Why should I get dental veneers?
Teeth become easily stained from drinking coffee, tea, red wine, and other strongly-colored beverages and foods. Certain medications or mouthwashes can cause discoloration, as can smoking (anything). Often, over time, these stains can become so ingrained into the surface of teeth (or deeper) that they can’t be readily removed with over-the-counter whiteners. Some individuals also have naturally less-white teeth than they desire or a dead tooth root may show through darkly. Professional whitening by the dentist may be required all too often. Veneers are thin pieces of dental porcelain that are attached to the front of teeth and are stain-resistant, helping you retain that gleaming smile. They can also cover gaps, cracks, or misshapen teeth.
What are no-prep veneers?
Dr. Marine specializes in a revolutionary type of veneers. Traditional ones require removing a fair amount of the enamel on the front of the tooth in order to make it not stick out too obviously when the veneer is attached. Advances in cosmetic porcelain allow her to attach a thin, but strong, no-prep veneer that requires no or minimal filing down of the surface enamel.
Can the shade of veneers exactly match my other teeth?
We work with a top dental laboratory that has the capability to precisely match your natural teeth, if they do not need veneers, but show when you smile. You can also choose a shade for the veneers that is whiter than your teeth and then have those whitened to match your new veneers. We can show you what the result will be in advance and you are in complete control of the result.
Do I need to whiten my veneers periodically, along with my teeth?
Veneers cannot be whitened, so it is important that you do everything you can to keep your teeth cleaned and whitened to match them, including regular treatment by the dental hygienist and professional whitening when required. Biocompatible porcelain veneers can maintain their appearance for as long as 10 years (other materials do not last as long).
How can I keep my veneers from becoming cracked or chipped?
In the first weeks after placement, don’t eat foods like popcorn, hard candy, nuts, or seeds. After that, be sure not to bite on pens, pencils, utensils, or nails. Do not pull on or off any clothing with your teeth. If you believe you grind your teeth when you sleep (called bruxism), ask your dentist to create a customized mouth guard to wear at night in order to keep the teeth and veneers from being damaged.