Did you know that even the healthiest smiles can sometimes look less appealing than they should? There are many people who struggle with:
- Stained teeth that cannot be improved through professional whitening
- Cracks or chips in the teeth
- Unevenly sized teeth (too small or too short)
- Gaps in between their teeth
- An uneven tooth line
- Damaged or worn teeth
Each of these issues may force someone to hide their perfectly healthy smile, and yet there is a solution. The answer is the cosmetic dentistry procedure known as porcelain veneers.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Described by dental experts as an ideal solution to a host of problems, dental veneers are strong but very thin shells made of porcelain. They are custom made for your needs and then bonded to your teeth. In many instances, a patient who chooses veneers can get an almost instant smile makeover in just two short visits to their dental care provider.
How Is It Done?
The first step is to make an appointment to visit Dr. Dennis Norkiewicz and Dr. Henry Konigsberg at L’Enfant Dental Plaza in Washington, DC. With their skilled team, they can provide you with an initial exam. They will be able to tell you if porcelain veneers are a solution for you, and if so, they can begin the process right away.
Of course, before they do veneers or cosmetic work, they will make sure your teeth and gums are in optimal condition. An exam, cleaning and any other essential work must be done prior to cosmetic treatments, but once your oral health is the best it can be, the cosmetic treatments can begin!
Impressions are made of your teeth and gums, and from these the new veneers will be made. The goal is to ensure that the veneers fit over the teeth and create a perfect and flawless smile once they are bonded to the existing teeth. A specialized lab is used to craft the durable veneers, and so you will not have your new smile until the second visit.
On your next visit, the teeth that will be fitted with veneers will have to be prepared, and this is a simple procedure that requires the dentist to remove the outermost layer of enamel. It is not painful and takes only a few short minutes to complete. The dentist then places the veneers properly and bonds them to your teeth. In a matter of minutes, the bonding agent is firm enough for you to take a look at your new and flawless smile.
The Care and Upkeep
Many patients worry that porcelain veneers will be difficult to maintain, but this is the farthest from the truth. Your porcelain veneers are actually going to strengthen your teeth and be far more resistant to staining than your natural teeth.
You will want to keep up with regular oral hygiene and twice annual cleanings to guarantee that your veneers, as well as your teeth and gums, remain in good condition. Apart from traditional care and regular cleanings, your veneers should not need any further work. Naturally, with time and changes in the mouth, your cosmetic dentist may need to adjust veneers, but most patients enjoy many years of perfect and brilliant white teeth thanks to veneers.
Find Out More!
If you are interested in this amazingly simple and effective form of cosmetic dentistry, or other cosmetic treatments, feel free to call L’Enfant Plaza Dental Arts at 202-488-8300 or use the online contact form and one of their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be in touch with you shortly.
To learn more, read our other pages/blogs: