As we get ready to kick off the holiday season, it’s a perfect time to think about ways to enhance and improve your smile for all those parties, family gatherings and photos.  Why not take advantage of what we call your “Smile Makeover” here at Daniel N. Galaif, DDS?  Among the many cosmetic services we offer are veneers, which have become very popular in recent years due to the ease of installation.

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel.  It is often the material of choice for those looking to make slight position alterations, or to change tooth shape, size, and/or color.  Dental veneers are individually sculpted for each patient, it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth.  Dental veneers can be designed to match your natural adjacent teeth or can be used to improve the aesthetics of your smile.  The semi-translucent appearance helps veneers blend with your smile for natural results.  Veneers are long lasting, beautiful, and create a smile our patients feel proud to share.

The veneer procedure can typically be completed in just a few visits to Dr. Galaif, and in most cases no one will even know that you have veneers on your teeth.  Unlike natural teeth, custom-made veneers resist coffee and tea stains, and cigarette smoke because they are made of high-tech materials. With routine dental hygiene and regular visits to your dentist, dental veneers can last for many years without breakage or discoloration.

For teeth that resist whitening, or that are discolored due to trauma or certain medications, dental veneers can do what traditional teeth whitening cannot. Dental veneers can make even the darkest teeth appear bright white.  Patients with whiter, brighter smiles tend to smile more often and have more confidence.

Veneers are routinely used to address the following issues:

• Teeth that are discolored — either because of root canal treatment; stains from tetracycline or other drugs, excessive fluoride or other causes; or the presence of large resin fillings that have discolored the tooth
• Teeth that are worn down
• Teeth that are chipped or broken
• Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped (for example, have craters or bulges in them)
• Teeth with gaps between them (to close the space between those teeth)

To prepare your tooth for a veneer, Dr. Galaif will remove about 1/2 millimeter of enamel from the tooth surface, which is an amount nearly equal to the thickness of the veneer which will be added to the tooth surface. Before trimming off the enamel, you and Dr. Galaif will decide if there is a need for local anesthetic to numb the area. In most cases in most cases we can scan the teeth and do not even have to take impressions.

Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented to your tooth, Dr. Galaif will temporarily place it on your tooth to examine its fit and color, making any necessary adjustments.  Next, to prepare your tooth for the veneer your tooth will be cleaned, polished, and etched – which roughens the tooth to allow for a strong bonding process.  A special cement is applied to the veneer, and the veneer is then placed on your tooth.  Once properly position on the tooth, Dr. Galaif will apply a special light beam to the dental veneer, which activates chemicals in the cement, causing it to harden, or cure, very quickly. The final steps involve removing any excess cement, evaluating your bite and making any final adjustments to the veneer.  The whole process usually takes about one week.

Veneers offer the following advantages:

• They provide a natural tooth appearance
• Gum tissue tolerates porcelain well
• Porcelain veneers are stain resistant
• The color of a porcelain veneer can be selected such that it makes dark teeth appear whiter
• Veneers offer a conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color and shape; veneers generally don’t require the extensive shaping prior to the procedure that crowns do, yet offer a strong and more aesthetic alternative

Learn more about porcelain veneers at your next in-office consultation.  Call to make an appointment today!

(818) 789-6789
info@DrGalaif.com