At Oak Grove Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we have helped many patients completely transform their smile aesthetics using porcelain veneers in Durham, NC. Veneers are an excellent option for patients who want to change the look of their smiles.
Dr. Chavala Harris is your local Durham cosmetic dentist. She has helped many patients achieve smiles that they can feel confident showing off. Veneers are part of the cosmetic dental care services Dr. Harris offers her patients.
Porcelain Veneers in Durham, NC
If you are looking to achieve a complete smile makeover, porcelain veneers could be the perfect cosmetic dentistry solution. With thin porcelain shells, veneers are attached to your existing dental structures to conceal major or minor imperfections. They give patients complete control over their smile aesthetics.
With advice from our experienced cosmetic dentist, patients can choose to get one veneer or a mouth full of veneers depending on their needs and goals.
Typically used for only cosmetic purposes, porcelain veneers can address concerns like:
- Bleach-resistant tooth stains
- Minor chips and cracks
- Misshapen teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth
What are the Benefits of Veneers?
Dental veneers have several great benefits that can improve your smile and confidence. Here’s how they can help:
- Natural Look: Veneers are custom-made to match your teeth. We shade-match them so they look natural. The porcelain also reflects light like real teeth to give you a bright smile.
- Fixes Multiple Issues: Veneers can cover chipped, cracked, or stained teeth, and gaps and slightly crooked teeth. They’re a great option to improve multiple parts of your smile. You can treat multiple cosmetic concerns with veneers.
- Stain Resistant: Veneers resist stains from coffee, tea, and other foods. They can stay white and shiny longer than other cosmetic options like bonding. While we still recommend avoiding staining foods and drinks, the veneers are less likely to stain.
- Long-Lasting: With good care, veneers can last many years. They’re durable and protect your teeth. You can enjoy a strong, beautiful smile for a long time.
- Boosts Confidence: Veneers can boost your confidence about your smile. Many people feel happier and more comfortable after getting veneers because they love how they look. We create veneers that match the tooth shape and shade you want.
The Porcelain Veneer Process
It takes several steps and two or more office visits with our cosmetic dentist to get your new veneers:
Tooth Preparation
First, our dentist carefully removes a very thin layer of enamel from the front of your teeth. This step makes room for the veneers and helps them fit better. Then, we take dental impressions that we will send to a local dental lab. In the meantime, you will wear temporary veneers to protect your prepared teeth.
Creating the Veneers
Skilled technicians make your veneers when we send your impressions and measurements to a dental lab. They use porcelain to match the natural color and shape of your teeth. This step takes a couple of weeks.
Final Placement
Once your veneers are ready, you’ll return to our office. We will remove the temporary veneers and make adjustments before bonding the veneers to your teeth. A special light will harden the bond so your veneers are firmly in place.
Porcelain Veneers FAQs
Learn more with answers to common questions about porcelain veneers in our Durham, NC, dental office:
Which teeth do veneers cover?
Veneers usually cover the front teeth—the ones that show when you smile. Most often, they are placed on the top front teeth. These teeth are the most visible, so veneers help improve your smile by covering chips, stains, gaps, or uneven edges.
How long does it take to get porcelain veneers?
It can take up to two weeks to get veneers. However, it depends on the dental office. Some offices also have dental labs inside the premises. This allows them to perform the procedure faster, making it possible to get veneers in just one appointment. If the dental office works with an external lab, it will take at least two appointments.
Do your teeth rot with porcelain veneers?
No. The porcelain veneers attach to the whole buccal side surface of the teeth. Therefore, there is no space for plaque or bacteria to accumulate and cause the teeth to rot. However, you still must practice good oral hygiene to prevent tooth decay on your natural teeth.
How often will I need to replace my porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers can last anywhere from approximately 10 to 15 years. They use highly durable materials that last for a long time. Our dentist will not need to replace them unless they chip or fracture. They also do not change in shape or color over time.
Do veneers cover the whole tooth?
No. The dental lab will design your dental veneers as thin shells that cover only the buccal side of the teeth. The veneers will not touch the back part of the teeth. It offers a noninvasive method to achieve your cosmetic goals without compromising the dental tissues or weakening the teeth.
Do porcelain veneers change colors?
No. Due to the composition of porcelain, it won’t change color. It is a non-porous material that doesn’t let any pigments penetrate inside its structure no matter the time passed or exposure to the staining substances. Unlike natural teeth, they don’t possess any microtubes where pigments can reside.
Can porcelain veneers fall off?
Yes. Porcelain veneers are thin shells that bond to the teeth with a special bonding agent. Although we will make sure that there are no issues during the procedure, on some occasions, saliva can contaminate the working area. This can affect the strength of the bonding. On the other hand, unlike the veneer itself, the bonding agent is a porous material and weakens over time.
How are veneers different from crowns?
Veneers and dental crowns may seem similar, but they serve different purposes within your smile. Patients with dental veneers will maintain most of their natural tooth structure beneath the veneer.
Dental crowns require more enamel removal because they replace damaged teeth. Veneers only cover the front-facing portion of your tooth, but crowns replace the entire exterior of a tooth. This is why we often recommend veneers for cosmetic cases and crowns for restorative cases.
Get Your Dream Smile
Ready for your smile transformation? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Chavala Harris at Oak Grove Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. Call 919-899-4467 to learn more about what veneers can do for your smile.