Porcelain Veneers: The Art of a Flawless Smile

With cosmetic dentistry, dental care is an art as much as a science because cosmetic treatments aim to design and create beautiful, aesthetically pleasing smiles that complement a patient's unique features, bone structure, expressions, and personality. With porcelain veneers, cosmetic dentists strive to design perfect smiles that look completely natural and absolutely stunning.  

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

One of the most popular cosmetic treatments, porcelain veneers, are wafer-thin shells of durable porcelain. They are designed to fit over the front surfaces of a patient's teeth, masking the visible portions of the teeth to create a completely new look.  

Porcelain veneers are one of the fastest and least invasive strategies to deliver permanent, high-impact results with a completely transformed smile.

Porcelain Veneer Treatment Applications: How Are Dental Veneers Used?

Porcelain veneers can be applied to one or two individual teeth in order to correct minor aesthetic imperfections or they can be applied in a set to transform the whole look of a patient's smile. The most common treatment applications and uses of porcelain veneers include:

• Improving smile symmetry and balance
• Creating an evenly colored, bright-white smile
• Covering permanent stains or discoloration
• Correcting the appearance of an irregularly sized or shaped tooth
• Hiding a chip or a crack in a tooth
• Covering up a gap between teeth
• Creating the appearance of a straight smile without orthodontics
• Hiding visible, silver-amalgam dental fillings
• Creating a smile that enhances and complements a patient's unique features

The treatment applications of porcelain dental veneers all aim to address imperfections to improve aesthetics and create a truly dazzling smile. This can be achieved either by addressing minor imperfections or by entirely making over the smile's appearance with a complete set of porcelain veneers.  

What to Expect During the Treatment Process With Porcelain Veneers

Consultation and Examination

Porcelain veneer treatment begins with a consultation and examination. During this appointment, our cosmetic dentist examines the patient's teeth and gums and assesses their oral health. The dentist also talks with the patient about their smile concerns, treatment goals and expectations, and what to expect during treatment with porcelain veneers.

We make sure that our patients understand what to expect from treatment and the kinds of results they will receive. Additionally, we do our best to ensure all of the patient's questions have been answered and that they have been presented with multiple treatment options before helping them decide which treatment plan will best help them achieve their smile goals.  

Tooth Preparation

The first step in porcelain veneer treatment is preparing the surfaces of the teeth. Porcelain veneers are only about half a millimeter thick, but in order to achieve a natural look, it is necessary to remove some tooth enamel from the surfaces of the teeth. This step creates space for the dental veneers to rest on top of the teeth while also creating a rougher surface that will achieve a stronger bond with the dental adhesive. We take precautions to ensure our patients experience minimal pain or discomfort during this preparation process.  

Veneer Design

We prepare your teeth and communicate with the lab to make a perfectly custom-fit smile. We then upload this data into design software to design the patient's dental veneers and new smile look. During this step, we combine our patient's preferences and treatment goals with our own dental training and artistic eye to create a new smile look that will be both attractive and natural-looking.  

Temporary Veneers

We will fit patients with a set of temporary veneers to protect their teeth and prevent any sensitivity from occurring while their porcelain veneers are manufactured with a precision mill in our dental lab.  

Permanent Application

When the permanent porcelain dental veneers are ready for placement, our patient returns to the office for the application process. We first remove their temporary veneers and clean and prepare the surfaces of the patient's teeth before using a bonding agent to permanently adhere each dental veneer to each tooth.  

Once the veneers are in place, we clean and floss the teeth and make any required minor adjustments before the treatment is complete.  

Ongoing Care

Patients can continue caring for their porcelain veneers just as they care for their natural teeth, with regular brushing and flossing in addition to routine dental examinations and cleanings.

Our porcelain veneers are a work of art in their own right, and should be cared for as such. By being aware of foods and beverages that would stain or damage your veneers, you can help avoid any unnecessary discoloring, aging, or wear and tear. Additionally, patients should protect their porcelain veneers by wearing an athletic mouthguard during any athletic activities and a nightguard if they suffer from sleep bruxism.  

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?

The total treatment cost of porcelain veneers can vary greatly depending on the number of veneers being applied, the specific teeth receiving treatment, and the patient's individual treatment preparation needs. At Smile & Co., we prioritize the quality and longevity of your veneers to ensure they’re done right the first time. Our veneers are meticulously designed, hand-painted, and completely customized to your face to look and feel as natural as possible. With this level of care and attention upfront, you’ll save thousands in the long run by avoiding revisions in the future.

Smile Transformations With Our Cosmetic Dentist in Folsom and Roseville

At Smile & Co., we do dentistry differently, placing an emphasis on patient trust, kind and compassionate care, and state-of-the-art dentistry. If you would like to turn the smile of your dreams into a reality, porcelain veneers might be the right treatment for you. We welcome you to contact our office to request a smile transformation consultation with a cosmetic dentist at either of our two convenient locations in Folsom and Roseville.  

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