Porcelain Veneers

What is a Porcelain Veneer?

Porcelain veneers are composed of thin ceramic layers that cover the front of the tooth. Here are some of the ways they help improve how your smile looks:

• Brighten Teeth: Smoking, certain medications, food and drink, and even aging all take a toll on the brightness of our smiles. If you have one or more teeth that haven’t responded to whitening treatments as well as you’d like, veneers can restore the brightness to blend in with your natural teeth. Want to go even brighter? Veneers come in a variety of shades, so you can add the sparkle of Hollywood to your smile.
• Size and shape: Veneers can smooth out chipped teeth and lengthen teeth that have been shortened through tooth grinding, or bruxism. If you’ve always felt like your teeth looked too square or too round, veneers also can adjust the shape of your teeth to best complement your features.
• Alignment and spacing: Porcelain veneers can improve the appearance of your teeth to close small gaps between them without using braces or to make minor adjustments in alignment.

Made from a material that mimics tooth enamel, a porcelain veneer actually adheres to the surface of your tooth. It’s custom-made from a mold of your teeth and applied with an adhesive bond, which helps strengthen it. Depending on the brand and type of veneers used, our dentist in Yorktown Heights might have to reduce a small amount of your natural tooth’s enamel (less than 1 mm of the surface) so the veneer fits snugly and naturally against your tooth. But once the veneer is in place, it won’t move or stain, giving you the smile you’ve always imagined. No one will know it’s there except you.

How Is a Veneer Different from a Crown?

Both veneers and crowns can change the color and shape of teeth, improving their appearance dramatically. But instead of acting like a shield on the front of the tooth, a crown (sometimes called a cap) covers the entire tooth, down to the gums.

A crown works best when the tooth has been severely damaged by decay, age, trauma, clenching, or grinding. Crowns also are recommended for back teeth because they can handle a stronger biting force.

Crowns are custom-made to fit your teeth from molds, just like veneers, and are made of the same material. But more of the natural exterior enamel – at least 2 mm – must be removed in order to place a crown. Once adhered in place, a crown has the same permanence and durability as a veneer.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Veneers are a permanent option for improving the appearance of your teeth. As such, they could last several decades, depending on your lifestyle, proper care, and the brand of veneers used.

What Are Lumineers^®?

Lumineers^® are a specific brand of veneers. They’re ultra-thin, highly translucent, and yet highly durable –they can last more than 20 years! Because of their thinness, Lumineers need little to no reduction in the surface enamel of your natural tooth to be applied. They not only look natural but feel comfortable and also resist staining.

How Do I Care For Veneers?

Care for your veneers as you would your natural teeth, only with a gentle touch. Veneers can be quite strong, but we don’t recommend biting into very hard foods, such as candy apples, with teeth covered with veneers – or using these teeth to rip open packages. If you have an underlying issue such as clenching or grinding your teeth, it’s likely best to cover your teeth at night with a custom-made night guard to protect your veneers. Otherwise, just brush and floss your teeth gently each day.

Schedule a Consultation for Veneers in Yorktown Heights Today

If you have additional questions about whether veneers are right for you, our caring staff is glad to set up an appointment for our dentist in Yorktown Heights to evaluate your smile. Please give us a call at (914) 357-8916 today.