A Natural-Looking Smile Makeover That Lasts
If chips, stains, gaps, or uneven teeth make you self-conscious about smiling, porcelain veneers can change that. These ultra-thin ceramic shells are custom-made and bonded to the front of your teeth, covering flaws while looking like natural enamel. Dr. Dean Glasser and Dr. Renee Glasser design and place custom porcelain veneers for patients throughout Melville, Huntington, Dix Hills, and Plainview, as part of the full range of cosmetic dentistry at our office.
Curious what veneers could do for your smile? Call 631-423-6767 to schedule a veneer consultation.
Why Choose Implant & General Dentistry of Long Island for Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are as much art as dentistry. The shape, length, shade, and translucency of each one have to suit your face, not just your teeth.
- More than 10,000 cosmetic restorations. Dr. Dean Glasser has placed over 10,000 cosmetic restorations since 1985 and has been recognized by colleagues for "Significant Contributions" in cosmetic dentistry.
- A teacher of cosmetic dentistry. He is a professor at Columbia University Dental School and has lectured extensively on cosmetic and implant dentistry.
- Smile design with digital tools. We use 3D facial scanning to plan how your new smile fits your facial features before any tooth is prepared.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells that are custom-fit and permanently bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. We use dental porcelain because it closely mimics the translucency and subtle light reflection of natural enamel. Porcelain is also strong and highly stain-resistant, so veneers keep their color far better than natural teeth or composite bonding.
What Porcelain Veneers Can Correct
Veneers can transform the look of teeth that are:
- Chipped, cracked, or worn down
- Badly stained or discolored, including stains that whitening can't lift
- Spaced apart with small gaps
- Slightly crooked or uneven
- Irregularly shaped or too small
For minor alignment problems, veneers can create the look of a straighter smile without braces. For more significant crowding or bite issues, SureSmile clear aligners may be the better first step.
Porcelain Before & After
Are You a Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?
You may be a good candidate for veneers if you:
- Have any of the cosmetic concerns listed above
- Have healthy teeth and gums, with any decay or gum disease treated first
- Have enough healthy enamel to support the veneers
- Want a long-term cosmetic change rather than a temporary fix
Veneers are a long-term commitment. A thin layer of enamel is removed to make room for them, and that enamel doesn't grow back, so those teeth will always need to be covered. When your veneers eventually reach the end of their lifespan, they'll need to be replaced. If you grind or clench your teeth, let us know, since that can affect your plan. Patients who need more extensive restoration across many teeth may benefit from full mouth reconstruction instead.
The Porcelain Veneer Process
Porcelain veneers are typically completed in three appointments:
Consultation and Smile Design
You take an active role in designing your new smile. We discuss what veneers can and can't correct, plan the changes you'd like, and help you choose the shape and shade.
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, the dentist takes an impression of the teeth and sends it to the lab to create the custom veneer. A temporary veneer can be placed if the patient is uncomfortable with the appearance of their natural teeth. The veneer is usually ready within one to two weeks.
Bonding
At your third appointment, your dentist will initially hold the veneers in place with water or glycerin to determine that they are a perfect 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 applied and hardened with a special light. You can expect this visit to take between one and two hours.
Will My Veneers Look Like Natural Teeth?
Yes. Each veneer is custom-made in a dental laboratory to match the shape and color you've chosen, and porcelain reflects light much like natural enamel does. Because veneers are so thin, light passes through them the same way it passes through your own teeth. The result is a smile that looks bright and healthy without appearing artificial.
Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Bonding
Both treatments improve the look of your front teeth, but they suit different goals. Dental bonding is faster and more affordable, and it's ideal for small fixes on one or a few teeth. Porcelain veneers take a few visits and cost more, but they last longer, resist stains better, and are the stronger choice for bigger changes across several teeth. If you also want whiter teeth overall, teeth whitening before your veneers lets us match them to a brighter shade.
Recovery and Caring for Your Veneers
Some sensitivity to hot and cold is common after veneers are placed, because a thin layer of enamel was removed. It typically fades within one to two weeks. If it lasts longer, call our office.
Veneers need very little special care:
- Brush twice a day for two minutes with a non-abrasive toothpaste
- Floss once a day
- Keep up with regular cleanings and exams
- Avoid biting hard objects like ice, pens, or fingernails
- Wear a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth
What Affects the Cost of Porcelain Veneers?
Nationally, porcelain veneers cost about $930 to $2,440 per tooth, with an average of around $1,425. Most smile makeovers include between four and ten veneers on the teeth that show when you smile, so the total depends mainly on how many veneers you need and the complexity of your smile design. Costs in higher-cost areas like Long Island often fall toward the upper end of these ranges.
Because veneers are usually considered cosmetic, dental insurance typically doesn't cover them. Our office accepts CareCredit, and we'll walk through the cost of your plan before treatment begins. Our insurance and payment policy has the details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Design the Smile You've Always Wanted
Porcelain veneers can correct several cosmetic concerns at once and give you a smile that looks natural for years to come. Dr. Dean Glasser and Dr. Renee Glasser help patients throughout Melville, Huntington, Dix Hills, and Plainview design veneers that suit their faces and their goals.
Call our Melville dentists at 631-423-6767 to schedule your veneer consultation. Your new smile starts with one conversation.
