Porcelain Veneers, Birmingham, AL
Are you self conscious about your smile? Veneers are one among many cosmetic dentistry options available at Comfort Plus Family Dental, Birmingham, AL to transform your smile. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are shaped to fit the front of your teeth. They are very strong and look very natural. Veneers are placed over chipped, discolored or misaligned teeth to achieve the desire shape, size and color. They can even be placed to close small gaps ( diastemas) in between teeth. Veneers are custom made by taking impressions of your prepared teeth and then are laboratory fabricated. They are held in place on your teeth with special dental cement. Many celebrities have had their smiles transformed with porcelain veneers.
Am I candidate for Porcelain Veneers? What are some of the common issues that veneers are used for?
Veneers are designed to fix many issues including:
- Discolored teeth
- Broken teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Teeth that are worn down
- Close gaps between teeth
Image courtesy:gotoapro.org
What are the Advantages of getting Porcelain Veneers?
There are several advantage and disadvantages of porcelain veneers. Here are just a few:
- Little or no anesthesia is necessary to prepare teeth for porcelain veneers.
- Very little tooth structure ( enamel) is removed during the preparation process.
- Porcelain itself is a very stain-resistant material.
What are the Disadvantages of Porcelain Veneers? What do I need to be concerned about?
- Because some part of the enamel is removed, it is an irreversible process and some patients may experience some sensitivity.
- Once the porcelain veneers are cemented, their color cannot be changed.
- Porcelain veneers are very strong however they can be damaged by habits such as nail biting, chewing etc.
We Often hear the question “How much to porcelain veneers cost? Are porcelain veneers covered by my insurance?” We hear this question so often that it was appropriate for us to address the veneers and dental insurance dilemma. Under normal circumstances, veneers are perceived to be a totally optional, cosmetic procedure and hence coverage is questionable. We understand your needs better than your insurance company and hence work with you to make porcelain veneers as affordable as possible to you. Our financial coordinator will work very closely with you to make your dream of beautiful smile come true.
How do I take care of my Porcelain Veneers so that they can last for a very long time?
Just like your natural teeth, porcelain veneers need to be taken care of. Maintain good oral hygiene, good oral habits and visit your dentist regularly. If you have the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, then a night guard would be beneficial to protect your precious smile. Some of the other care instructions are:
- Do not chew ice
- Do not bite nails
- Do not try to open bottles with your teeth
- Do not try to rip things open with your teeth
- Dr. Gutti also recommends that you do not bite into apples or other hard foods with your veneers, as they could come loose or fracture.
Treat veneers as you would the rest of your teeth. Brushing with a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and flossing twice daily is a must! After the veneers are placed, a one week follow up visit is necessary. At this appointment, Dr. Gutti can see how your mouth is adjusting to the veneers. At this appointment, a few other impressions will be taken to fabricate an occlusal or night guard so that you can protect your investment.
Veneers
Ask our dental team how you can dazzle your new smile with porcelain veneers!
Accepting New Patients
We are now accepting new patients (we take Bluecross (BCBS), Untited, Medicaid and 20+ other insurances, see below) and serving Center Point, Birmingham, Roebuck, Trussville, Pinson, Clay, Tarrant City, Leeds, Moody, Gardendale, Fultondale, Springville, Midfield, Pell City, Argo, Warrior, Huffman, other surrounding areas in Alabama.