Cosmetic dentistry offers patients a number of restorative solutions to improve the look of their teeth. There has long been a demand for aesthetic specialization in the field of dentistry because a person’s smile has a huge impact on their overall appearance. Though many individual options exist, dental medicine has only recently advanced to provide patients with a comprehensive solution. Now, dental veneers serve as an all-in-one solution that addresses a multitude of cosmetic issues. Veneers can create straighter, whiter teeth, close existing gaps between the teeth, repair chips, and change the shape and length of the teeth. Dr. Gaertner of Bliss Dental in Kendall, FL enhances patients’ natural teeth through this simple, yet effective, procedure by placing permanent veneers over the teeth.
What are Veneers?
Composed of high-quality, durable porcelain, dental veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells or laminates that are bonded to the front of existing teeth to enhance a patient’s smile and offer long-lasting correction for aesthetic flaws. The veneers are thin, with the approximate thickness of a contact lens, and do not add visible bulkiness because the natural teeth are buffed to remove a small portion of the enamel and create a natural appearance.
Dr. Gaertner will help patients customize their veneer procedure, down to picking the color of the new teeth. Veneers can be performed as partial or full additions, and patients can choose to alter a single tooth or all of their visible teeth surfaces. Generally, costs are based on the number of teeth receiving veneers.
Preparing for Veneers
Prior to undergoing dental laminates, patients must have healthy teeth and gums. Dr. Gaertner may request that the patient undergo a dental exam if they are due for a checkup. He will ensure there are no cavities or other oral health issues including gum disease before he begins cosmetic work. If the patient requires oral health treatments, he will complete any work as soon as possible so as not to delay the patient’s smile makeover.
The Porcelain Veneer Process
In order to have their veneers created, Bliss Dental patients must visit the Miami area office to provide an impression of their teeth. The teeth may be cleaned or polished beforehand to ensure that the surfaces of the teeth are properly cast, without any debris like food affecting the casting. The patient’s impressions are submitted to a dental laboratory where a team will work to create the porcelain shells, which can take a week or longer. The veneers will be created to fit over the chosen teeth with some extra material for shaping.
The next step is for the patient to undergo the tooth preparation process to remove some of the enamel, or outer covering of the tooth. Some patients may require local anesthesia for this step. Removing some of the enamel ensures a more natural appearance of the tooth, allowing the veneer to be situated flat on the structure and align properly with the gum tissue. The material removed is typically equivalent to the thickness of the veneer, so there is no significant difference in the thickness of the tooth following treatment with newer laminates.
Once Dr. Gaertner completes the tooth preparation process, he can apply temporary veneers to the teeth with removable glue. The bond is significantly weaker than with the glue used during permanent bonding, and patients must take care when brushing their teeth. It will be recommended that they avoid certain foods until the permanent veneers are placed. By wearing these temporary enhancements, patients can determine what their aesthetic preferences are, while still enjoying an improvement to their smile.
When the permanent veneers are ready for placement, patients will schedule a second appointment at Bliss Dental to undergo the procedure. The temporary veneers are removed and the new veneers are fitted over each tooth to ensure an ideal fit. Dr. Gaertner can begin the process by using water-based glue so patients can test out the newly created porcelain shells. He will make adjustments guided by patient preferences and his own experience as a cosmetic dentist. The teeth are then cleaned and each dental veneer will be fixed into place over the corresponding tooth.
The results are instant, and patients will leave the Bliss Dental office with a renewed, beautiful smile. Dr. Gaertner will ensure the patient can properly floss, and that all glue and dental debris are cleared from the teeth.
The Advantages to Dental Veneers
Dr. Gaertner can provide patients in Miami, FL with a smile transformation by restoring the damaged or less-uniform parts of the teeth with cosmetic dentistry techniques. Veneers can address most imperfections of the teeth by providing a minimally-invasive treatment on an outpatient basis. Veneers can offer a single solution to a variety of cosmetic issues.
Stain Resistant
While natural teeth stain over time due to certain foods and beverages or lifestyle choices like smoking, porcelain veneers maintain their color indefinitely. Patients can enjoy a brighter smile for the duration of the life of the laminates. This saves patients from costly bleaching treatments, special whitening toothpaste, and the sensitivity that occurs from these whitening solutions.
Long-Lasting
Porcelain veneers are expected to last on the teeth for 15 years or longer and often surpass the life of necessary dental work like crowns and fillings. While other people’s teeth will face wear and tear over time, porcelain veneers maintain their appearance. Unlike natural teeth, porcelain veneers will not age with time.
Treat Numerous Cosmetic Issues
Once dental veneers were developed, cosmetic dentistry took a huge step forward. Many different aesthetic issues can be corrected with veneers and cosmetic dentists can now offer patients better results than ever before. Here are some of the ways veneers can improve the look of the teeth:
- Reduce gaps
- Correct misaligned or crooked teeth
- Repair chips, fractures, and improve overall shape and size
- Brighten and whiten tooth color with stain-resistant porcelain
Non-Surgical Procedure
Some tooth restorations, like dental implants, require dental surgery, while porcelain veneers offer surface corrections without surgery. There is no extensive downtime or recovery period, and patients will notice an immediate improvement and a beautiful smile after their placement appointment. Porcelain veneers also bypass many of the risks of dental surgery.
No Maintenance Required
One of the greatest advantages to having veneers fixed to the teeth is that patients do not need to follow special care instructions to keep their teeth looking great. Patients with veneers should maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing twice daily and scheduling semi-annual check-ups with Dr. Gaertner.
Candidates for Porcelain Veneers
Prospective patients of veneer application with our cosmetic dentist in Miami must have their unique case evaluated through a dental exam, X-rays, photographs, and any other steps the dentist feels are necessary. Generally, cosmetic dentists will collect an impression of the teeth to submit to the veneer laboratory as well as a bite registration to ensure the corrections maintain or improve the bite. Dr. Gaertner will determine if the teeth are structurally sound and healthy enough to undergo the process. Most people are candidates for the procedure.
Dental Veneers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs
Is it painful to undergo the procedure?
Elective procedures are designed with comfort in mind because they are not generally performed out of necessity, but rather to reach a patient’s aesthetic goals. During the preparation process when enamel is removed from the teeth, patients may opt to receive local anesthesia to control any discomfort, or they can elect sedation dentistry techniques.
Can the dentist recreate a celebrity’s smile?
Dr. Gaertner can use various photographs for inspiration, but an individual’s anatomy will guide the placement of the porcelain dental laminates. By reviewing the patient’s existing teeth, examining his or her facial features, and learning about what look of the teeth they find attractive, Dr. Gaertner can shape the teeth to the desired size and shape. Veneers can give almost anyone a beautiful smile.
Can older, bulkier models of veneers be replaced by today’s sleeker designs?
Yes. Veneers are thin these days, but older versions were much thicker and bulkier and many patients are anxious to have them replaced. Dr. Gaertner will remove the original set of veneers to create an updated smile for the patient. One the patient’s natural teeth are visible once again, the doctor will take an impression to send to the laboratory. Temporary veneers can be placed until the permanent veneers arrive at Bliss Dental. In some cases, the dentist may ask if patients have pictures of the way their teeth looked prior to the first procedure, in the event that dental records are not available.
Will my teeth look fake after I have veneers placed?
Many people who undergo cosmetic dental procedures want to improve the look of their teeth but wish to avoid artificial-looking changes. Dr. Gaertner will ensure that the veneers maintain some of the characteristics of natural teeth, which are not perfectly shaped. There are some details in the teeth which can be created in the veneers. This includes slight color variation, minor differences in the ends of the teeth, and the way they fit into the gumline. Additionally, because some enamel is removed from the natural teeth to prevent a bulky look, and because veneers are shaped from impressions of the patient’s own teeth, laminates tend to look very realistic.
Do I need to have all of my teeth treated with dental laminates?
Patients may opt to have part of a tooth fixed with a partial laminate, or the entire tooth can be altered through a full veneer placement. Additionally, patients may choose to have only some of the visible teeth repaired through this treatment option if desired. Because it can be difficult to color-match natural teeth and veneers, and because natural teeth will change color over time whereas laminates will not, this option should be carefully considered.
Can cavities form on veneered teeth?
While the porcelain itself is resistant to bacterial formation, the remainder of the tooth remains susceptible to damage and decay. Patients should continue to practice good oral hygiene to avoid dental issues.
Will insurance cover the cost of porcelain veneers?
While individual policies and companies vary, most see veneers as cosmetic enhancement and not a necessary procedure and will not cover the cost of their placement.
Which is the better option: composite bonding or porcelain veneers?
Composite bonding is the tooth-colored material used to fill cavities or correct small imperfections in the teeth. For small chips or minor wear of the teeth, composite bonding may be an ideal solution. It can be performed in the office without much preparation, and the material is readily available.
Porcelain is a much stronger material and is often reserved for more extensive corrections. A patient may be a better candidate for veneers over bonding if they dislike the overall look of their teeth or want to improve large parts of the tooth or teeth.
Dr. Gaertner of Miami’s Bliss Dental
Bliss Dental resident dentist, Dr. Gaertner was born into a dental family. Following in his father’s footsteps as a respected dentist in Belgium, Gaertner’s home country, he developed a passion for dental medicine, studied in Florida, and practiced internationally. After returning to Florida, Dr. Gaertner developed a comprehensive practice in Kendall to treat a multitude of patients’ needs. He practices a variety of dentistry, including cosmetic dentistry and sedation dentistry in a single location. Dr. Gaertner has also integrated the use of dental lasers and Botox injections into his practice.
Dr. Gaertner’s South Florida dental clinic, Bliss Dental can be reached via phone (305) 274-6500, or email through the Bliss Dental Contact Form. Contact our Miami, FL dental office to learn more about dental veneers and schedule the smile makeover you deserve.
I had a very good experience at Bliss Dental. Dr. Gaertner and his excellent stuff, Gracie and Milli, are doing a wonderful job.
My dental work was rather involved and time consuming. They did a great job explaining what to expect, I was comfortable. Important for me is pain management. That was taken care off. I am very pleased with the results. Also I had a couple of things that needed attention right away, and they accommodated me immediately. I would definitely recommend this office.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015
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