No matter how stellar our smiles, no one has perfect teeth. There may be subtle differences in tooth size or alignment; a tooth may be chipped or cracked; or multiple teeth could be stained from a reaction to a drug such as tetracycline during childhood. Porcelain veneers are a beautiful way to correct these cosmetic flaws without resorting to crowns or orthodontics.
Dr. Smith and Dr. Feng place porcelain veneers, giving patients from Pound Ridge and the surrounding towns a beautiful smile in just two appointments. Call 914-764-3540 today to schedule your and learn more!
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells placed over the front of your natural teeth to alter the tooth position, shape, size, and color. Veneers provide an aesthetic solution to various tooth imperfections. At Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry, we only use porcelain for our veneers because its appearance closely resembles that of natural tooth enamel.
Who is an ideal candidate for porcelain veneers?
A patient interested in fixing one or more cosmetic dental problems is an ideal porcelain veneers candidate. In fact, most people get four or more veneers put on all at once.
The most common reasons for getting dental veneers include:
- Stained or discolored teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps
- Cosmetic cracks
Other than cosmetic imperfections, a good candidate typically has good oral hygiene and no dental diseases.
How are veneers and crowns different?
Whereas porcelain veneers are strictly cosmetic improvements to your teeth, crowns are a more fundamental tooth restoration. A crown usually covers the entire tooth surface above the gumline. Crowns are used to restore function to teeth that are heavily decayed or have an extensive chip or crack. Crowns are also used as the abutment anchors for bridges that replace missing teeth. A crown can be used on an individual tooth or two to improve aesthetics, for instance if a tooth is misshapen, but it’s not really an option to cover multiple teeth as you can cover all your visible front teeth with a full set of porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers do not strengthen teeth or restore function; they simply cover up cosmetic issues, giving you a beautiful smile.
What aesthetic problems can porcelain veneers address?
Porcelain veneers are the ultimate restoration for:
- Revitalizing the surface of a tooth
- Concealing chips
- Covering badly stained, discolored teeth
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Masking alignment problems
- Covering cracks or wear
- Providing an alternative to orthodontic work
They are only cosmetic
It’s important to note that porcelain veneers are only a cosmetic solution and can only be applied atop healthy teeth. Issues such as decay or gum disease must be taken care of before veneers are applied. Veneers simply cover cosmetic problems.
