Porcelain Veneers.

Patients often ask “Are Dr. Hess and Parque “cosmetic dentists”. The answer is “yes” because of two reasons: 1) Drs. Hess and Parque enjoy doing cosmetic/esthetic/aesthetic procedures and 2) there is no speciality or “cosmetic dentistry”. All dentists are “cosmetic dentists” which can be confusing to patients with the advertising that is done by many dental offices.

One of the common cosmetic procedures patients seek out are porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers involve shaving the front side of teeth down slightly and bonding porcelain veneers to those surfaces. Done correctly, sometimes these veneers can last 15 years or more. The key is the amount of solid tooth structure remaining under the porcelain veneers. We can bond very well to enamel but not as well to the underlying dentine or root surfaces.

However, we often find that patients do not need veneers. Sometimes, simply whitening, recontouring teeth and providing simple composite bondings may be enough to satisfy a patient’s aesthetic concerns. Anytime we can avoid preparing a tooth with our dental handpiece, the patient wins. To quote Dr. John Kois; “There is no dentistry like no dentistry.”.

Finally, many patients seek porcelain veneers to restore length and colour to their worn and discoloured teeth but actually require more involved dental procedures such as crowns, periodontal (gum) treatment or orthodontic (tooth movement) treatment to achieve their aesthetic goals. The reason as teeth wear the move.

How do you know if you are a candidate for veneers or require more involved treatment? Look at your front teeth if you like where the incisal edge (end) of the tooth is with a relaxed lip and when you smile the tooth does not look to short or you show too much of your gums then porcelain veneers may be right for you. Please contact our office for a consultation.