Veneers Need to Be Created by a Cosmetic Dentist or Expect Emergencies

Everyone knows how important cosmetic dentistry is because upgrades to what Nature gave us builds self-confidence. And creating your uniquely perfect smile can have practical benefits, from being able to flash a full and friendly smile to customers at your job to making a positive impression when introduced to others at a party. Cosmetic dental procedures also can provide you with a healthier mouth.

For most people in Greater Hollywood, the stars’ gleaming grins are everywhere from billboards to mobile screens, setting a high standard even for those who are not involved in the film industry. But having a lovely white smile means removing or covering the discoloration that comes with drinking a lot of coffee, tea, red wine, and colored sodas. Even healthy foods like tomatoes and blueberries can stain teeth. Smoking (anything), the side effects of medications like tetracycline, some mouthwashes, and inadequate brushing and flossing can also lead to their darkening.

Why Veneers?

But over-the-counter whitening strips, gels, trays, and toothpastes take a long time to produce what are often disappointing results (not to mention they might not always be safe). The most popular and effective alternative to address stubborn discoloration and many other cosmetic dental issues is veneers. They are custom-made thin slices of dental porcelain that are attached to the front of teeth that are in need of help. In some cases of severely darkened or yellowed teeth (often the effect of aging), we will need to do a professional whitening in advance of placement because the veneers are translucent, like real teeth, and once created and placed they can’t be whitened.

Veneers also have quite a number of other uses that not only upgrade one’s smile, but make the bite healthier. They can close gaps between teeth, make those that are smaller than their neighbors appear to be the same size, improve the look of misshapen teeth, and cover those that have been chipped or mildly cracked (but not fractured).

THe Process

The process starts with a full physical exam by one of our dentists at Wilshire Smile Studio to be sure veneers are the optimum solution to cosmetic dental challenges and how many teeth need to be treated. This will also determine if other procedures, such as treating periodontal disease are straightening teeth with Invisalign aligners, are needed first.

Once there is an agreement about what needs to be done, your dentist will remove a small amount of the enamel so that when the veneers are attached, they don’t stick out artificially. A mold will be created to provide you with temporaries, which you can try out for comfort, while a top dental lab crafts the permanent versions. When you return, the veneers will be fitted, adjusted, and bonded with a cement that is activated by a special light.

Problems With Veneers and Other Cosmetic Procedures

When a non-specialist tries to create and place veneers, there are all kinds of problems that can develop because of the lack of training, knowledge, and experience.

Some dental practices try to keep the price low by using composite resin veneers, which do not last as long nor look as realistic as dental porcelain, or by only placing a few veneers that do not adequately address the needs for a better smile. Others work with overseas dental labs for a lower price (for the practice, at least), but communication problems are almost inevitable and the work is often inferior.

Those without extensive experience are sometimes not very good at picking the right shade to match untreated teeth that may show with a full smile and you may have buyers’ remorse and need to have them redone by an expert team.

Common problems when veneers or created and placed by non-experts include not shaving off enough of the enamel, not cleaning off excess cement (which can irritate the gums), uneven margins (where veneers meet the teeth) that cause inflammation of the gums, and wrong positioning so the resulting bite is wrong.

A cosmetic dental specialist will explain how to avoid damaging veneers, such as not eating hard or sticky foods and stopping bad habits like chewing on pencils or opening bags with teeth.

We Are At Your Service

If your veneers or other aspects of a dental cosmetic makeover are damaged in an accident, call Wilshire Smile Studio to schedule an emergency appointment 323-DENTIST (336-8478), Mon.-Fri. 8 am-6 pm.

If there is bleeding and significant pain, wash out your mouth with salt water, then put a cold pack on the outside of the face near the affected area, taking it off every 15 minutes and holding it on for a few hours to prevent swelling.

You will also be reminded to keep up good dental hygiene, which means brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing at night (treat teeth with veneers the same as teeth without them), as well as getting a professional cleaning by your hygienist twice a year.

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