Affordable Veneers in Pasadena and near South Houston, TX
Having a perfect smile is a great way to boost your confidence, attraction, and overall appearance. While it can be a bit tricky to achieve this with regular teeth, veneers are a great option.
Veneers look like natural and regular teeth but are made from porcelain, hide numerous different flaws, and provide an attractive, white, and shiny look. Veneers are not a great fit for everyone, so it is important to learn more about them to see if they’re a right fit for you.
What are Veneers?
Veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells of ceramic and porcelain that are custom-fit and bonded to the front of the teeth. They can create a white, even, and attractive smile. Veneers make it possible to correct a variety of problems, including:
- Spaces between the teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Yellowing or stains
- Crooked teeth
- Small holes or pits in teeth
- Uneven or undersized teeth
A veneer placed on top of a tooth can quickly and easily help you achieve a beautiful smile. Although some veneers are designed to be removable, most are permanent, and are bonded very tightly to the tooth they are protecting. The recent advancements in technology have improved bonding agents to the point that there are some types of veneers that may last for 20 years or more.
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Types Of Veneers Dr. Covell offers
Veneers can be made from two different options which consist of different materials, and have different benefits and functions. Two options give you the ability to choose which one will work best for you, and Dr. Covell can give advice and help determine which type of veneer is best for you.
Porcelain Or Indirect Veneers
Porcelain veneers are custom-made in a laboratory and applied to the teeth. They resist stains better than composite veneers and better simulate the shine of natural teeth. Two appointments are required for this process.One appointment is needed for taking an impression of your teeth, and a second appointment for preparing the natural teeth and placing the veneers once they have been created. Lumineers® and Vivaneers® are two types of porcelain veneers that are so thin they don’t require any tooth-buffing before placement.
Composite Or Direct Veneers
The process of making and applying composite veneers is much faster and more efficient than porcelain veneers. They can be set and fixed within one visit and cost significantly less money. Composite veneers are thinner and require less removal of the tooth surface before placement. They can expand and contract with natural fluctuations in tooth size, which makes it the perfect choice for repairing fractured teeth.
The Entire Veneer Procedure: Step By Step
The placement of porcelain veneers will require three appointments. These appointments followed in order will finish the process of installing your veneers and give you a whiter, healthier, and happier smile!
Diagnosis And Treatment Planning
During this appointment, your dentist will examine the teeth to make sure dental veneers are appropriate. An X-ray may also be taken at this time. The dentist will also discuss the corrective abilities and limitations of the procedure, as well as provide the patient an opportunity to take an active role in designing and discussing the restorative veneer process.
Preparation
At the second appointment, the teeth receiving the veneers are lightly buffed to prepare the surface for proper adhesion. The tooth is typically reduced by approximately one half of a millimeter. 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 the third appointment, the dentist will test the veneers onto the 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 veneer. Finally, a special light is used to quickly harden the cement.
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How do I maintain and take care of my Veneers?
Veneers should be treated just like natural teeth. They should be brushed and flossed regularly. Porcelain or Composite veneers will not be damaged by brushing and flossing, although using non-abrasive toothpaste is recommended.
Sensitivity to hot and cold liquids and foods may occur after placement of 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.
New veneers will help achieve the goal of improving the appearance of teeth. With proper home care and regular dental visits, patients will experience long lasting success with their new veneers and smile.
What aesthetic problems could I have that makes me a good candidate for veneers?
Veneers are an excellent aesthetic solution to many issues with the appearance of your teeth. Veneers are the ultimate restoration solution 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, and are not used to solve oral health issues such as disease and infections.
Is it painful to have veneers placed?
Some patients feel mild sensitivity during the process of shaving off the enamel to make room for porcelain veneers. Anesthesia is available, but most patients don’t feel the need. Cementing the veneers to your teeth is painless. Once you have the veneers on your teeth, you may experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold due to the removal of the outer portion of the tooth enamel. This sensitivity goes away within a few days.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Installing veneers is a risk-free procedure with our skillful and experienced Dr. Covell. There are no incisions, so there isn’t any risk of infection. For porcelain veneers, Dr. Covell will shave about .5 mm of enamel from the front of the teeth to receive veneers. This makes room for the veneer to sit on the tooth. This doesn’t present any risk, but it is a permanent change in the teeth. Your teeth will always need to be covered with a veneer moving forward.
Will my veneers need to be replaced?
The lifespan of your veneers can be dependent on the health of the underlying teeth and surrounding gums. Porcelain veneers will generally last from seven to 20 years.
It’s important to understand that porcelain veneers are a lifetime commitment. Since we remove a portion of the enamel from each tooth receiving a veneer, those teeth will always need to have veneers on them. Once your veneers reach their lifespan, you’ll need to have a new set made to replace them.
What Is The Recovery Time After Having Veneers Placed?
There isn’t any recovery time needed after Dr. Covell places veneers on your teeth. If you received porcelain veneers, as he will have removed a tiny amount of the enamel from the front of the teeth receiving veneers, your teeth can be a little sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks for a few days. The sensitivity will eventually pass as the teeth quickly adjust.
Otherwise, there isn’t any downtime afterwards. You can get right back to work (and show them your new dazzling smile!) or your other normal activities immediately upon leaving our Vista Road offices.
Are There Any Eating Restrictions?
Veneers are very strong and sturdy, but certain bad habits such as nail biting, chewing ice, and using your teeth to open packages or bottles can lead to a veneer coming off. These habits are bad for your natural teeth anyway, so they should be curtailed.
As for foods, you may want to avoid biting into some extremely sticky foods such as caramel apples, to avoid placing extreme pressure on the veneers and their underlying cement. Other than that, you really don’t have any food restrictions.
Will Veneers Increase The Risk of Tooth Decay or Cavities?
Veneers do not increase the likelihood that a tooth will have decay in any way. Caring for your veneers is no different than caring for your teeth without veneers. If your care is lackadaisical, or if you neglect your twice-yearly cleanings and exams with Dr. Covell and our team, the underlying teeth can develop decay and cavities. The veneers don’t change that one way or the other. With proper care, your veneers can last up to 20 years.
How Do Porcelain Veneers Compare With Lumineers/Vivaneers?
The concept behind porcelain veneers and Lumineers/Vivaneers (brand names for another option) is the same — to cover cosmetic flaws on your teeth. The difference is that to make room for the porcelain veneer, a slight amount of tooth enamel is removed.
Lumineers/Vivaneers do not require the removal of any enamel. For this reason, Lumineers/Vivaneers can be reversed, meaning down the road you can remove them and not replace them if you see fit. Of course, you will then also expose again the same flaws you sought to hide in the first place. Lumineers/Vivaneers, because they don’t require the removal of any enamel, do change the patient’s smile somewhat.
So, why would anyone not opt for Lumineers/Vivaneers? They can cause ledges at the gumline that lead to inflammation. This is because they do add size to the tooth. Lumineers/Vivaneers are best when covering many teeth rather than simply one or two teeth. They are not a good idea if the patient grinds his or her teeth.
Dr. Covell will discuss the differences with you during your consultation for dental veneers.
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Creating beautiful smiles with Paul Covell, DDS is the main mission of Dr. Covell and his team of trained and passionate professionals. With state-of-the-art technology and equipment, we strive to get you the best results possible. We want to help you reach your dream smile and teeth.
If you are interested in learning more about veneers, give us a call (713) 943-9832 to schedule your consultation with Pasadena dentist Dr. Paul Covell today!
