Porcelain veneers in Cooper City, Florida

What is a Porcelain Veneer?

Porcelain veneers are composed of thin ceramic layers that cover the front of the tooth. They essentially replace tooth enamel by adhering to a tooth’s outer surface, enabling them to mask a variety of imperfections while lasting as long as a filling or a crown.

Here are some of the ways they can make your smile radiant:

• Color: A lot takes a toll on the whiteness of our smiles: food and drink, smoking, medications, even aging. If you have one or more teeth that haven’t responded to whitening treatments as well as you’d like, veneers can restore their brightness so they once again blend in with your natural teeth. But why stop there? Veneers come in a variety of shades, so you can smile as bright as a Hollywood star if you’d like.
• Size and shape: Whether you have a chipped tooth or teeth that have been shortened because of tooth grinding (also called bruxism), veneers can make them look like new again. Veneers also can change the shape of your teeth to complement your features better if you’ve always thought your teeth were the wrong size or shape for your face.
• Spacing and alignment: Veneers are a great way to close small gaps between your teeth and fix other minor adjustments in alignment if you don’t want to use braces or if your situation doesn’t quite require them.

Before applying your veneers, our dentist in Cooper City first will take a mold of your teeth so the veneer has a custom, comfortable fit.

Depending on the brand and type of veneers used, the dentist might have to reduce a small amount of your natural tooth’s enamel (less than 1 mm of the surface) so the veneer fits snugly and naturally against your tooth.

But once they’re in place, veneers are virtually worry-free. They won’t stain, shift, or move while you talk or eat, just give you the smile you’ve always imagined.

How Is a Veneer Different from a Crown?

Both veneers and crowns can change the shape, color, size, and overall appearance of your teeth. But where a crown or cap covers the entire tooth down to the gums – and requires removing more of the tooth enamel underneath – a veneer covers only the front side of the tooth.

Veneers are designed to fix aesthetic issues in otherwise healthy teeth. A crown is preferred when the underlying tooth has lost a lot of its structure because of decay, clenching, grinding, trauma, or age. More natural tooth enamel (at least 2 mm) must be removed to place a crown, but once adhered, a crown makes the tooth underneath h2er and restores its function.

If your problem tooth is among the teeth in the back of your mouth, a crown also might be the better choice because it can hold up under the h2er biting force between your molars.

How Long Do Veneers Last?

The durability of veneers can vary depending on the brand of used, your lifestyle, and proper care. But they’re designed to last for decades! Treat them as well as you would your natural teeth, and they’ll keep your smile bright and beautiful over the long haul.

What Are Lumineers^®?

Lumineers^® are a specific brand of veneers that are ultra-thin and yet highly durable – they can last more than 20 years! Because of their thinness, they’re unique in that they require little to no reduction in the surface enamel of your natural tooth. Applying them is completely pain-free, and because they’re also highly translucent, they look as natural as they feel.

How Do I Care For Veneers?

For the most part, you care for veneers as you would your natural teeth, by brushing and flossing each day. That said, veneers do like a gentle touch. While you don’t need to baby them, we wouldn’t advise biting into very hard foods, such as candy apples, or using your teeth to open packages or rip off price tags.

If your veneers cover teeth worn from a habit such as clenching or grinding, you’ll likely need to wear a custom-made night guard to protect your new smile while you sleep. Our experienced dentist in Cooper City will gladly advise you about your particular dental care once your veneers are in place.

Schedule a Consultation for Veneers in Cooper City Today

If you have additional questions about veneers or think they might be right for you, call our caring and friendly staff in Cooper City to set up an appointment today at (954) 719-6278. We’re here to help you.