Porcelain Veneers in Hancock Park & Larchmont Village
Transform Your Smile
No one wants to admit it but we all judge books by their covers, and we often judge people by our first impressions of them. A recent survey revealed that 88% of people remembered whether or not a person they just met had a nice smile, and 94% said a smile is the first thing they notice when they meet new people. What message is your smile sending to people you meet? For patients with minor cosmetic dental flaws, correcting smiles with restoration dentistry treatments can be painful, time consuming, and expensive. Luckily, Geller Dentistry has a minimally invasive option that transforms smiles without extensive dental surgeries or procedures: porcelain veneers. Veneers are thin sheaths of dental-grade porcelain resembling egg shells. These porcelain sheaths are placed over the front of teeth to conceal and correct smile flaws.
How do Porcelain Veneers Work?
Porcelain veneers are a great option for changing the appearance, color, size, and shape of teeth. They offer the added benefits of being stain resistant, and protecting natural dental structure from decay and damage. After an initial consultation to determine whether veneers are the best treatment option, the entire process is completed in two short visits, and most patients report experiencing only minor discomfort following treatment.
The first step of treatment is dental preparation. The dentist removes a small amount of enamel from teeth in order to allow veneers to fit into the natural shape of the smile. Once teeth are prepared, the dentist uses digital images, radiography, and dental impressions that are used by the in-office ceramics lab to craft a beautiful, custom veneer. Then, a temporary veneer is placed to allow the patient to get used to the look and feel of veneers, and protect prepared teeth until the final product is created. Once the custom veneers are completed, patients return for the restoration portion of the process. During the second appointment, the dentist removes the temporary, and bonds the permanent veneer in place completing the patient’s smile.
Who Should Consider Veneers?
There is never a one-size-fits-all solution to dental care. Every smile is different, and every person has unique goals. Some of the most frequently cited reasons patients choose veneers include:
- Patients who are not healthy enough for more extensive dental restoration or who struggle with numbing during treatment, often benefit from porcelain veneers to conceal and correct minor chips, cracks, or dental damage without undergoing more invasive treatment.
- Patients who are unhappy with the size or shape of teeth, or who wish their teeth looked more like their favorite celebrity can completely transform their smiles with porcelain veneers. We encourage patients to bring in pictures of smiles they like, so we can help them determine what aspects of the preferred smiles can be used to transform their look.
- Patients with minor orthodontic concerns like crowding or gaps who do not have pain or discomfort associated with their bite, may prefer to conceal these flaws with porcelain veneers rather than undergoing years of orthodontic treatment.
Find Out More About Porcelain Veneers
Patients interested in dramatic results in less time with minimal discomfort, should consider transforming their smiles with porcelain veneers. If you think porcelain veneers may be the right option for you, contact Geller Dentistry to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation with our skilled dentists in Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, & surrounding areas of Los Angeles, CA.
Porcelain Veneers FAQs
Are you embarrassed by the appearance of your teeth? Are you tired of hiding your smile? Porcelain veneers in Larchmont Village can practically erase imperfections like chips, stains, gaps, and more to dramatically transform your smile in no time. During your initial consultation, we’ll give you all the information you need about this unique cosmetic service. In the meantime, we invite you to look over the following FAQs to learn more!
Can Anyone Get Porcelain Veneers?
If you don’t love the look of your pearly whites, there’s a good chance that porcelain veneers can help. However, you may not be a good candidate for them right off the bat. Oral health issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and teeth grinding can threaten the success of porcelain veneers. If needed, we’ll work with you to address these problems first before moving on to your cosmetic procedure. Once your smile is healthy, we can work on improving its appearance.
How Many Veneers Will I Need?
Porcelain veneers can correct a single imperfection or several all at once. However, we typically recommend getting porcelain veneers in pairs, such as the front two, four, six, or eight teeth. We find that this tends to offer the most seamless and uniform results.
Does It Hurt to Get Porcelain Veneers?
To ensure your porcelain veneers lay flat on your tooth properly, we’ll need to remove a thin layer of enamel that’s about as thick as a contact lens. At first this may sound daunting, but you can rest assured that you have nothing to fear. While this is such a small amount of enamel that most patients would only feel a slight amount of pressure, we will use local anesthetic to numb the area and keep you completely comfortable during this step.
Are Veneers Permanent?
It’s important to keep in mind that porcelain veneers are irreversible. Since enamel doesn’t naturally grow back, the teeth that have been prepared for your porcelain veneers will always need to be covered to protect them from damage and decay. Thankfully, we craft our porcelain veneers from high-quality materials to ensure beautiful, durable, and long-lasting results. With the proper care, you can easily expect your porcelain veneers to last 5-10 years or longer before needing to be replaced or touched-up.
Will My Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Porcelain Veneers?
Unfortunately, cosmetic treatments like porcelain veneers aren’t usually covered by dental insurance. However, since every plan is slightly different, feel free to bring your insurance paperwork with you to your consultation and we’ll review the details of your policy. Our talented team has years of experience helping patients maximize their benefits and minimize their out-of-pocket expenses. We’ll be happy to go over all your payment and financing options to ensure getting your dream smile is as affordable as possible.
Ready to see if porcelain veneers in Hancock Park are right for you? Give us a call today to schedule your consultation and start your journey towards the beautiful smile you deserve!