Veneers

If you want to know how to get the perfect smile like your favorite celebrity, we can help! You are most definitely not alone, and if we can let you in on a secret…that perfect, glistening celebrity smile you’ve been envying? There’s a pretty good chance it’s not made up of their natural teeth, which means you too could achieve the same look. It’s common knowledge that society puts a lot of pressure on individuals to look a certain way, and because of that, more and more people just like you are looking for ways to enhance their appearance.

At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center we know that a person’s smile can have an incredible impact on an individual’s self-confidence, and in turn, their mental health. We believe everyone deserves to have confidence and the smile of their dreams, which leads us here. If you’re searching for ways to improve your smile, we’re here to help, and it all starts with education. As experts in prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, we want to guide you on the ins and outs of veneers so you can make the best and most educated decision for yourself.

Understanding Veneers

First and foremost, we think it’s important our patients know exactly what veneers are before making any decisions about them. Veneers after all, are a permanent decision. They are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials such as porcelain, designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an option for correcting stained, chipped, decayed, crooked, or misshapen teeth and are custom made from a model of your teeth created by your dentist. (American Dental Association, 2023).

The Process

When getting veneers, you will most likely start by receiving local anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. The first step is for your dentist to prepare the teeth by filing and reshaping them with a device called a bur, this ensures the best fit when the veneers are placed. This is also the reason veneers are a permanent and irreversible decision, as once the teeth are filed down, there is no way to get the natural tooth back to its original state.

Depending on the type of veneers you get, the procedure will differ. With composite resin veneers, the dentist applies the composite directly on your teeth, shaping them and hardening them with a special, high intensity light. Multiple layers are added until the desired result has been achieved, and the veneers are finished with a polish and completed. If you receive porcelain veneers, a mold of your mouth is made from an impression of your teeth and is sent to a dental laboratory for the veneers to be created. The veneers will then be cemented to the natural teeth with a gel and high intensity light.

Why Veneers?

There are a variety of options to enhance your smile through dentistry, such as professional teeth whitening, braces, or even dental implants. So why choose veneers? What’s unique about veneers is their ability to completely change the entirety of your smile. Sure, you can get a brighter smile with teeth whitening, or straighten your crooked and misaligned smile with braces, but in the end, the fundamental shape and size of your teeth will still be the same. With genetics in play, some patients have short, small teeth, or perhaps very long and skinny teeth. There is nothing wrong with this, but if the patient is unhappy with how it looks, no matter how well they take care of their oral health, they just might not be able to achieve their ‘perfect’ smile simply because of their genetics. With veneers, you have the ability to change almost any and every aspect of the appearance of your teeth, giving you the exact smile you’ve always dreamed of.

Veneers are also a way to improve your smile that is immediate. Who doesn’t love instant gratification? If you have misaligned teeth, it could take years for braces to fix the problem, whereas with veneers you will have the result you’re looking for as soon as the procedure is complete! In addition to being a quick solution, they are also long-lasting. As long as you’re taking proper care of your veneers, the same as you would with your natural teeth, they can last fifteen years or longer! Not to mention the fact that porcelain veneers are stain resistant so you can eat and drink whatever your heart desires without the fear of discoloration and staining!

Ensuring Veneers are the Right Solution for You

We know decisions about your dental and oral health can be difficult to make. Your smile is after all one of the first things someone notices when looking at you. We have no doubt that our team at Washington State Prosthodontics is the best in the business, but we don’t want you just to take our word for it, we want you to see for yourself! Take a look at our smile gallery to see some of the amazing transformations our patients have received in our office. Still not sure whether or not veneers are right for you? Check out our article ‘Are Veneers Right for You?’ to see if you’re a good candidate and someone who might benefit from what veneers have to offer.

Veneers in Bellevue, Washington

If you’re in the Bellevue area and considering veneers as an option for you, our team at Washington State Prosthodontics is here to help guide you in the right direction, calm your fears, and answer any questions you may have. Give us a call at 425-549-4649 or contact us for a consultation today, your dream smile is just around the corner!

“I am so grateful to have received porcelain veneers at Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics. Dr. Johnson keen eye and talents in cosmetic dentistry have me smiling a lot now. I worry about everything and was nervous about getting the right veneers but Dr. Johnson provided thorough education that made me feel more comfortable. I recommend Dr. Russell Johnson to anyone wanting to have cosmetic dentistry.” – Washington State Prosthodontics Patient.