Dental Veneers NYC: Transform Your Smile

Yes, there are a few ways to correct your smile without having to wear braces or retainers. Among your options are Porcelain Veneers and Enamel Shaping. In mild cases of crowding, the more conservative approach is Enamel Shaping, which involves modifying the shape of your teeth by removing or contouring enamel to create the illusion that your teeth are more balanced in their appearance. This process does not require anesthesia, and the results are noticeable immediately. Keep in mind that the removal of enamel is an irreversible process, and may also require additional bonding to enhance the appearance of your teeth. Porcelain Laminate Veneers, in my opinion, are the restoration of choice to correct poorly shaped or slightly crooked teeth for those individuals who do not wish to experience orthodontics. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made of tooth-colored materials which are bonded to the prepared teeth to enhance the esthetics of one’s smile. This, too, is an irreversible process because a small amount of enamel is usually removed to accommodate the thickness of the porcelain shell. Dental Veneers are used, with tremendous success, for treating gaps and dark spaces between teeth, for teeth that are stained, and for teeth that are worn or eroded at the gum line due to hard tooth brushing. Many of the actors and entertainment personalities who appear to have “picture perfect” teeth have used porcelain veneers as a more permanent way to whiten and straighten their teeth. The procedure usually requires 2 or 3 appointments, and the results will make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel about yourself.

As a pioneer in modern dental innovations, Dr. Lazare provides patients with the best option available for cosmetic veneer placement: Porcelain veneers are created with materials produced by a number of different dental labs, whereas Lumineers are patented by Denmat, a dental company. The Lumineer material is ultra-durable, crafted from feldspathic porcelain and strengthened with the addition of leucite crystals. Both traditional veneers and Lumineers can be created to be extremely thin (about the thickness of a contact lens), but in their creation, there is no compromise on strength once bonded into place. A cosmetic dentist can comfortably place Lumineers or even traditional veneers without administering anesthetic injections to the patient, but only if the tooth was not significantly prepared. Usually, some local anesthetic is required to ensure patient comfort. In some instances, the patient will not require temporary veneers, although when trying to change the size, shape and look of the teeth it is recommended to have temporaries made so that the patient can try on a preview and give feedback before the final restorations are made. With Veneers or Lumineers, one can have a completely customized set of teeth in about two visits. While Lumineers are a nice alternative for some patients, Dr. Lazare is partial to the aesthetic benefits of traditional veneers customized and layered by his Master Ceramist. This option creates the most natural beautiful smile that you could ever hope for.

No, adding veneers to your natural teeth will not ruin them. In fact, veneers can actually protect your natural teeth from damage. This is especially true if you have fragile or weakened teeth. Leaving fragile teeth unprotected could result in them breaking, chipping, or cracking unexpectedly. Not only can this be unsightly, but it can also be painful. By adding veneers, you can strengthen your teeth and give yourself a healthy, bright smile. Another advantage that comes with adding veneers is that they can resist stains. That means that you can drink coffee, red wine, or other dark liquids and not have to worry about your teeth yellowing or turning gray from the beverages. Veneers are a great option if you’re looking for a way to improve your smile and make your teeth as strong as possible.

The ideal candidate for dental veneers is someone who exhibits worn teeth, shorter or smaller teeth, inwardly positioned teeth (which can stand to be bulked out a bit), and spacing between their teeth that they would like to close. Additionally, the ideal candidate would select a shade that is similar to the natural color of their teeth, especially if tooth preparation is not indicated or desired and the porcelain needs to be thin. Most people are better candidates for traditional veneers, although porcelain veneers are a nice option for those who fit the above criteria. Either way, you are just a couple of visits away from a perfect smile.

Proper case selection is extremely important with veneers as not all people are ideal candidates. Unless a patient’s teeth are very small and inclined inward, the added material may cause the obvious appearance of added bulk. The material of dental veneers is the thickness of a contact lens, which may be a disadvantage when a patient is seeking to rid one or more teeth of discoloration. In order to make dark teeth appear very white, a certain thickness of porcelain is required. When teeth are already in the ideal position, any additional porcelain would appear unnaturally thick. While anesthesia may not be necessary, extensive tooth reduction to create proper alignment could be painful. Porcelain veneers are a great option for select candidates

Porcelain veneers are ideal for individuals with healthy teeth and gums looking to enhance their smile. However, those with significant decay or gum disease may need other treatments before veneers.