Veneers – Oak Point, TX
Get a Gorgeous Grin with Veneers
It’s pretty common to suffer from a smile flaw. Many people, after all, deal with stained teeth, tooth chips, and so on. Still, perhaps you have several of these flaws at once. You thus might think you’d need multiple services to correct them. In truth, though, you could fix all such imperfections with dental veneers! As provided by the Elegant Dentistry team, the porcelain shells could easily give you an ideal smile. To learn more about them, just keep reading or call us today.
What are Dental Veneers?
Simply put, dental veneers are thin, tooth-sized shells made of porcelain. Dentists place them on the fronts of teeth to cover dental imperfections – stains, chips, cracks, etc. Many even call veneers “instant orthodontics” that can hide tooth misalignments.
Veneers’ effectiveness stems from their high-quality materials. Thanks to using dental porcelain, dentists can customize them to match a patient’s tooth enamel. As such, they easily and seamlessly blend with the rest of your smile. Plus, the porcelain’s quality ensures veneers are durable and stain-resistant.
Given such versatility, it’s no surprise that veneers are a prevalent form of cosmetic dentistry!
The Process of Getting Veneers
Most veneer treatments involve two dental appointments: the preparatory visit and the final placement. Both are crucial to the procedure and usually take place a few weeks apart.
Per its name, the preparatory visit will prepare your teeth for their eventual veneers. This process starts with you and our dentists discussing treatment goals, your oral health history, etc. From there, our team will clean your chompers and remove some of their enamel. (Doing so creates the ideal surface for veneers to bond with.) The visit will end after our office takes a dental impression and places your temporary veneers.
Crafting veneers takes time, so final placement occurs roughly two weeks after the prep work. That said, the appointment itself is straightforward: it just has us fit the porcelain shells onto your teeth. Once they’re secured, our office will make some last-minute adjustments so you’ll be ready to go!
The Benefits of Veneers
You can expect various benefits from veneers. In particular, the standard ones are:
- Lifelike Results: Because veneers use high-grade porcelain, they look incredibly lifelike and natural. It’s to the point that most people can’t tell them apart from natural teeth!
- Versatility: As veneers work by covering up dental surfaces, they can alter tooth color, shape, and position. They’re thus highly versatile.
- High Protectiveness: Veneers’ porcelain is naturally stain-resistant and doesn’t discolor easily. Plus, their durability ensures they substitute for the enamel lost from the prep process.
- Long-Lasting Effects: Average veneers have a lifespan of roughly 15 years. However, these prosthetics can last 30 years or more with proper care!
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
While veneers are sometimes perceived as costly, their affordability may surprise you. The price of veneers in Oak Point may vary based on several factors, but at The Elegant Dentistry, we make it a priority to offer a beautiful smile at a reasonable price point. We'll work with you to create a custom treatment plan that restores your teeth without breaking the bank.
Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What’s Right for Me?
You have many options available to make your dream smile into reality. Each procedure comes with its own costs, timelines, and expected lifespan. Your cosmetic dentist in Oak Point will conduct a thorough examination and discuss your goals to help determine which services align best with your needs:
- Invisalign – These clear aligners can address various bite and alignment issues. The average treatment duration typically spans from 12 to 24 months. It's worth noting that this can be a substantial commitment, especially for minor adjustments. Some dental insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost.
- Teeth Whitening – A professional whitening system can improve surface and age-related discoloration by up to 8 shades. With proper aftercare, results can last for many months or even years.
- Veneers – By attaching veneers to the visible teeth when smiling, you can correct numerous imperfections swiftly and with minimal invasiveness. While dental insurance may not typically cover this treatment, it can often be the most cost-effective option. This is because you won’t need to pay for multiple treatments, and veneers can last for a decade or longer before requiring replacement, ensuring long-lasting results.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
In many cases, dental insurance plans will not cover the cost of veneers, as they are typically not deemed "medically necessary". However, there are alternative ways to make veneers more accessible.
At The Elegant Dentistry, we offer the following options:
- In-House Savings Plan: For a low annual or monthly fee, you can get the care you need without breaking the bank. Additionally, you can enjoy discounts on services like veneers.
- Flexible Financing: Our team provides flexible financing options through CareCredit. This service allows you to spread the cost of treatment over time with low-interest monthly installments, providing a more manageable payment approach.
Veneer FAQs
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?
In order to keep your veneers around for as long as possible, there are a few foods that you probably want to avoid. The porcelain that most veneers are made out of is softer than enamel, meaning that it’s more likely to break if you eat hard foods.
You may also want to back on drinking, as alcohol can weaken the bonding material that connects the veneers to the tooth.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
Unlike natural enamel, veneers don’t have pores on them. As a consequence, the solution used in teeth whitening isn’t going to be able to penetrate deep into the veneers. This makes teeth whitening ineffective.
If you ever want to change the color of your veneers, you’ll have to replace them entirely. You should therefore be proactive about keeping your teeth white, avoiding foods and drinks that could stain them in the first place.
Do Veneers Feel Like Real Teeth?
Veneers are slim, sleek, smooth, and will be designed to fit perfectly onto your teeth. We will meticulously craft your veneers to fit your smile, meaning that they should sit flush with the rest of your teeth.
All this being the case, you’ll find that your veneers will feel just like the rest of your teeth once you’re used to them.
Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t Get Veneers?
Veneers are a low-risk, low-impact procedure. Most people will be able to get veneers if they would like them. However, if you’re currently dealing with oral health problems, this could cause complications.
Gum disease, for example, could cause swelling that will impair the impressions taken of your teeth. For that reason, we will usually treat you for any oral health problems before fitting you for veneers.
You should also tell us if you have a teeth grinding habit—we’ll be able to fit you for a nightguard so that we can prevent long-term damage to your veneers.