Dental veneers are a cosmetic treatment used to improve the color, shape, size, and overall appearance of your teeth. They can be used to make subtle changes to a single tooth or create a more noticeable improvement across several teeth for a balanced, natural-looking smile.
Porcelain Veneers for a Natural-Looking Smile
Veneers are thin, custom-made shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth. They can change the color, shape, size, and proportions of visible teeth while creating an appearance that closely resembles natural tooth enamel.
Porcelain is well-suited for cosmetic restorations because it can reproduce the color and translucency of natural teeth and is highly resistant to staining. Each veneer is designed individually so that it complements the surrounding teeth and the overall proportions of your smile.
Cosmetic Concerns Veneers Can Address
Veneers can improve the appearance of teeth with noticeable differences in color, shape, size, or symmetry. They can also be used to repair minor cosmetic damage or create a more even appearance when several teeth look different from one another.
Veneers may be considered for:
- Permanently discolored teeth
- Chipped or worn tooth edges
- Teeth that appear too small or short
- Uneven or irregularly shaped teeth
- Small spaces between teeth
- Minor differences in tooth position or alignment
- Several teeth with differences in color, size, or shape
Before recommending veneers, we evaluate the health of your teeth and gums as well as your bite. Some cosmetic concerns may be better addressed with teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, or another treatment.
Planning Veneers Around Your Smile
Veneer treatment begins with careful smile design. Before treatment, we discuss what you like about your smile, what you would like to change, and the type of result you are hoping to achieve.
The color, shape, length, proportions, and position of your teeth are considered when planning your veneers. We also look at how the teeth relate to one another and to your overall smile so the final restorations are designed to look balanced and natural.
The number of veneers varies from person to person. One veneer may be enough to improve an individual tooth, while several veneers can be designed together as part of a full smile transformation.
CEREC Same-Day Porcelain Veneers
For many veneer cases, CEREC technology allows us to complete treatment without sending the restorations to an outside dental laboratory. Your veneers are digitally designed and created in our office, giving us control over their shape, size, and appearance throughout the process.
When same-day treatment is appropriate, your teeth can be prepared and your permanent porcelain veneers placed during the same visit. More complex cosmetic cases may still be sent to a dental laboratory when additional customization is needed.
What to Expect During Veneer Treatment
Before veneers are placed, a thin layer of enamel is removed from the front of the teeth to create space for the restorations. This allows the veneers to fit naturally without making the teeth look bulky. Local anesthesia is used as needed to keep you comfortable while the teeth are prepared.
For same-day veneers, the prepared teeth are digitally scanned and the veneers are designed and made in our office. There is a waiting period while the restorations are being created and finished. Once they are ready, we check the fit, shape, color, and bite before permanently bonding them to the teeth.
Lab-made veneers require multiple appointments. After the teeth are prepared and scanned, temporary veneers are placed to protect the teeth while the dental laboratory creates the permanent restorations. At a later appointment, the temporary veneers are removed and the final veneers are evaluated and permanently bonded into place.
Caring for Your Veneers
Veneers do not require special maintenance, but the natural teeth underneath them can still develop decay. Daily brushing and flossing, along with regular dental exams and professional cleanings, help keep the teeth and gums around your veneers healthy.
Porcelain is durable, but not indestructible. Biting your nails, chewing ice, or using your teeth to open packages can chip or damage them. Porcelain is also highly resistant to staining, but it is not completely stain-proof. Smoking and frequent exposure to dark-colored foods and drinks can affect the appearance of your veneers over time, as well as stain the natural teeth around them.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Porcelain veneers are designed to be a durable, long-lasting cosmetic restoration. With good oral hygiene and regular dental care, they can maintain their appearance and function for many years.
Routine dental visits help us monitor both the veneers and the natural teeth supporting them so you can continue enjoying your smile for as long as possible.
Visit Clearwater Dentistry in Greeley, CO
At Clearwater Dentistry, we take a personalized approach to cosmetic dentistry, with veneers carefully planned around your natural teeth, facial features, and the changes you would like to make. Dr. Alan Baughman works closely with you throughout the process to create a smile that looks balanced, natural, and distinctly yours.
Visit us at 3110 67th Avenue Place, Greeley, CO.
FAQs About Dental Veneers
Only a thin layer of enamel typically needs to be removed from the front of the tooth to make room for a veneer. The goal is to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible while creating enough space for the veneer to fit naturally without looking bulky.
Veneers are considered a long-term cosmetic treatment and can last for many years with proper care. Because a thin layer of enamel is typically removed to place them, the teeth will always need to remain covered with veneers or another appropriate restoration if the veneers eventually need to be replaced.
Your natural teeth remain underneath your veneers. After a thin layer of enamel is removed to make room for the veneer, the restoration is bonded securely to the front of the tooth. The tooth underneath can remain healthy for many years with good brushing, flossing, and regular dental care.
Veneers can improve the appearance of minor differences in tooth position or alignment, but they do not actually move the teeth.
Yes. A single veneer can be used when one tooth differs noticeably in color, shape, size, or appearance from the teeth around it. The veneer is carefully designed to blend with the surrounding natural teeth.
Veneers are typically considered a cosmetic treatment and may not be covered by dental insurance. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend checking your specific benefits before beginning treatment.
Dental veneers typically cost around $1,500 per tooth, although the price can vary depending on the number of veneers and the details of your treatment plan. Because veneers are customized for each smile, we can provide a more accurate cost after evaluating your teeth and discussing the changes you would like to make.
Dr. Alan Baughman provides custom dental veneers at Clearwater Dentistry in Greeley, CO. We can evaluate your teeth, discuss the changes you would like to make, and determine whether veneers are an appropriate option for your smile.
