Ever wish you had the smile you’ve always wanted? Not long ago, if you had cosmetic issues with your teeth, your options were limited and invasive for improving their appearance. Fortunately, thanks to modern dental advances, that beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed about is within your reach. Drs. Ryan Lepore and Erin Dougherty at Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry in Dunedin, Florida, can correct all these issues and more with porcelain dental veneers. These custom-shaped, ultra-thin pieces of porcelain are placed over your teeth to hide imperfections in a minimally invasive procedure, giving you a natural-looking and terrific smile.
Issues that porcelain veneers can fix
Porcelain veneers are a versatile and highly effective way of covering up cosmetic issues with your teeth. Patients with the following imperfections in their smile may benefit from veneers:
- Chips in their teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Oddly sized teeth
- Permanent stains or discolorations that are resistant to whitening
- Mild gaps between teeth
- Mild tooth misalignment
Elvira talks about her experience with Dr. Lepore and his team and cannot be happier.
I came in for a second opinion because I had veneers that were about 20 years old, and I just needed a second opinion of what I could do to fix my smile, to fix my teeth because they were starting to come apart, and crumble. So I came here for a second opinion, and I ended up as a patient of the practice because it was such a great place to be. Everybody was just so nice. Dr. Lepore instantly put me at ease. He came in, and he had so much to offer. There wasn’t any burden where I felt like I had to be here or I had to do something. I mean, he laid everything out very nicely, and then he sat back, and he said, “maybe you want some time to think about that. Just let us know, and we’ll be ready to go when you’re ready to go.” Not only was he able to give me a pretty white smile, but changed the shape of my teeth into a more feminine look, and I love my smile; I love the way it makes me feel; it gives me so much more confidence and makes me very happy to have them. I get told all the time that I have a beautiful smile; I mean, it’s so nice to hear because for so long, I don’t think I even opened my mouth, or I would have my hand in front of my mouth just to make sure that nobody would see my teeth. Now suddenly, I have the freedom where I can just smile, and it’s nice to hear that people think I have a pretty smile.
What to expect
One of the best aspects of porcelain veneers from a dentistry perspective is that minimal preparation of your teeth is necessary to place them. This means that minimal tooth structure needs to be altered, which can help preserve the health of your tooth over the long term.
First, Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty will examine your teeth and gums to get a complete picture of your overall oral health. If you have any issues like decay or gum disease, you will likely need to treat those issues before cosmetic treatments such as veneers because your smile is such an important part of how others perceive you. Drs. Lepore and Dougherty will take the time to understand what you like and don’t like about your teeth and what your goals are so that they can custom-design veneers for a smile that truly reflects your personality and preferences.
To create and place your veneers, Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty will first plan your case with their dental laboratory. With this approach, you will typically leave the initial day with prototype temporaries that will mimic your proposed design’s size and shape. This allows any changes to be made prior to the delivery of your final restorations.
On the day of preparation, we will prepare your teeth by removing approximately half a millimeter of enamel from the surface of your teeth, which is about the same thickness as the veneers. Then, dental impressions will be taken so the veneers can be fabricated to fit your smile perfectly. Once they are ready, you return to the office, where you will “try on” the veneers to ensure they look, feel, and fit just right.
If necessary, Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty will adjust until you are both happy with the results. At that point, Dr. Lepore or Dr. Dougherty will clean and etch your teeth to help facilitate a strong bond and then use a strong dental cement to adhere the veneers to your teeth.
The smile you’ve always wanted
If you are interested in learning more about porcelain veneers and whether you are a good candidate, call Lepore Comprehensive Dentistry in Dunedin, FL, today at (727) 608-4690 to schedule your personalized consultation!
Veneers are restorations that cover the front surface of a tooth. While they can improve function, most of the time, veneers are used to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile, whether a tooth is misshapen, chipped, discolored, or rotated. Veneers can be made of ceramic or composite material and typically require multiple appointments to complete.
At your first visit, your doctor will take an impression of your teeth, which will be sent to a dental laboratory to expertly sculpt an idealized model of your mouth. This model will be the basis for your temporary and final veneers.
During your next visit, your teeth are prepared by the doctor to make room to place the veneers over them. Once done, another impression is taken of the prepared teeth, which will be sent to the dental laboratory and combined with the idealized model to craft your final veneers. After this second impression is taken, temporary veneers are placed over your teeth until the final ones are ready.
At a subsequent visit, your doctor will remove the temporary veneers and bond the final versions into place. Now, your teeth are restored to optimal shape and function, and your smile will be greatly improved.
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