Porcelain Veneers Los Angeles

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could correct years of damage to your teeth in as little as two weeks?

Marilyn R. Calvo DDS – Dental Service: Porcelain Veneers 

Porcelain veneers make it possible to do just that. Veneers are custom-built shells of ceramic material that are placed over the surface of your teeth to correct discoloration, uneven spacing and alignment and to repair cracked or chipped teeth. Once in place, porcelain veneers appear indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Veneers are justifiably popular among cosmetic dentists because they can quickly treat so many different dental issues.

At Smile Studio LA, we don’t believe in one-size-fits all solutions. Before deciding to place veneers, we carefully evaluate each client’s teeth to make sure that they are indeed the best choice. Depending on the issues that need to be corrected and the condition of your teeth, we will use our expertise to help you decide between veneers and the following services:

Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding

For small cracks and chips in the surface of a tooth, we may recommend bonding as an effective and low-cost solution instead of porcelain veneers. Dental Bonding works by applying a composite white resin material to the tooth to fill in the cracked or chipped areas and protect neighboring teeth. Bonding works for minor chips and cracks, while veneers achieve better results for more serious problems such as uneven teeth, improper spacing, cracking, chipping, discoloration, wear, and dullness.

The Procedure for Placing Porcelain Veneers

Generally, placing veneers is a three-step process. First, Dr. Calvo or Dr. Johnson will meet with you for an examination and consultation. During this visit, we will discuss why you are interested in veneers, as well as the results you can expect from the procedure. We’ll also take a series of digital photographs, study models, and X-rays to examine your teeth to make sure that veneers are the best solution to give you the results you desire. Next, we’ll go over each step of the veneer application process with you, so that you know what to expect on future visits. We can also do a digital image of your new teeth in a full face photograph, so you can see a simulation of the enhancements you can expect. Finally, we will schedule a second appointment with you to begin the procedure.

During the next appointment, depending on the position, color and health of your tooth structure, we may or MAY NOT have to prepare your teeth. If your teeth do need it, we will prepare your teeth for the veneers by shaving approximately 1/2 millimeter of enamel away from the surface of each affected tooth. To keep you comfortable during the procedure, we may administer a local anesthetic. Next, we will take an impression of your teeth and make a mold to send to a dental laboratory. The laboratory uses the mold to create custom-made veneers that fit your teeth perfectly.

Your third appointment, for placement of the veneers, will be 1 to 2 weeks later. In the meantime, you will be wearing beautiful provisional veneers that are a simulation of the shape and length of your permanent veneers so there are NO surprises when you receive the porcelain veneers of your dreams.

During the third appointment, we will examine the veneers and make sure they fit correctly before we bond them to your teeth. The veneers’ size and color will be adjusted as needed to achieve a perfect fit. Then, once the veneers are ready, we prepare your teeth by cleaning them, polishing them and using a weak acid to roughen up the tooth, a process known as etching. Etching is necessary to create the strongest possible bond between the veneers and your teeth.  Finally, we apply cement and attach the veneers, using a special curing light to harden the cement quickly. After the veneers are in place, we will check once again to make sure that the veneers are placed properly and that your bite is normal. We may also schedule a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to ensure the veneers are not irritating your gums and to evaluate their placement one last time.

Advantages of Porcelain Veneers 

In addition to their speed and versatility, porcelain veneers have other advantages. They not only reshape your smile, they can also improve the appearance of your face as a whole and can make you look younger. When properly fitted and placed, porcelain veneers are also quite durable. However, it is possible for veneers to break, and we may ask you to take precautions to protect your new smile. For example, we may advise you to avoid hard and crunchy foods like raw carrots, never to use your teeth as tools or to wear a protective appliance to bed, especially if you grind your teeth at night.

Additionally, porcelain veneers protect damaged tooth surfaces from further damage. For some patients, veneers can be a great substitute for dental crowns, eliminating the need for more aggressive tooth preparation.

In as few as two weeks and two appointments, veneers can give you the smile you’ve always wanted.

SMILE STUDIO LA,  16311 Ventura Boulevard Encino, California 91436 (818) 906-4238

To learn more about porcelain veneers and to find out if they are right for you, contact Smile Studio LA today for a free consultation!