Porcelain Veneers

Why porcelain veneers?

There are many reasons you may want to consider rejuvenating your smile with our expertly crafted dental veneers in Monterey. If you ever find yourself hiding your smile in photos, holding back when you laugh, or wishing you could speak confidently at work, porcelain veneers could give you the confidence you’re looking for.

Veneers can fix many cosmetic dental problems, including:

• Discoloration that can’t be fixed with teeth whitening
• Misshapen or undersized teeth
• Uneven teeth that make your smile appear imbalanced
• Chips and worn-down enamel
• Previous dental work that doesn’t match your smile
• Small gaps and misalignments
• A gummy smile

What are cosmetic porcelain veneers?

Cosmetic porcelain veneers are ultra-thin ceramic shells that are bonded directly to the front surfaces of the teeth that show when you smile. Due to their simplicity and versatility, dental veneers have become a popular choice to correct and repair many smile zone flaws.

They’re also an ideal choice to help other dental work, such as crowns, bridges, or dental implants, blend in more naturally so that your smile has a uniform look. Veneer teeth can also be combined with other treatments such as gum recontouring to help your smile look more balanced and harmonious.

What are the advantages of cosmetic porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers closely imitate the strength and appearance of healthy, white tooth enamel, better than any other restorative option. They are so thin that light can shine through the veneers and take on the natural color of your underlying tooth, giving you a result that looks completely natural. 

Their thinness also makes dental veneers a conservative way to perfect your smile, as they only require minimal adjustments to your enamel to create an ideal fit. Porcelain veneers will blend in with your natural tooth to become virtually undetectable. On top of that, veneers are highly resistant to coffee, tea and cigarette stains.

How durable are dental veneers?

With the right care, cosmetic porcelain veneers can last for more than a decade. At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, our dental veneers are crafted from high-quality porcelains and bonded with the most advanced and proven materials available to ensure that your beautiful smile will last for a long time.

What is the process of getting veneer teeth?

Step 1: Your personalized consultation and treatment plan

During the first step of the process, our doctors will review your case to determine any corrective limitations, so we can get you that perfect smile makeover that you deserve. At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, we want you to feel confident making informed decisions and take an active role in planning your own smile design.

Step 2: Preparing the teeth

When you come in for your second appointment, which will last 1-2 hours, your skilled porcelain veneers doctor will prepare your teeth. Even though the porcelain veneer is very thin, your teeth will still require some light buffing to compensate for the added layer. For that, your cosmetic dentist will remove approximately 1/2 millimeter of tooth structure off of your tooth. You won’t have to worry about any pain since we can provide you with a local anesthesia for the procedure.

Step 3: Crafting your custom dental veneers

Next, we will take a mold of your teeth, which we will send to the dental lab to create your custom veneer teeth. This takes about 1-2 weeks. In the meantime, we will place a temporary veneer to cover the prepared tooth, so you won’t be inhibited in your everyday life.

Step 4: Celebrating your renewed smile!

When your permanent porcelain veneers are ready, you’ll return for a third appointment to have them bonded to your teeth. To get started, your dentist will first place the veneer, together with some water or glycerin, on your tooth to ensure that the restoration has the right fit and color. At this point, the color of the veneer can still be adjusted through the shade of the cement used to bond the veneer to your tooth. 

Once the color matches perfectly to the surrounding teeth and the veneer is fully prepared, we will cleanse your tooth with special chemicals to create a bond. Next, a special cement is applied to bond the veneer to the tooth, and a visible light beam will be used to harden the cement.

This last appointment generally takes 1-2 hours, and once you are done, you will be leaving our office with a rejuvenated, natural-looking and healthy smile. We will schedule a follow-up appointment with you after 1-2 weeks to ensure that your veneers fit perfectly and give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of.

What is Same Day Smile Treatment for Porcelain Veneers?

Same Day Smile is a streamlined treatment for patients who want to have their veneers completed quickly. Unlike the traditional process for porcelain veneers, which requires three office visits, same day smile treatment takes place on a day when we schedule an additional technician to aid in creating and completing your veneers in a single visit, eliminating the need for the placement of a temporary veneer.

If you’re interested in our same day smile treatment, contact our office to inquire about the availability of this treatment.

How to care for porcelain veneers

Caring for dental veneers is easy and straightforward. You will simply keep brushing and flossing thoroughly every day. Here are a few tips to be sure your veneer teeth last as long as possible!

• As it is the case with your natural teeth, thorough dental hygiene and proper home care are crucial to prevent your veneer from stains and discolorations. 
• You don’t have to be afraid that you will damage your veneer while brushing or flossing; however, we do recommend that you use a non abrasive toothpaste. It’s important to understand that cavities can form at the borders where your veneer connects to your tooth, or even under your veneer, if plaque is allowed to build up. Be sure to use high-quality fluoride toothpaste to keep the teeth under your veneers strong and healthy. 
• After the placement of your veneer, you may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures for about 1-2 weeks. Sensitivity is completely normal since your dentist had to remove some of your tooth’s enamel to fit the veneer. If it persists, however, please call our office.
• If you know that you clench or grind your teeth, be sure to let us know. We may recommend a soft night guard for you to wear to minimize the pressure put on your teeth while you are sleeping.

Porcelain veneers are a fast route to your dream smile. At Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, we’re proud to provide beautiful, custom dental veneers in Monterey, CA so you can enjoy the confidence of a dream smile. With the right dental care at home and regular exams at our office, your new veneers will provide you with a beautiful smile for years to come.

If you want to improve your smile, call us today to schedule a consultation for porcelain veneers in Monterey, so we can make your dream smile a reality!

What technology is used in creating veneers?

We’re proud to use CEREC technology to create custom veneers quickly and effectively for our patients.