Veneers-
The Modern and Convenient Way to Enhance Your Smile
Porcelain Veneers offer a great solution to address a wide variety of the cosmetic problems that many clients face. They are a perfect treatment for those who have stained, chipped, or misshapen teeth. Bonded to your tooth enamel, Veneers mimic the look, shape and feel of natural teeth. Veneers are an irreversible treatment so its important that before speaking with your dentist you have all the right information regarding the procedure.
Smile Makeover and Photography by Dr. James W.W. McCreight of McCreight Progressive Dentistry
What are Veneers?
Fun Fact: Every time Shirley Temple lost a tooth, her dentist made her a veneer to cover that spot. (Thats why she seemingly never lost a tooth!)
Veneers originated nearly 100 years ago during the early days of the film industry. Dr. Charles Pincus, a famed Hollywood dentist, conceived of Veneers as a way to enhance actors’ smiles on the big screen. He lacked the technology to permanently adhere the porcelain so he would temporarily apply false fronts to the stars’ teeth which created the “movie star smile”, now a trademark of Hollywood. Nearly 40 years later Dr. Michael Buonocore established the modern era of adhesive dentistry. He did so with the creation of light curing which uses light in combination with a mild acidic solution which then allows for a stronger bonding surface for dental restorations.
Placement of Porcelain Veneers using Light Curing Technology at McCreight Progressive Dentistry. Photography by Dr. James W.W. McCreight of McCreight Progressive Dentistry
Fast forward to today, dental professionals around the world are still using the technique of light curing. However, dental technology has made Veneers more lifelike and convenient than ever. The porcelain now used for restorations is stronger than before and reflects light in the same way your natural dental enamel does. Just as done around 100 years ago, a dental professional will adhere a porcelain Veneer to the front of your tooth. Now however, instead of making it temporary we remove a small layer of enamel and replace it with a thin piece of porcelain that is used to recreate the natural look of your teeth. The porcelain is then bonded to the tooth’s original enamel using the light curing technology.
Are You a Candidate for Veneers?
Smile Makeover and Photography by Dr. James W.W. McCreight of McCreight Progressive Dentistry
As stated above, Veneers are great for those who have chipped, stained or misshapen teeth. However, not everyone may be a candidate for Veneers. Why is that you ask? Well, one reason would be because of poor oral hygiene. If you have poor periodontal and overall health, you would not be a candidate until you have committed to proper oral care and hygiene via the MPDWay
Lets for the sake of explanation refer to your gums like they were the foundation of a home. Would you build your house on a cracked or disintegrated foundation knowing that it would not hold your home up forever? Most would likely work on the land and creating a great foundation before moving forward to framing. At McCreight Progressive Dentistry, we will not place Veneers on unhealthy gums! This does NOT mean you can never get Veneers, it just means we need to treat and correct any serious dental issues before doing so.
Clients who are also clenching and grinding may not be candidates for Veneers. This is because porcelain is not as strong as your natural enamel and is therefore more susceptible to being chipped or cracked. Some clients who only grind at night may be able to have Veneers if they’re diligent about using their night time oral appliance. Tooth alignment also has a lot to do with if you are eligible for Veneers. If your teeth are severely misaligned it should be addressed using orthodontia prior to the placement of your new Veneers. The excessive force will cause the Veneers to chip or crack just the same as it would for those who clench and grind if not addressed.
Caring for Your Veneers
Smile Makeover and Photography by Dr. James W.W. McCreight of McCreight Progressive Dentistry
The first step to caring for your porcelain Veneers is to keep them clean. You will want to brush them as you normally do with your Sonicare. Of course brushing to the gum line is key here as well as sticking with a soft brush head so you do not scrape the Veneers. We also suggest switching toothpaste to CloSYS (which we always have in office for your convenience). CloSYS is a one of the least abrasive toothpastes on the market (Relative Dentin Abrasivity score= 53) that does not contain sulfates which have been linked to allergies, mouth ulcers and canker sores. After brushing you will WaterPik as you normally do, using a solution of water with one ounce of CloSYS oral rinse and one ounce of Hydrogen Peroxide.
Smile Makeover and Photography by Dr. James W.W. McCreight of McCreight Progressive Dentistry
Visiting your dentist and hygienist will also become more frequent; we suggest coming in at least every 3 months so we can carefully monitor your gum and overall oral health. Oral infections and gum disease can adversely affect the quality of the Veneers. Therefore it is best to address problems sooner rather than later before they get any worse.
Lastly we will suggest making impressions for a custom physiologic orthotic if you have had any past issues with grinding and clenching at night while you sleep. As explained earlier, some clenchers and grinders are not ideal candidates for Veneers. Veneers are not as strong as your natural enamel and therefore are more susceptible to damage. You will also want to stop any bad biting habits; chewing on pens, chewing on ice, opening beer bottles, and biting your fingernails will all have to become a thing of the past.
It is important to remember that like anything else you will have to replace your Veneers at some point as they do not last forever. However by following our caring suggestions for your Veneers you can prolong their longevity for quite some time.
Famous Smiles Made Possible with Veneers
Hillary Duff- Before and After Veneers
Miley Cyrus- Before and After Veneers
Morgan Freeman- Before and After Veneers
Nicholas Cage- Before and After Veneers
Victoria Beckham- Before and After Veneers
It is easy to see why Porcelain Veneers are the go-to treatment for individuals who want to express their very best smile. We believe at McCreight Progressive Dentistry that everyone deserves the chance to have a smile they are proud of.
If you think your smile is holding you back call us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. James W.W. McCreight DDS, a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) studying both Cosmetic and Physiologic Dentistry. Dr. Jim is also one of forty-eight clinical instructors in the world to teach at the LVI campus. He instructs both Advanced Anterior and Comprehensive Aesthetic Reconstruction Programs to other dentists from around the world.
If a smile makeover is on your to-do list for 2018 call us today at (970)879-4703
Dr. Wendy and Dr. Jim McCreight along with their experienced Team at McCreight Progressive Dentistry offer exceptional dental care at our convenient Steamboat Springs, Colorado office.
Looking for a dentist in the Western Slope area? Please call us and schedule an initial hygiene appointment (970) 879-4703.
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By: Anna Nierenberg, Director of First Impressions at McCreight Progressive Dentistry.
