It’s hard to fully enjoy life when you’re self-conscious about your smile. Do you cover your mouth when you laugh? Avoid being photographed as much as possible? Know all the tricks for hiding discolored, chipped, cracked, crowded, or uneven teeth when you smile? It can be exhausting trying to keep your teeth completely covered every time you feel happy or find something funny. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry offers several solutions for achieving a smile you’ll be proud to share with the world! This brings up the question of why choose porcelain veneers over other dental solutions?
Of these options, porcelain veneers are the most popular. What began as a bit of a Hollywood trend has gone mainstream in recent years, transforming smiles all across the country. Here at Accent Smile Center, we’ve got everything you need to pull off a show-stopping smile, just like your favorite celeb! Let’s take a look at why porcelain veneers are an excellent option for helping you attain a natural-looking smile, improved appearance, and increased self-esteem.
What are veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are applied to the teeth, creating a subtle, translucent quality that allows light to reflect just as it would off a natural tooth. Porcelain veneers replicate the strength and resilience of natural tooth enamel, but unlike natural teeth, they will not discolor or fade over time. Veneers are custom-made in a dental lab to match perfectly with your mouth and facial structure, and they require no extra maintenance.
For most patients, porcelain veneers offer a natural-looking, long-lasting alternative to bonding, depending on personal habits and any previous trauma. They can also be a great fit for anyone who has:
- discolored or stained teeth (particularly if professional teeth whitening has been unsuccessful)
- chipped, broken, or worn down teeth
- crooked, uneven, misaligned, or irregularly-shaped teeth
- gaps between teeth
Porcelain veneers aren’t for everybody, and it’s important that you work with an experienced dentist like Dr. Gatgens to ensure all functions are restored and a healthy smile is achieved! At Accent Smile Center, our expert team is also trained to use Duration Veneers, which require no or minimum tooth removal and are minimally invasive. This means a thin layer of porcelain can be bonded to a patient’s tooth without cutting the tooth down in size first which is healthier for your teeth!
How do veneers work?
The first step in the veneer process is a consultation in our Dickson office. During this visit, you’ll meet Dr. Gatgens and discuss your concerns you have about your smile, along with what your goals are to achieve through treatment. We will then perform a Smile Analysis, which will tell us more about your bite, your oral habits, the available space in your mouth, the health of your gum tissue, and the severity of whatever dental issue you’re dealing with. We’ll also take a CBCT 3-D scan to determine if your teeth are suitable for veneers. This will allow Dr. Gatgens to create a treatment plan around your specific needs.
During the preparation phase, our team will remove about one-half millimeter of your tooth enamel to ensure it will be the same thickness after the veneer is added. This avoids the appearance of “horse teeth” and gives you a natural-looking smile! We’ll then take impressions of the teeth with our digital scanner and send them to the dental lab where the veneers will be constructed. It can take up to a few weeks on average for custom veneers to be designed and delivered.
The final step in the veneer process is the bonding phase. The veneers will be placed on the teeth to judge the fit, with Dr. Gatgens making any necessary adjustments at this time. The cement color will be chosen based on your natural teeth in order to match the veneer as closely as possible, and we will thoroughly clean and etch the teeth to allow for a good bond. The veneers are carefully bonded into place, and a special light will be applied to harden the cement more quickly. Dr. Gatgens will then evaluate your bite and any extra cement will be removed. You can expect to return to our office in about two weeks for an evaluation of the veneers.
What are the advantages of porcelain veneers?
Natural results for a beautiful smile
For teeth that are cracked, chipped, or discolored, porcelain veneers can be ideal. They may also be useful for those who wish to alter the size and shape of their teeth. They look just like natural teeth and people won’t even be able to tell you’ve had any work done at all!
Stain resistant
For teeth that are very discolored, teeth whitening treatments may not be effective. In these cases, porcelain veneers can often be an excellent option. Not only do they help cover stains, they’re resistant to them, too!
Durable and long-lasting
Porcelain veneers last on average from twelve to fifteen years, but can last much longer if properly maintained. At Accent Smile Center, we use the best materials and the latest techniques and technology to ensure you get the most out of your porcelain veneers for many years to come.
Transform your smile
Porcelain veneers do not require an involved procedure for placement. In fact, they can completely transform your smile in as little as two visits to our Dickson, TN dental office! Veneers are also compatible with other dental treatments, including teeth whitening, fillings, and dental bridges. As a more conservative solution than crowns, veneers will provide you with the beautiful, natural-looking smile you’ve always wanted.
Stop hiding your smile with porcelain veneers from Accent Smile Center
Your smile matters! Our expert team is proud to offer patients in Dickson and the middle Tennessee areas high-quality porcelain veneers in our state-of-the-art office. Our top-notch dental services and welcoming atmosphere will have you looking forward to every visit! If you’re looking for more information on how to achieve a smile that’s whiter and brighter, get in touch with our team today to schedule your consultation. We look forward to working with you to create a smile you’ll always want to share!