Porcelain Veneers
San Diego, California
Porcelain veneers are an excellent remedy for a variety of small dental defects. In one treatment, you can wipe away:
- Slight crookedness or misalignment
- Small gaps
- Small chips or superficial cracks
- Stains and spots
- General discoloration that won’t respond to tooth whitening
- Small unevenness in tooth sizes
What is a veneer?
It’s a thin ceramic shell permanently bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Veneers are made from a porcelain chosen to match your own tooth color. When placed by a qualified cosmetic dentist, they blend in superbly with your natural teeth.
Lumineers™
We offer both traditional veneers and the type of porcelain veneers known as Lumineers, made by Den-Mat Corporation. They are slightly thinner than typical veneers, thin enough that no tooth enamel needs to be removed to make room for them. They are also more translucent and a little stronger than other types of veneers. They are made from what is called Cerinate® porcelain, which refers to a Den-Mat proprietary method of crafting porcelain. They require advanced dental skill for good placement, and must be done by a fully qualified cosmetic dentist
Where veneers are used
Veneers can be can be applied to both upper and lower teeth. They are not used on back teeth however, where strong chewing surfaces are needed. A crown would be a better alternative for back teeth. On front, visible teeth, when there is no severe decay present, veneers are considered a conservative alternative to crowns, “conservative” because they demand less removal of tooth tissue than do crowns. A crown covers the entire tooth, not just its front surface. They therefore need tooth enamel to be removed from all surfaces, to make room for the crown. Lumineers however, require no tooth enamel to be removed.
The porcelain veneer procedure
First there is an initial appointment, where we will determine that veneers are the way to go, and explain the procedure.
Lumineers
Lumineers are known as no-prep veneers, because almost no tooth enamel is removed for their placement. That makes them a reversible procedure, if you should want that. Traditional veneers are permanent.
- Dr. Loye would scuff the surface very slightly to strengthen the bond between tooth and veneer.
A mold is then made of the teeth and sent to a Cerinate Design Studio, a dental laboratory which makes Lumineers. The dental technician at the lab will use the mold as a model for your veneers. - The finished veneers, back from the dental lab, are carefully placed and adjusted. When both you and Dr. Loye are satisfied, he will bond them to the teeth.
An art as well as a science
Thorough cosmetic dental education is of course necessary. But beyond that, there’s an artistic aspect to cosmetic dentistry. No procedure is purely routine. Each is tailored to your particular facial structure, and perhaps even your personality. Matching the shade of porcelain to your natural tooth color takes a discerning eye for color subtleties. That's why it's important to choose a dentist who is specifically trained in cosmetic dentistry.
When your veneers are placed, you will have natural-looking, beautiful teeth which blend in with your regular teeth. With no more cracks, breaks, gaps or stains you'll find your confidence increasing and your smile appearing more and more. Veneers are a pleasant, quick and cost-effective way to create a winning smile!
You can read more on our Porcelain Veneers Questions page or at Am I a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?.
You can read more about the Porcelain Veneers Process here.
Our office serves the entire San Diego, California area. Please give us a call, or send an email if you would like to have a free personal consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Contact Us
The Dentist that Makes You Smile!
3830 Valley Center Drive, Suite 702
San Diego, CA 92130
