Get Your Smile Back With Instant Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain Veneers from Your Austin Dentist
Crooked, Misaligned, and Stained Teeth Transformed into a Beautiful Smile
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers consist of thin shells of durable, translucent dental porcelain that your Austin cosmetic dentist bonds directly to your teeth. This conservative but extremely effective cosmetic procedure requires limited preparation of your enamel and, with proper care, allows your smile to shine brightly for years.
How Can Porcelain Veneers Improve My Smile?
Dubbed the “instant smile makeover,” porcelain veneers can mask a range of cosmetic imperfections including stains that resist teeth whitening systems, uneven or misshaped teeth, and gapped teeth. Not only do porcelain veneers look incredible, the extremely strong and durable dental porcelain provides optimal functionality. Porcelain veneers may not be right for every patient, so please talk to your Austin cosmetic dentist about your interest in veneers at your next consultation.
How Does My Dentist Place Porcelain Veneers?
First, Dr. Ragsdale will conduct a thorough examination, including digital x-ray, to ensure that your tooth enamel has the strength to support veneers. Once she feels confident about your enamel, Dr. Ragsdale will prepare the surface of the teeth by removing a minimal amount of enamel. The necessary step allows the veneers to rest naturally on the teeth and along the gum line. Without enamel preparation, veneers can look large and “horsey.” Next, Dr. Ragsdale will take accurate impressions of your teeth and sends these impressions to the lab, where they serve as the model for your custom-fitted veneers. Once they have returned from the lab, Dr. Ragsdale will ensure the veneers fit perfectly. If needed, she can make minor adjustments before affixing the veneers permanently to your teeth. In just two appointments, you have a durable, gorgeous smile.
Can My Austin Cosmetic Dentist Offer Alternatives to Porcelain Veneers?
If your enamel does not have the strength to support porcelain veneers, or if you have other issues that prevent you from having veneers placed, don’t worry. Your Austin cosmetic dentist can offer several cosmetic dentistry options for giving you a beautiful, radiant smile depending on your specific needs. For instance, if you have teeth stains that do not respond to teeth whitening systems, such as stains from root canal therapy, over exposure to fluoride, or certain medications such as tetracycline, cosmetic bonding can offer an alternative to porcelain veneers. Using the same color-matched material she would use to fill a cavity, your Austin dentist can completely mask even the most severe tooth stains. Cosmetic bonding also offers a great solution for chipped teeth, gapped teeth, broken teeth, and short teeth. Other benefits of cosmetic bonding include the relatively low cost and the fact that your teeth do not require enamel preparation beforehand.
How Do I Care for Porcelain Veneers?
High quality porcelain veneers function just like natural teeth so, logically, you should care for them just as you would care for your own pearly whites. However, you will need to make a few adjustments to your at-home oral care regimen to help extend the beauty and life of your veneers:
- Brush twice daily with ADA-approved, minimally abrasive toothpaste. Most commercially available toothpastes contain abrasives intended to scrub away plaque and tartar. Talk to your Austin dentist to see which one might be the best for the life of your veneers.
- Floss once every day, preferably at night. Teeth with veneers can still succumb to gum disease and tooth decay and flossing regularly can help you control harmful plaque and tartar levels.
- If you want to use a mouthwash, make sure you choose one that contains no alcohol. Alcohol can compromise the bonding agent that keeps your veneers firmly in place.
- Visit your Austin dentist for regularly scheduled checkups and cleanings. She can keep a close eye on the health of your veneers as well as the health of your whole mouth.
Veneers and the Hollywood Connection
Charles Pincus, a California dentist, first created veneers in the 1930s. In a paper presented to the California State Dental Association in 1937 entitled “Building Mouth Personality,” Dr. Pincus discussed using temporary veneers to give actors a distinctly altered appearance for film roles or to improve their smiles for photo shoots and movie premieres. Held in place using denture adhesive, these early veneers were not intended to permanently change a person’s smile. Since then, porcelain veneers have increased in durability and esthetics. Nearly everyone, from image-conscious professionals to the mom next door, can achieve a Hollywood smile with just one procedure. Dr. Helen Ragsdale, your Austin cosmetic dentist, places only the highest quality porcelain veneers, color-matched to blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth and intended to last a lifetime with proper care.
Interested in Porcelain Veneers in Austin?
Your Austin cosmetic dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale, can place beautiful porcelain veneers that give you a bright, radiant smile in as little as two office visits. Call our Austin dentist office at (512) 346-4690 to schedule an appointment. Austin Laser Dentistry proudly serves patients from Austin, Round Rock, and all surrounding communities.
Porcelain Veneers Before and After Pictures
Porcelain veneer before and after picture 1 shows how porcelain veneers can change crooked, misaligned, and stained teeth into a beautiful smile that allows you to smile with confidence.
Porcelain veneer before and after picture 2 shows how porcelain veneers can change crooked, misaligned, and stained teeth into fabulous smile that anyone would be prod to show off.