Porcelain Veneers

Services . Porcelain Veneers

Maple Grove Dentistry

Porcelain Veneers For A Beautifully Restored Smile

When you meet new people, one of the first things they notice about you is your smile.

Do you have a dazzling grin to flash at others, or does your smile suffer from chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth? If you want to make a great first impression, you need to invest in that smile and make it gorgeous. Dr. Russell Jensen, your gentle dentist in Boise, ID, offers porcelain veneers as a way to bring your tired, worn smile back to life, for a first impression that will blow people away. Porcelain veneers fit over the front surface of your visible teeth, correcting discolorations, chipped teeth, and mild misalignment.

Call our Boise, ID dental office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jensen and learn more about porcelain veneers.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers consist of a very thin layer of porcelain that Dr. Jensen custom designs to fit over your visible teeth. The doctor may place one veneer or several to provide your smile with a complete transformation. Dr. Jensen can design your veneers to match the color and shape of your natural teeth so they blend in seamlessly with your smile. He will forward that design to a reputable U.S.-based dental lab where certified technicians will use it to create your new veneers. The doctor will bond the custom-made porcelain shells to the front surface of your teeth. When he has placed the veneers you will have a hard time telling where they begin and your natural teeth end.

The porcelain we use to create your veneers has translucent properties that mimic the reflectiveness of the enamel on your natural teeth, creating a stunningly real, natural appearance. The porcelain resists most stains, including those caused by wine, berries, and tobacco. Porcelain provides unparalleled strength and security to your smile and, with proper care, your veneers should last 20 years or longer.

In the past, many doctors, traditionally turned to dental crowns to restore discolored or damaged teeth. Dr. Jensen finds that porcelain veneers offer a fantastic alternative to these bulky restorations when it comes to restoring smiles. Like crowns, veneers can hide chips and stains, however, the doctor can also design them wide enough to fill in gaps between teeth, and can use them correct mild misalignment. Dr. Jensen can place veneers with only minimal preparation of the tooth’s structure, and still provide you with teeth in the shape and color you desire. Compared to many restorations, the doctor can perform the placement of veneers fairly quickly. You may experience a short waiting period of up to two weeks while the lab creates the veneers, but once they arrive in our office, the doctor will have them bonded quickly and with very little, if any, discomfort to you.

Uses Of Porcelain Veneers

Dr. Jensen can correct several common dental maladies with porcelain veneers. Some of these issues include:

  • Stains and DiscolorationWhitening treatments will typically eliminate most stains. Some patients, however, may have intrinsic stains, which originate inside the tooth and fail to respond to most conventional whitening treatments. Veneers cover these areas of discoloration and keep your smile looking clean and white. Veneers also provide a whitening option for patients who may have sensitive teeth and cannot use the bleaching agents common in conventional whitening treatments.
  • Chipped Teeth – Occasionally, a patient may bite into something hard, like an ice cube or a bone, or he may suffer a facial trauma, resulting in a chipped tooth. Dr. Jensen places porcelain veneers over chipped teeth, helping improve their appearance and adding strength. The strength of the porcelain helps prevent further damage to the patient’s teeth.
  • Worn Teeth – As patients age, they may experience a wearing down of their teeth due to normal wear and tear. Some patients, however, may see their teeth wear down due to other issues, such as teeth grinding (bruxism). Bruxism, the most common cause of worn teeth, can cause serious damage if left untreated. Some patients may even grind their teeth down to the nerves, exposing them and causing the patient extreme pain. Dr. Jensen uses veneers to cover teeth worn down by grinding, but the patient may need to talk to the doctor about a night guard to prevent further damage from bruxism.
  • Crooked, Uneven, or Misaligned Teeth – Dr. Jensen places veneers to bring a feeling of symmetry to uneven teeth. He can also use them to cover mildly crooked or misaligned teeth, and improve their appearance and function. For more severe cases of crooked or misaligned teeth, the doctor may refer the patient for orthodontic treatment.
  • Gaps Between the Teeth – Dr. Jensen can design your veneers so that they give your teeth a wider or longer appearance, filling in any gaps you may have in your smile.

Candidates For Porcelain Veneers

If you find yourself suffering from of any of the problems listed above, you should consider scheduling a consultation with Dr. Jensen to discuss porcelain veneers. The doctor will review your medical and dental records, and help you determine what you like and dislike about your smile. He will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums to determine if veneers present the best solution for your dental problems. Ideal candidates will exhibit good overall physical health and a positive attitude. They will have realistic expectations of the improvements porcelain veneers will provide. The doctor will take into consideration your cosmetic goals, as well as the overall health of your teeth before recommending veneers. If you have untreated tooth decay or gum disease, you will need to have it treated before the doctor will approve you for veneers. After appropriate treatment, Dr. Jensen will reevaluate your candidacy for veneers. If the doctor determines that veneers are not right for you, he will recommend an alternative treatment.

Placing Porcelain Veneers

Placing porcelain veneers typically requires two visits to our office. The first visit will begin with your consultation with Dr. Jensen. When the doctor feels that you make an acceptable candidate for veneers, and you both feel they will provide the best solution to your dental issues, he will begin the preparation of your teeth.

To prepare your teeth, the doctor will remove a small amount of enamel from the surface of each tooth that will receive a veneer. He will only remove enough to help the veneer fit in place without feeling too bulky in your mouth. Dr. Jensen will take impressions of your teeth and use them to create a wax model of your mouth. The doctor will use this model to show you a preview of what your smile will look like after he places your veneers. When you feel comfortable with the way the veneers look on the model, the doctor will send the impression, along with his design specifications, to an offsite dental lab, where technicians will begin fabricating your new veneers.

When the veneers arrive in our office, usually within a week or two, Dr. Jensen will have you return to our office so he can permanently place them. The doctor will place each veneer and check it for a secure fit, then check for proper occlusion and make any necessary adjustments. Next, the doctor will clean, polish, and etch your teeth in preparation for bonding. The doctor will apply a strong, but safe, dental cement to each veneer, then place them on the correct teeth. When satisfied with the position and fit of each veneer, the doctor will use a curing light to activate and harden the cement, permanently bonding your veneers in place.

Call Us For A Consultation

To learn more about porcelain veneers, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jensen, contact our Boise, ID dental office today.