Read about the tranformative power and strength of porcelain veneers used in conjunction with a mastered plan and placed by a highly skilled technician.
What You Should Know about Porcelain Veneers
Dr. Miller, in his Scottsdale/Phoenix metro area office, recommends porcelain veneers for patients who want white, straight teeth without long or invasive procedures. Porcelain veneers are a popular choice because they are relatively easy to place, painless, and natural looking. They are a great choice when the patient meets the proper criteria for a successful placement.
Thin shells of finely crafted porcelain are placed over the front surfaces of your teeth for a great result. Porcelain is Dr. Miller's material of choice because it is of a high quality, extremely strong when bonded (stronger than natural teeth) correctly, and natural-looking because it is translucent and it is able to reflect light just like real teeth. Read more about how porcelain veneers look like real teeth here.
Porcelain veneers can be shaded to match or improve the unique color of your teeth for a lifelike finish. While Dr. Miller places the implants, he works with a craftsmen specializing in the creation of the actual veneers. Each one adds their own art and craft to the overall finished result. This relationship is a critical element to the overall success - as much is communicated between the two to create the right size and fit, look, color, and translucence. Each veneer is specifically crafted for an individual tooth in a specific placement. While the level of precision is incredibly high, you'll be surprised at how quickly and adeptly it is performed. Like any experienced craftsman, Dr. Miller executes his craft confidently and quickly. You'll see that he has achieved a level of mastery where it "looks" easy.
Michelangelo is credited with the saying that, "If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." Dr. Miller has worked hard to gain his mastery in cosmetic dentistry, and the ease and speed in which he will work will put you at ease as well. As will the entire office team.
With veneers, you can lengthen short teeth, widen narrow teeth, straighten misaligned teeth, cover breaks and chips, and whiten discolored enamel. Veneers are often referred to as "instant orthodontics" because they can mimic the effects of braces without the long process.
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Porcelain veneers is based on a technique called dental bonding. Dentists have materials that create strong bonds to tooth enamel. Using this bonding capability, Dr. Miller will securely attach a thin shell of porcelain to a tooth. Although the porcelain is brittle by itself, firmly attached to the tooth correctly (so it is supported entirely - like a miniature porcelain floor tile!), the porcelain shell is extremely strong and durable. The tooth's original enamel is removed before placing the veneer, so the tooth does not inherently become larger. In fact, Dr. Miller makes the tooth the right size based on the overall design for a patient's new smile. It really is an opportunity to create something entirely new.
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Yes, porcelain veneers create a very life-like tooth appearance, and they resist future staining. A tooth is actually made of two different materials. Dental enamel makes up the outside layer of a tooth, acting as an encasement. The hard tooth tissue beneath the enamel is called 'dentin'. The outer tooth enamel is actually translucent. This means that light striking the enamel is only partially reflected: much of the light actually penetrates into the enamel. This light passes through the enamel layer where it eventually strikes the dentin. The dentin is opaque: light does not penetrate it. So the penetrating light reflects off of the dentin, passing back again through the enamel. This is what give teeth their luminous quality - their luster. When the tooth's natural enamel becomes stained, less light penetrates and reflects from the enamel, and so the teeth appear darker. Stained teeth have lost their luster.
Before the advent of porcelain veneers in the 1980's, dentists were limited to using materials that were not entirely translucent. This material did not allow enough light to pass through itself. Instead of light penetrating the material, much of the light reflected off of its surface. While this may have been an improvement over a severely stained (or missing!) tooth, it did not have the same luster as natural tooth enamel.
Porcelain is a ceramic with glass-like properties. Porcelain, like glass, is translucent. Dr. Miller adheres the porcelain to the tooth using the bonding material (which is like a cement). The bonding material, like tooth dentin, is opaque. A tooth restored with a porcelain veneer will thus have light penetrate past the surface of the porcelain, and light will reflect off of the opaque, underlying cement, reflecting back out: giving the restored tooth the similar luster of a natural tooth.
An experienced cosmetic dentist understands how to design the thickness and shading of the veneer and the color of the underlying cement such that the effect is harmonious with surrounding teeth or other veneers or restorations. Poorly handled veneers can appear grey, or appear strange in different lighting sources. Be sure to have an experienced dentist (like Dr. Miller) who is a member of cosmetic professional organizations, recognized as a leading expert in cosmetics, and attended major continuing education coursework, like the Las Vegas Institute. It takes a relatively small amount to understand how to place a veneer: it takes a great deal to do it well on a consistent basis.
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Patients in our Phoenix metro office sometimes wonder how their new smile will feel, not just look. Will you notice a difference? Porcelain veneers are shaped extremely thin: about the thickness of a fingernail. Bonded to your natural teeth, they are nearly unnoticeable. In addition, the porcelain material used mimics the qualities of natural enamel for a comfortable feel. While you will hardly notice the texture of the veneers, your tongue will take a short time to get used to the new shape of your teeth - especially if replacing a large gap or missing teeth. Besides some mild sensitivity after placement, you should be able to chew, eat, and speak normally. It will not take long to adjust to the new veneers.
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Porcelain, because it is a ceramic, is a material that is extremely resistant to staining. In certain cases, they are more resistant than an individual's natural tooth enamel. (Each individual's natural tooth enamel is susceptible to staining to varying degrees, and in conjunction with their consumption habits. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco aid in staining natural teeth.)
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You will need to take good care of your veneers to keep them looking and functioning great for many years. You should keep your porcelain veneers and your natural teeth clean with regular brushing and flossing. Limit eating foods like hard candies and staining foods that can damage your veneers and natural teeth. Dr. Miller will share tips on how you can keep your veneers healthy and strong with you during your visit. During your consultation, existing staining on your teeth will be discussed to see how your new veneers will compare. Be sure to ask questions: we encourage your participation to ensure excellent results.
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The number of teeth treated with wafer-thin, porcelain veneers will depend on your goals, how many teeth need correction, and possibly which teeth show when you smile. It is possible to use veneers for only 1 or 2 teeth, or they may be placed on as many as all the visible teeth in your smile. Dr. Miller will recommend options based on your concerns and desires. This typically occurs during your new patient consultation, sitting at a comfortable desk side by side, not while you are leaned back in a dental chair. A dental chair is hardly a comfortable place to make such important decisions. For Dr. Miller, the best results from cosmetic dentistry happen in an environment of trust, open communication and comfortable, relaxing surroundings.
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C. Edward Miller, DDS
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