Get a Smile Makeover
November 27, 2007
By Edward Lazer, DDS
Photography by Quvaondo Nguyen
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Are you sensitive about your smile? If your teeth are discolored, badly spaced or badly shaped, you now have an option: a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. They’re not cheap, but the good ones are as permanent as real teeth. And there’s nothing like a dazzling smile to boost your confidence.
The number of cosmetic dental procedures requested in the U.S. has grown by about 12 percent over the last five years, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Of those procedures, the application of porcelain veneers is the most popular today. The veneers are thin facings of ceramic material that are permanently bonded to the teeth. They are made by any number of manufacturers and thus vary tremendously in quality. For veneers to replicate real tooth enamel and look natural, they must be thin and translucent. High-quality veneers cost between $1,400 and $1,600 per tooth. The cost of putting veneers on every tooth is generally prohibitive, but great results can be achieved by applying veneers to the most visible teeth — the top-front 8 to 10.
Porcelain veneers are an excellent option for correcting a number of problems. Most patients have veneers applied to cover deep discoloration and staining that bleaching cannot correct. Cracked and chipped teeth, teeth with overly wide gaps, crooked teeth and teeth that are disproportionate in size to the patient’s other facial features — all these issues also can be addressed with veneers.
When performing a smile makeover, dentists take into account the patient’s unique facial features and other aspects of his or her appearance, such as height, weight, coloring, complexion and age. The patient is shown photographs
of other patients and veneer samples that demonstrate the range of shades, shapes and configurations available. Together the patient and dentist come up with a plan.
Beauty is the goal, but health of course comes first. Before the veneers can be created and applied, the dentist must do a complete dental examination, including X-rays, to be certain the gums and teeth are healthy. If there are problems, they are treated before veneers are applied. Dentists should never put veneers on unhealthy teeth!
Once the dentist is satisfied with the patient’s dental health, the patient comes to the office for the first of three smile-makeover appointments. In the first appointment, the dentist makes an impression of the teeth, which the dental laboratory then uses to make what is called a “”temporary.”" The temporary device takes about two weeks to make. The patient then returns to the office and the temporary is fitted over his or her teeth. It is natural-looking and replicates what the new smile will look like once the porcelain veneers are created and applied. This temporary step gives the patient a chance to approve the look or to request modifications before the real veneers are cast. If the patient is happy with the new look (as is the case 9 times out of 10 in my practice), the dentist prepares the teeth for the application of the real veneers. This entails removing a small amount of enamel — one-half to one millimeter — to create a surface to which the veneers can adhere and to prevent the veneers from seeming bulky. The patient receives Novocain during this procedure and generally remains very comfortable. A second impression is then taken and sent to the lab. The lab uses this impression to individually cast each porcelain veneer. This usually takes about 10 days, during which time the patient wears the temporary.
Once the veneers are ready, the patient returns to the office for the third and final appointment. The veneers are bonded to the teeth in a quick and painless procedure. The bite is then checked and fine-tuned if necessary. The patient is now ready to face the world with a gorgeous new smile! Porcelain veneers are as durable as real teeth. They can last up to 30 years if good dental hygiene is practiced. Regular brushing, flossing and dental examinations are key.
EDWARD LAZER, DDS, is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Dentistry. He has had postdoctoral training in advanced techniques of cosmetic dentistry. He practices in Owings Mills. Dr. Lazer may be reached at 410-356-7799.
