Porcelain Veneers in Arlington

Preserve your natural teeth while improving their appearance!

Are you unhappy with gaps in your smile, stained or crooked teeth, or just the overall appearance of your smile? Dental veneers are an excellent solution that can address any of your cosmetic needs, and help give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are a thin casing of porcelain that is placed on the visible surfaces of the tooth. The porcelain material is able to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. With minimal preparation, you can have a revitalized smile in no time!p>

Benefits of veneers:

• Easily lighten the shade of your teeth to a uniform brightness
• Porcelain material is resistant to stain and mimics the look and feel of natural teeth
• Easy to maintain – no changes to lifestyle or hygiene
• Customized to fit your needs and goals

How are veneers applied?

It starts with a consultation where you’ll:

• Discuss your dental goals and assess your oral health with your dentist
• Go over the procedure to understand its benefits and any limitations
• Take any necessary impressions or x-rays

Next, your teeth will be prepared for the veneer:

• A small amount of the tooth’s surface will be removed to make room for the veneer
• A model or impression of your tooth will be made to design the veneer
• Temporary veneers may be set until your permanent veneers are ready

The final step involves:

• Adjusting and matching the veneer to fit perfectly in your smile
• Cleaning, polishing and scoring the tooth for a strong bonding process
• Applying cement to the veneer, and placing it on your tooth
• Cleaning any excess cement, evaluating your bite, and making any fine adjustments

What Is a Porcelain Veneer?

A porcelain veneer is a thin layer of dental-grade porcelain that is designed to recreate the appearance and hardiness of real tooth enamel. When you are fitted for custom veneers, your dentist will use special adhesive to secure your veneers to create a seamless look! A veneer is a great investment in your smile when your teeth are generally healthy. This is a cosmetic treatment that allows you to get a "new smile" using your own teeth. Here are some concerns that are often treated using dental veneers:

• You have a chipped tooth that is making you feel self-conscious.
• You want to improve the appearance of your smile relatively quickly before a wedding, reunion, or career change.
• Your teeth are worn because you grind your teeth.
• You dislike the shape of your teeth because you feel that they appear too rounded, too square, too large, or too small.
• Your teeth are severely discolored due to use of tobacco products, coffee, tea, or medications that cause staining.
• You're looking for a noninvasive way to improve tooth alignment because you have small gaps in your smile.

It's okay if you're not sure if getting veneers is the right option for creating the improvements you want. Our dentist in Arlington can provide you with a custom assessment to help you make a decision. If you decide that veneers are for you, we'll move forward by creating a mold of your teeth. In some cases, your dentist may recommend removing a negligible amount of enamel in order to make room for veneers. Getting veneers on your teeth is completely painless! In addition, veneers won't shift, move, or stain. In fact, veneers look and feel so natural that you will quickly forget that you are even wearing them.

Are Veneers the Same as Porcelain Crowns?

This is a question that we hear frequently at our practice. The confusion usually comes down to the fact that both treatments rely on rigid, life-like dental porcelain to mimic the look of real tooth enamel. However, porcelain dental veneers and porcelain dental crowns are actually dramatically different.

There is one thing that veneers and crowns have in common. Both are equally permanent. A crown is placed as a "cap" over a complete tooth. Meanwhile, a veneer only covers the front surface of a tooth. Due to the cost and complexity of crowns, dentists only recommend them when a patient has lost significant tooth structure due to excessive teeth grinding, dental trauma, severe decay, or age. In order to apply a crown, a dentist must usually remove a portion of tooth enamel. Crowns can be useful for preserving dental structure and bite strength. Meanwhile, veneers are strictly used for cosmetic purposes.

Caring for Your Veneers: Do Veneers Last Forever?

In many cases, veneers will last for decades. Taking care of veneers is exactly like taking care of your natural teeth. Brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits should be enough to keep your veneers looking beautiful. We also recommend being gentle with your teeth by not using your teeth to open bottles or packaging. We also recommend avoiding biting into hard foods or candies. Finally, some people use custom mouth guards to keep their veneers safe from grinding at night.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?

The average cost of veneers can vary based on the options that patients choose. The best way to discover how much you'll pay is to book a consultation for a custom quote. At our office, we provide affordable veneers to make porcelain teeth cost manageable for our patients. We also work with your insurance company to see if any portion of your porcelain veneers cost can be covered.

Do You Have Some Examples of Veneers Before and After I Can See?

When you book a consultation to discuss porcelain dental crowns, our team will be happy to show you photos of patients who have had porcelain dental veneers fitted. We'll also show you what dental porcelain looks like in person.

What Is Tooth Preparation for Porcelain Veneer?

Getting veneers requires essentially no prep time. This is a gentle, painless procedure. However, it is often necessary to perform minor enamel reduction in order to get porcelain dental to stick to teeth.

Book a Consultation for Porcelain Veneers in Arlington Today

Our team is happy to answer all of your questions about what you can expect from a porcelain veneers procedure. Are you ready to book a consultation? Give us a call at (703) 879-7918 to book your appointment!