.

Porcelain veneers can quickly alter the appearance of your smile by correcting cosmetic defects such as chipped, stained, or deformed teeth.

Tooth colored composite resin fillings can restore your teeth back to full health and function. These versatile, naturally looking fillings, while not only beautiful, can also prevent further oral health issues.

Orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign and Six Month Braces can be used to rapidly correct misaligned teeth in a reasonable amount of time.

The above treatment options, either by themselves or in combination, can correct the following problems:

  • Stained, unsightly teeth
  • Broken, cracked, or chipped teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Teeth with uneven heights
  • Diastemas, or gaps between teeth
  • Old, defective, unaesthetic fillings