Porcelain veneers are just one of the many cosmetic dentistry options we have for our patients to keep their teeth and gums healthy, clean and strong. Veneers are porcelain shells placed around damaged or badly-stained teeth to completely transform your smile. These wafer-thin shells are bonded to the front of the teeth, changing their the shape, size and color. They are used to fix teeth that are discolored, worn down, broken, chipped, misaligned, unevenly shaped and to fill gaps between teeth. Each veneer is a permanent change to restore the shape and appearance of each tooth. The best part is that an entirely new, more beautiful smile can be achieved in a little as 2 office visits. These teeth will last 15-20 years or even more depending on the care you give them. At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we provide superb porcelain veneers and bonding to make a customized smile just for you. Learn more about the benefits of porcelain veneers and how they can transform your smile.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Veneers fall under the category of “cosmetic dentistry,” a category of care that focuses more on the aesthetics of your smile. One of the most popular forms of cosmetic dentistry are porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers can take your smile to the next level and can also take care of several issues at once during the same dental visit. For teeth that are discolored, damaged, badly stained or even crooked, veneers might be a good option for you. A veneer is basically a tooth shell made of porcelain that fits over your natural teeth, hiding those imperfections. A thin layer of porcelain is cemented permanently to the surface of your tooth, purposely giving it a smooth and beautiful pearly-white finish. These shells will create even-shaped teeth in the mouth, giving your smile a flawless appeal. They are custom-fit for you so the smile fits your specific mouth and each tooth to avoid gaps and irregularities.

How Treatment Works

Dr. Bockrath specializes in porcelain veneers and has had countless happy clients. He will take an impression (or a mold) of each of your teeth so that the final shape and look of each tooth can be determined. These molds are then used by a laboratory to custom-make the porcelain shells that will be cemented to your teeth. The mold-to-finished-product procedure takes about two weeks, as we want the veneers to be absolutely perfect. After we receive your custom shells from the lab, we will carefully remove a thin layer of enamel (very thin layer) from the surface of each tooth. This will create a roughened surface on the front of your teeth that will bond easily to the veneer cement, allowing the porcelain veneer to sit flush against your natural tooth. We want the veneer shells to appear like your natural tooth without protruding abnormally, which is the reason why a thin layer of enamel is removed. We use a special light to harden the cement quickly in-office, allowing you to use your new teeth as soon as you walk out of our office. You can even start eating like normal once you leave your appointment. Plan for about 2 full dental appointments for the entire veneer set to be installed on your teeth. That’s only 2 visits for a more beautiful smile!

Porcelain Veneers Are All Around Us

Ever wonder how all those Hollywood celebrities have such perfect teeth? It’s not always from good genetics. Many of the socialites and celebrities you see have had porcelain veneers put on their teeth, which is the reason why so many have amazingly white and straight smiles. In a study done by The New York Times, they found that 600,000 people had veneers in 2006. That was more than 10 years ago! Within a two-year time period, the amount of people with porcelain veneers grew by 15 percent and continues to grow at a steady incline. Today, millions of people have veneers. The reason behind porcelain veneers aren’t only their appearance, but also their durability and ability to hide or eliminate imperfections. With veneers you don’t have to constantly whiten your teeth every few years from natural wear on the teeth and you don’t have to worry about stains or crooked teeth.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are custom-made and provide benefits that natural teeth don’t always have. They are resistant to coffee and tea stains as well as cigarette smoke so you don’t have to worry about cutting back to avoid staining. The veneers are made of high-tech materials that are purposely strong, durable and don’t change color—they stay white! Your daily oral care routines don’t have to change either, as porcelain veneers are cleaned just like your normal teeth when it comes to brushing and flossing. Remember that you keep the majority of your natural tooth with the cosmetic procedure; it’s only been enhanced with its whiteness, shape and structure. We do, however, recommend changing any nail-biting habits, as nail biting could somewhat damage the veneers over time. We also recommend brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day as the natural parts of your teeth could still develop tooth decay if not taken care of. A healthy smile equates to a beautiful smile after all.

Our Dental Veneers

Some porcelain veneers only last about 10 years, but at Mountain Aire Dentistry, we make our veneers out of the best materials possible. 20 years of use is a realistic expectation. After that time, we just replace them in another simple office visit. Veneers can in fact last longer than any other dental restoration or cosmetic dentistry procedure with the exception of gold crowns. If failures occur, this is usually due to pre-existing conditions such as bruxism (grinding the teeth) or injury to the mouth. Use non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste to enhance veneer life and avoid using abrasive brushes or toothpastes at all.

Because we custom make our veneers for each individual patient, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a natural tooth and a veneer. You will know the confidence of a more beautiful, whiter and straighter smile in just one or two visits at Mountain Aire Dentistry. Studies show that those who have whiter, straighter smiles tend to be more successful at home, in school and at the workplace. Those who show off their smiles also are perceived to be more confident and more attractive to others. Let us make you a smile you will want to show off! Call our office today at (303) 731-7755 for your free consultation.