Convenient Dental Veneers in Reno, NV
Dental veneers are essentially thin porcelain or composite covers for your teeth. Typically made of medical-grade ceramic, porcelain veneers are used to cover imperfections and add to the integrity of the tooth. The thin shells are made to match your natural dental enamel and cemented on the front of the tooth or teeth. By changing the size, length, or shape of the tooth, veneers can do a lot for your smile.
While dental crowns are similar to veneers, the advantage of veneers is that much less tooth material is removed, and the procedure is generally less uncomfortable. Veneers are also recommended for teeth that have large fillings or little tooth structure.
Veneers are a cosmetic dental service that can help correct many issues with your smile. They can help fill tooth depressions, spaces, and gaps. They can also fix issues with tooth discoloration, decay, chips, or cracks. While veneers can be a great way to give you a radiant smile, they can also help with orthodontic adjustments to give you a better bite (malocclusion).
Customized to each patient, veneers are the perfect way to correct cosmetic imperfections. Your smile deserves brilliance.
Once a patient has dental veneers, they can protect the teeth from staining and help keep a smile sparkling for much longer than natural enamel. Modern veneers look so much like natural teeth, they are hard to distinguish from the real thing. The porcelain used for today’s veneers is strong and durable and doesn’t look fake at all. The shine produced by veneers is no brighter than natural tooth enamel.
Good candidates must have decent dental health overall. Because there is a level of enamel preparation to apply veneers onto teeth, the teeth and gums must be in good condition. That means the patient must have acceptable periodontal health.
There is a level of care that is necessary after new veneers are in place. A good candidate for veneers should maintain proper oral health and hygiene. Veneers are permanent so a good candidate must be committed to caring for their teeth for at least 10-15 years for porcelain veneers and 5-7 years for composite veneers. Though the thin porcelain is stain resistant, the patient must take good care of veneers including flossing and daily brushing.
Candidates for veneers include anyone who wants to fix parts of their smile including:
- Chips
- Gaps
- Depressions
- Discoloration
- Misalignment, issues with bite
Veneers can also be a good option when whitening isn’t working or your teeth aren’t responding to the treatments.
Veneers are not right for patients who have suffered from tooth decay, gum disease, or have poor oral hygiene as a whole. Patients who have experienced root canal infections may also be exempt from receiving veneers. Luckily, our dentists can fix these issues which will make the patient eligible for veneers once their teeth are strong enough.
Other poor candidates include:
- Patients who are hesitant to commit to replacing veneers every 5-15 years depending on the type of veneer
- Patients who grind their teeth or clench their jaw (bruxism)
First, we will ask you to come in for a consultation to evaluate your overall oral health. Veneers are customized exactly to the shape, color, and size of your tooth so we will also take measurements and match the veneers to your natural enamel. During this appointment, we will perform a comprehensive exam that includes x-rays and dental impressions so that your veneers don’t inhibit your regular bite.
At this same appointment, your dentist will prepare your teeth. This step includes the removal of a very thin layer of enamel in order for the veneer material to bond more strongly to the tooth surface. The amount of enamel removed depends on the integrity of the patient’s tooth and the type of veneer chosen. The dentist will then apply temporary veneers and send off your individualized veneer information to the laboratory.
The veneers will return from the dental lab in one to two weeks when you will come in to have them bonded to your teeth. During this appointment, the dentists will remove the temporary veneers, prep your teeth, or etch your teeth, which involves applying an acid gel to dissolve certain minerals on the surface of your teeth. That way, the bonding agent will adhere to the veneer and your natural teeth best.
Finally, the dentist will cement each veneer to the front of the tooth, depending on how many veneers you opted for. The cement color matches your original tooth color to make for the most natural smile. And don’t worry, you won’t have to wait for the cement to dry. The dentist will apply a curing light that hardens the cement in minutes. You’ll walk out of our office with a perfect smile!
The cost of veneers depends on the type of veneer and how many teeth you want to cover. Depending on whether you choose dental porcelain or composite veneers, veneers can run a few hundred dollars or higher per tooth. For this reason, some patients opt to only cover the front teeth with veneers as these are the most visible teeth in a smile.
Because veneers are considered a cosmetic dental procedure, insurance plans rarely cover the treatment. Luckily, here at Brunelli Dental Partners, we offer our patients dental savings plans which can help you save 15% on veneers.
Veneers cost initially, but patients should think of them as a dental investment. Not only do they help create a dazzling smile, but they can help protect existing teeth and enhance your bite.
Our dentists are well-practiced in the art of veneers. We will help fix any issues with your smile and make it more radiant than ever. Veneers may be the answer to the smile makeover you need.
Our offices are conveniently located in Reno.
Come in to talk about your new smile today!