Porcelain Veneers in Melville, NY

Porcelain Veneers Long Island

Porcelain veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells of ceramic that are custom-fit and bonded to the front of the teeth. They can give you a bright, white, even and attractive smile. Veneers make it possible to correct a variety of problems, including spaces between the teeth, chips, yellowing or stains and misshapen or crooked teeth. A veneer placed on top of a tooth can quickly and easily help you achieve a beautiful smile!

Will porcelain veneers look like normal teeth?

Porcelain veneers are custom-made in a dental laboratory to look exactly like the patient's natural teeth, making them virtually undetectable. They are truly among the best of the restorative options when it comes to their similarity in appearance to healthy tooth enamel. Another benefit is that they are resistant to future staining due to coffee, tea or cigarettes. Since veneers are so thin, light shines through them, helping them blend in beautifully with natural teeth.

Porcelain Before & After

Porcelain | Long Island | Melville

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How durable are porcelain veneers?

How long will my porcelain veneers last?

Your porcelain veneers can last from seven to 20 years. The lifespan can be dictated by changes with the underlying teeth or surrounding gum tissue. Usually if a veneer happens to detach it can usually be re-bonded to the tooth.

As mentioned above, patients need to know heading into this procedure that it's a lifetime commitment, due to the need to remove the slight amount of enamel from your teeth to make room for the veneers. So when your current veneers run their course you’ll need to have a new set placed.

The Procedure

Porcelain veneer placement will require three appointments:

  • Diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Preparation
  • Bonding
Diagnosis and treatment planning:

This initial appointment provides an opportunity for you to take an active role in designing an improved smile. Our dentists will discuss with you the corrective abilities and limitations of this procedure and help you plan the changes you would like to make.

Preparation:

The second appointment will last approximately one hour. Although the porcelain veneers are very thin, the teeth receiving them are lightly buffed to compensate for the added thickness of the veneers. The tooth is typically reduced by approximately one half of a millimeter. This portion of the procedure may be performed with little or no local anesthesia. Next, an impression is taken of the teeth and sent to the lab for creation of the custom-made veneer. A temporary veneer can be placed if the patient is uncomfortable with the appearance of the natural teeth. The veneer is usually ready one to two weeks later.

Bonding:

At your third appointment, your dentist will initially hold the veneers in place on your teeth with water or glycerin to determine that they are perfect in fit and color. The color of the veneer can still be adjusted at this time by altering the shade of the cement used to adhere it. Once the color is finalized, chemicals are applied to the tooth to optimize the bonding. Dental cement is then applied between the teeth and the veneer and a special light is used to quickly harden the cement. You can expect this visit to take between one and two hours.

How do I care for my porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers do not require special maintenance. All that is necessary is twice-daily brushing for two minutes and flossing once a day. Use non-abraisve toothpaste. Porcelain veneers are highly stain resistant, so you do not need to worry about whitening them.

Maintenance of your new veneers:

Treat your veneers just like natural teeth and brush and floss normally. You will not damage your veneers by brushing and flossing, although using non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended. Careful home dental care will result in long-lasting esthetic success of your new veneers.

You may experience sensitivity to hot and cold after the placement of your veneers. This is caused by the reduction of enamel on the prepared teeth. Sensitivity is a very common residual effect that typically dissipates in one to two weeks. If sensitivity persists beyond that time, please call the office.

If you clench your teeth and have been diagnosed with bruxism, please inform us. Your dentist may recommend wearing a soft night guard to minimize the amount of stress placed upon your teeth while you sleep.

We hope that your new veneers achieve your goal of improving the appearance of your teeth. With proper home care and regular dental visits, they will surely help you to smile proudly from now on.

 

What problems can Dr. Glasser address with porcelain veneers?

Veneers are the ultimate restoration for:

  • Revitalizing the surface of a tooth
  • Concealing chips
  • Covering badly stained, discolored teeth
  • Closing gaps between teeth
  • Masking alignment problems
  • Covering cracks or wear
  • Providing an alternative to orthodontic work
They are only cosmetic

It’s important to note that veneers are only a cosmetic solution and are applied atop healthy teeth. Issues such as decay or gum disease must be taken care of before veneers are applied. Veneers simply cover cosmetic problems.

Would I be a good candidate for porcelain veneers?

If you have any of the above-listed cosmetic problems with your teeth porcelain veneers offer a great solution without the time and expense of more involved procedures, such as orthodontics to close a gap between teeth. But veneers are only cosmetic; they simply cover the flaws. If a patient has underlying problems with a tooth or teeth, problems such as gum disease or tooth decay, these problems need to be addressed and reversed before veneers could even be an option.

Also, it’s important for anyone considering having porcelain veneers to understand that this is an ongoing commitment. Once we shave off the enamel from the front surfaces of your teeth it is gone for good. That means those teeth will always need to be covered with a veneer. Once your current set reaches its lifespan, you’ll need to have another set of veneers placed.

What are porcelain veneers made from?

Dr. Glasser uses only dental porcelain for his veneers. He believes dental porcelain closely resembles the translucence and slight light reflection of natural tooth enamel. Also, dental porcelain makes veneers that are very strong and highly resistant to staining.

Are there any dietary restrictions if I have porcelain veneers on my teeth?

There are no hard and fast rules here, but common sense should prevail. Although porcelain veneers are quite hard and durable, they can be broken. They can also be detached (although they can be cemented back onto the tooth if found).

Because of those facts, it’s wise not to bite into overly sticky foods such as caramel apples or really chewy candy. Chewing on bones is risky, as it biting into other very hard foods. Rather than biting them, it’s better to either break them up or cut these foods into chewable size pieces.

You don’t need to worry about drinking coffee or red wine, as porcelain veneers are far more resistant to staining than your natural tooth enamel is.

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My family and I have been using Dr. Glasser for 30 years. He is the best! He is a professional through and through as well a great guy. He's honest, ethical & always has his patients best interest at heart. He did an excellent job on my implants and caps I could not have gotten a better more beautiful new set of teeth any where else. - Richard G.

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