What Are Veneers?
One of the most frequently used procedures at LuxDen Dentistry Center is veneers. They can correct many dental problems and give you the beautiful smile of your dreams.
Porcelain veneers
Veneers cover teeth stained from discolored resin fillings, exposure to excessive fluoride (fluorosis), antibiotics, especially tetracycline, or older root canal treatments. They can hide teeth that are small, oddly shaped, or that have become worn down.
Veneers are a popular way to rejuvenate your smile. There are several different types to choose from, and it is essential to know a bit about each option.
The best-in-class dentist in Brooklyn, Dr. Umanoff, can explain which choice will be the best for you and why.
According to NCBI, porcelain veneers provide a successful and predictable restoration with an approximate survival rate of 93.5% over the past ten years. Dramatic increase in failure probability was associated with nonvital teeth and bruxism.
Why Get Dental Veneers?
Veneers are great for covering up teeth and can be used in many different situations.
You may think about getting instant smile veneers if you have teeth that are:
- Chipped
- Cracked
- Worn down
- Too short
- Gaps or space between teeth
They are also perfect for covering up teeth that are too small or which don’t have the ideal shape.
While teeth whitening can bleach away some stains, it cannot lift more deeply seated or internal stains. You can use teeth veneers to hide teeth that are badly stained or discolored, and this can happen if a tooth has an old root canal treatment if you used tetracycline or because of dental fluorosis.
Dental fluorosis can lead to white lacey flecks developing on teeth. In more severe cases, it can cause unsightly brown spots. It is harmless but is caused by exposure to excess fluoride during childhood.
Do you have unsightly gaps in between one or more of your teeth? Sometimes dental veneers can be used to reduce or completely close up these gaps, depending on the size of the space.
Who Can Have Porcelain Veneers?
Conditions for veneers
If your teeth are in good condition and don’t have any signs of tooth decay or other dental problems like gum disease, you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers. The treatment is minimally invasive, but you need to have strong and healthy teeth. You shouldn’t have very large fillings, and the overall structure should be largely intact.
Teeth that are more badly damaged by trauma, have large fillings, or significant tooth decay might benefit from different dental restorations. Porcelain crowns that cover the entire tooth may be beneficial for more damaged teeth. Porcelain crowns provide far more protection and restore teeth’ strength, structure, size, and appearance.
To discover if porcelain veneers are a possible solution, it’s best to visit your cosmetic dentist Dr. Umanoff. He can assess the overall condition of your teeth and will discuss your aims and desires for treatment. He then recommends the most suitable options to provide you with the smile of your dreams. If your treatment plan does include veneers, the process is very straightforward.
What is the Difference Between Veneers and Lumineers?
Lumineers are also veneers. But the way they are made and fitted is quite different. They are also made from different materials. Although they are still made from porcelain, Lumineer porcelain is stronger and more translucent.
Because the porcelain is more translucent, it can create highly natural-looking effects, mimicking the appearance of natural teeth accurately.
Lumineers are ultra-thin. Whereas ordinary porcelain veneers are approximately 0.5 – 0.7 mm in thickness, Lumineers are approximately 0.1 – 0.2 mm in thickness. Those few millimeters can make all the difference in the way veneers are fitted. Unlike ordinary veneers, where a minimal amount of tooth structure must be removed, Lumineers can often be fitted straight over your natural teeth.
They can even be fitted over aging crowns and bridges, rejuvenating their appearance. Just like ordinary veneers, Lumineers cannot become stained or discolored.
If you decide to opt for Lumineers, the process is relatively quick, and you will only need a couple of appointments of approximately an hour each. During your first visit, you discuss your aims for treatment. The dentist, Dr. Umanoff, will examine your teeth to make sure Lumineers are appropriate for you.
The next step is taking a detailed impression of your teeth. This involves photos and sometimes x-rays. All this information is sent to the dental laboratory that will make your Lumineers. That is it! There is no need for local anesthesia and no need for the dentist to reshape your teeth or to place temporary veneers.
Your Lumineers will be ready to try on during your next visit and can be permanently bonded onto your teeth. The bonding process requires Dr. Umanoff or your local dentist to etch your teeth lightly. He slightly roughens the tooth surface, which creates a strong bond with the Lumineer. Now all you need to do is to enjoy your new smile.
It’s also worth talking about the potential longevity of Lumineers. Some people who have this treatment have enjoyed their Lumineers for twenty years. Although they are slightly more expensive than conventional dental veneers, they can be more cost-effective in the longer term.
Not everybody is suitable for porcelain veneers, and Lumineers work best in specific situations. Now that you know a bit more about both these options, you can discuss them more fully with Dr. Umanoff or your nearby dentist.
Porcelain veneers and Lumineers are excellent treatments that have helped many people achieve their dream smiles. The best way to discover if they could help you and which type will most suit your needs is to talk to your local cosmetic dentist or the best-rated veneer dentist Dr. Umanoff.
What Are the Different Types of Veneers?
Your veneers can be made from porcelain or composite.
Are the easiest and cheapest solution for improving your teeth’ appearance because the material is applied directly to your teeth. Sometimes it is possible to complete treatment in just a single visit, and it might not even be necessary to have any injections.
Composite resin veneers are the right choice if you want a cost-effective way to get a smile makeover, but they won’t last as long as porcelain veneers.
Over time, they can become stained and will need replacing more frequently. Although modern composite resins can look wonderful, they are not quite as life-like as the latest porcelains. If you want the best aesthetics, you might need to consider porcelain veneers.
Will generally need at least two visits to your dentist or Luxden Dental Center as they are indirect restorations meaning they are made outside your mouth. There are also different ways of making porcelain veneers. Sometimes they can be made in the office by Dr. Umanoff or your local dentist while you wait.
With these types of veneers, your dentist will prepare and scan your tooth before using the information to mill your veneers on-site. These are then hand-finished and glazed and can be fitted before leaving the dental office. Alternatively, they will be fabricated in a dental laboratory, which will take a couple of days or more. The types of porcelains used to make the veneers can vary tremendously, and the choice can be influenced by whether your teeth are stained or if tooth preparation is needed, which is yet another thing to decide.
Preparation
Some types of veneers require a dentist to shape the tooth, removing some healthy tooth structure so there is sufficient room for the veneer to be made without it looking and feeling too bulky. Others, including Dr. Umanoff, require little or no preparation, which is preferable because it will preserve your tooth, but unless used in the right circumstances, it could leave you with bulky, false, and uncomfortable veneers
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Veneers?
Once Dr. Umanoff has confirmed you are suitable for porcelain teeth veneers, he can begin to plan your treatment.
Initial planning includes:
- Diagnostic x-rays
- Dental impressions
- Possibly photos
Quite often, dentists at Luxden use smile design technology to digitally manipulate images of your teeth to achieve perfect proportions (virtual width of the teeth, taking the golden ratio as a parameter), showing how they will look once treatment is completed.
It’s a great idea because you can become involved with designing your new smile and the design can be altered until you are entirely happy with the result.
The next stage is for your teeth to be prepared for the veneers.
Usually, Dr. Umanoff must reshape your teeth, removing approximately 0.5 mm of material from the front surfaces, which will be veneered. This is about the same approximate thickness as a porcelain veneer and ensures your new restorations look natural and don’t feel too bulky once they are fitted in the mouth.
Once your teeth are prepared, Dr. Umanoff will take a dental impression, which is used to custom make your veneers. If they are to be made in a dental laboratory, you will almost certainly need temporary veneers.
Sometimes they are made using the digital images created during the smile design process, so you effectively get to trial your new smile. This can be incredibly useful because if there’s something you don’t like about your new teeth, then your dentist can alter the design.
Prepless or Prep-Free Veneers
Prepless veneers
Sometimes, Dr. Umanoff doesn’t need to remove any tooth structure. There are certain types of veneers called prepless or prep-free veneers and which are incredibly thin yet strong. However, they are only suitable in specific situations, so it’s best to be guided by Dr. Umanoff or your dentist’s advice.
With prepless veneers, you won’t need to wear any temporary veneers as they are fitted directly over your natural teeth. If you wish, you can always reverse treatment later, if for some reason, you decide you no longer want to have dental veneers. This isn’t possible with conventional veneers where some tooth structure is removed.
Once your new veneers are ready, they are bonded onto your teeth, and you can show off your new smile to everyone. Porcelain veneers are pretty hard-wearing, but it’s important to treat them nicely. This will help prolong their life. Make sure you brush your teeth and your veneers at least twice a day and floss around your teeth.
Visit Dr. Umanoff or your local dentistry center regularly for checkups and cleanings, and avoid using your teeth as tools. If you bite into packets, you risk chipping or fracturing your veneers, so it’s far cheaper to use the proper implements! With the appropriate care, your porcelain veneers could last you for ten years or more. Often prep less or prep free veneers will last even longer, although they tend to cost a little more.
Getting a Treatment Plan
Dr. Umanoff or your chosen dentist will need to examine your teeth because veneers are only suitable for reasonably healthy and strong teeth. They will talk to you about your aims and desires for treatment to discover the changes you would like to achieve. They might take x-rays, dental impressions, and photos of your teeth to help plan your treatment. Using this information, your cosmetic dentist Dr. Umanoff will provide you with a written treatment plan showing which options they recommend and the costs. They will explain each choice to you to help you decide which veneers to choose.
Some dentists, including Dr. Umanoff, will use computer programs to provide virtual images of your new veneers, while another technique to use a diagnostic wax-up. This is where a plaster model of your teeth is adapted with tooth-colored wax so you can see how your veneers will look. You can work with your dentist, Dr. Umanoff, to adjust the shape and size of the veneers until you are happy with the results.
Making and Fitting Your Veneers
If you decide to go ahead with veneers, you will need an appointment so Dr. Umanoff, a leading dentist, can prepare your teeth, if required.
Tooth preparation is carried out using a local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any sensitivity. If you are having prepless veneers then you won’t need any anesthetic. The next step is for Dr. Umanoff to make an impression. This might be taken conventionally using mouth trays, or your mouth might be scanned, creating a digital impression.
The impression is used to accurately create your veneers so they will fit precisely over your teeth while looking and feeling very natural. The final stage is for your veneers to be bonded in place, leaving you free to enjoy your new smile.
As with any dental treatment, regular dental care, checkups, and hygiene appointments will all prolong the life of your veneers.
Taking the First Step Towards Finding Out More
If you are interested in veneers, your first step is to visit an excellent cosmetic dentist like Dr. Umanoff. This may or may not be your general dentist because there is a lot of technical skill and artistry required to make and place good dental veneers.
Your family dentist might be great for preventative and general dental care, but they may not be the optimal choice for smile makeovers. It is worth talking to friends and family who have had cosmetic dental treatment to find out if they were happy with the work or if there were things they would prefer to have changed.
When choosing a dentist, don’t be afraid to ask to see testimonials and before and after photographs from patients. Take a good look at the work they produce to decide if it looks natural and if you would be happy with the results.
How Much Are Veneers?
According to several reputable research companies, the average price of veneers in Brooklyn ranges from $925 to $2,500 per tooth. The approximate cost of the non-prep veneers is around $800-2000 per tooth. From a cost perspective, traditional veneers have always been the most effective option in the long run.
The cost of dental veneers cost depends on a variety of factors:
- Type
- Brand name
- Experience and expertise of your dentist
- Your geographical location
How Long Do Teeth Veneers Last?
Your dental veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years with adequate maintenance. Even though you can eat almost anything you desire, it is crucial to take reasonable precautions. For instance, you can easily crack your porcelain veneer if you try to open a bottle with your teeth or chew on ice. If you tend to grind your teeth at night, consider using a nightguard. Porcelain veneers have the same strengths and weaknesses as your natural teeth, and they should be taken care of accordingly.
