Veneers – Pittsburgh, PA
A Smile Makeover in Just Two Appointments
We have a secret to share with you. You know your best friend’s gorgeous smile, and that movie star’s enviously perfect teeth? Well, Mother Nature wasn’t just extra generous. She got a little help from a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure called veneers. And, if you’re not happy with your flawed smile, you can, too! Keep reading below to learn more about veneers in Pittsburgh.
Why Choose Warwick Dentistry for Veneers?
- Can Mask Multiple Flaws with Just One Procedure
- Able to Enhance One Tooth or the Entire Smile
- 100% Custom-Made for Each Patient
What Are Veneers?
Just as the name suggests, veneers are wafer thin sheaths of dental porcelain that fit snugly over your teeth. Designed to mimic the translucence of your enamel, veneers appear completely natural. They also resist staining and chipping to give you a perfect smile for years.
Veneers can correct a wide range of imperfections with a single procedure, require just a few dental office visits, and are suitable for almost every patient.
They can completely correct:
- Stains and discoloration
- Chips and cracks in front teeth
- “Gummy” smiles
- Misshapen or oddly spaced teeth
- Slightly misaligned teeth
The Veneers Procedure
After your consultation with your cosmetic dentist in Pittsburgh, you’ll only need to visit our office twice before you can enjoy your brand-new smile. The first appointment involves us preparing your teeth, capturing impressions to send to a dental lab, and then placing temporary veneers that allow you to essentially take your new smile for a test drive. If adjustments need to be made, we can transfer that to the lab before your final veneers are created.
A team of professional ceramists will craft your veneers so that they look like a perfectly natural part of your smile. Once your permanent veneers are ready, which should take a few weeks at most, you’ll return to our office for your second appointment. We’ll remove your temporaries and cement your veneers into place, instantly giving you a smile that you can’t wait to show off!
Benefits of Veneers
Perhaps the greatest advantage of veneers is their versatility. Because they cover the entire front section of a tooth, they’re able to correct a wide variety of aesthetic dental imperfections in one fell swoop. Whether you have a stubborn stain, a severe chip or crack, or awkward gaps between your teeth, veneers can give you the beautiful smile you’ve been dreaming of.
With the right aftercare, veneers can easily last for more than a decade, possibly even two. Brushing, flossing, and seeing us for checkups regularly are typically all that is needed to maintain your veneers’ flawless appearance. The porcelain they’re made from reflects like exactly like tooth enamel, and is even highly resistant to staining.
Enjoy a fusion of high-tech and high touch at Warwick Dentistry. Dr. John Warwick and Dr. Joyce Warwick provide general and cosmetic dentistry in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Whether you’d like a consultation, a comprehensive exam, or a second opinion visit, we deliver outstanding service and one-on-one care. Contact us to schedule your visit to our Bank of New York Mellon Center dental office today.
Frequently Asked Questions – Veneers
At Warwick Dentistry, veneers in Pittsburgh are one of the most popular ways that our patients choose to transform their smiles. It’s not hard to see why. After all, veneer can correct virtually any aesthetic imperfection in your smile in just two visits to our office. Because of their versatility, we have received many questions about some of the details of the veneers process. For your convenience, we have included the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions below.
Are Veneers Permanent?
In order for there to be enough room in your mouth for the veneers, a thin layer of enamel must be etched away first. Once enamel has been removed, it cannot regenerate and is essentially lost forever. Moving forward, your teeth will always need some sort of protection, whether that be with veneers or some other restoration. Otherwise, your teeth could be more vulnerable to sensitivity. Therefore, veneers are indeed considered a permanent treatment.
Are There Any Foods I Should Avoid with Veneers?
Unlike braces, veneers can instantly give you the appearance of straight teeth without limiting what you can eat. As with your natural teeth, however, certain foods can increase your risk of chipping or cracking your veneers. These include hard or chewy candy, popcorn kernels, hard breads, caramel apples, and nuts. Before you leave our office with your brand-new smile, your cosmetic dentist in Pittsburgh will provide you with some tips on getting the most out of your veneers and making them last as long as possible.
How Much Do Veneers Cost?
The price of revamping your smile with veneers depends primarily on how many teeth you’d like to improve. The more dental flaws you wish to conceal, the more your treatment will cost. While most dental insurance plans don’t cover the cost of cosmetic services, we work with all plans and will handle the paperwork to see if you qualify for coverage. We can also walk you through the process of applying for a low-to-no interest loan with CareCredit.
Does It Hurt to Get Veneers?
Depending on the number of veneers you’re going to receive, that section of your mouth will most likely be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. As a result, you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable during your appointment. Afterward, you may experience some soreness in your gums or even your jaw, particularly if we placed a large number of veneers. However, this sensation is completely normal and should dissipate after a week or two at most.
Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?
Yes, you’ll still be able to drink coffee with veneers; they are crafted from stain-resistant materials! Of course, we still recommend using a straw to prevent your teeth that aren’t covered with veneers from staining. We also encourage you to keep additives like sugar to a minimum and to brush your teeth about 20 minutes after you’re done. That way, you’re considerably less likely to develop cavities.
Do Veneers Give You a Lisp?
There’s a common misconception that veneers result in a lisp. That’s not the case! After all, they are custom-made for each patient, they are bonded to the front-facing surface of your teeth, and they are only about the width of a fingernail. Plus, if you do experience a slight learning curve, you can have peace of mind knowing that your tongue will quickly adjust with some practice.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
There are two studies that are often cited: one by Layton and one by Beier. Both found that over 90% of veneers lasted for 10 years! The key to maintaining your results is taking great care of your smile. So, make sure that you are committing to good oral hygiene habits at home (i.e., brushing consistently, flossing each night, rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash) and coming to our Pittsburgh dental office twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. It’s also of the utmost importance that you break bad habits, like smoking and biting your nails.
Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t Get Veneers?
There are some patients who shouldn’t get veneers – at least not right away. For example, if tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems are present, veneers should not be placed until the necessary restorative care is provided. Similarly, severely rotated teeth should be moved into proper alignment beforehand. Ultimately, if you are curious if veneers are right for you, the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with us! Once we know what your smile goals are, the state of your oral health, and your commitment to good oral hygiene habits, we can determine if this cosmetic dental service is ideal for you.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
Whitening your veneers is not recommended for one reason: it can weaken the bonding material. Plus, brightening gels don’t work on dental materials, like porcelain, so it would be a futile effort anyway. If you are no longer happy with the color of your veneers, then schedule an appointment with us so we can learn about your smile goals and determine what your treatment options are.
Can Veneers Decay?
Since veneers are artificial, they cannot decay. That said, your natural teeth certainly can, so you need to commit to good oral hygiene habits, even if you have 10+ veneers. A great place to start is with your at-home oral hygiene regimen. In addition to the “obvious” steps, like flossing consistently, make sure to replace your toothbrush every quarter, throw away expired products, and clean your toothbrush holder periodically.