Porcelain Veneers – West Lake Hills, Austin, TX
Designed and Personalized for Your Unique Smile
When a tooth develops stains that no teeth whitening can resolve or becomes chipped, it can stand out in your otherwise perfectly attractive smile. With porcelain veneers, which are crafted from high-quality, natural-looking dental ceramic, we can make your smile look exactly the way you want it to and hide multiple imperfections at a time. Not only do porcelain veneers from our West Lake Hills, Austin, TX dentist help you save on future treatments, but it expedites the process of your smile makeover!
Why Choose Westlake Hills Dental Arts for Porcelain Veneers?
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What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are strong thin shells of ceramic that bond directly to the front surfaces of teeth. They may be an ideal choice for improving your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their natural look, beauty, simplicity and versatility. Why put up with gaps between your teeth or teeth that are stained, badly shaped, or crooked? Veneers placed on your teeth can often correct these imperfections simply and quickly, and they are available right here to Austin.
Veneers are also sometimes called “instant orthodontics” since the crooked teeth can in many cases be made straight immediately at the initial prepping (tooth contouring) visit when the temporary veneers are placed. A ceramic specialty dental lab then creates the custom veneers specifically for you. The beautiful veneers are then bonded to the teeth a few weeks later. From start to finish the process can take as little as two to three weeks!
Will They Look Like Normal Teeth?
When bonded to the teeth, the ultra-thin porcelain veneers are completely natural-looking and can be as white as you would like them. They are highly resistant to staining from coffee, tea, or wine. However, the skill and training of the dentist and the dental ceramic laboratory are very important to the naturalness and beauty of the creation of your new smile. We pride ourselves in providing a beautiful, esthetically pleasing, dazzling new smile for our patients.
How Durable Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers can have a service life of ten to twenty-plus years. Their longevity is dependent upon the severity of grinding and clenching, how your teeth fit together, the quality workmanship of the dentist and the dental laboratory fabricating the veneers, and the proper care given to them. At Westlake Hills Dental Arts most of our veneers are crafted by Microdental Laboratory, one of the world’s premier ceramic dental labs. At Microdental Laboratory, located in California, your veneers are crafted from the highest quality porcelains and by the best ceramic artists and shipped back here to Austin. Dr. Long works closely with these professional lab technicians to customize a beautiful smile made just for you.
What Types of Patients Are Candidates for Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers can solve a variety of problems that you may be researching. See below if you’re looking for an answer to a particular problem.
Chipped Tooth
Here are examples of things you may be searching for pertaining to a Chipped Tooth:
- Slightly chipped tooth
- Back of bottom front tooth chipped off
- Tooth chipped while flossing
- How to fix a chipped tooth at home
- Chipped tooth no pain
- Why are my teeth chipping easily
- Tiny chip in tooth
- Chipped tooth repair cost
Chipped teeth are a common problem. If your teeth keep chipping in the same place, if you have large chips, or if the edges of your teeth are very thin, dental veneers may be a great solution.
Cracked Tooth
Here are examples of things you may be searching for pertaining to a Cracked Tooth:
- How to fix a cracked tooth naturally
- Horizontal crack in tooth
- Cracked tooth syndrome symptoms
- Vertical crack in tooth
- Cracked tooth repair
- Hairline cracks in teeth
Chewing and grinding put a lot of force on our teeth which can lead to cracks. While not all cracks are problematic, they do provide a place where bacteria can enter the teeth and cause cavities. Cracks can also propagate over time, like a crack in your windshield, and this can lead to pain or out-and-out fractures. Fractures down the root of the teeth are not treatable and teeth with these types of fractures must be removed. Veneers or crowns can serve to seal teeth with cracks and help keep cracks from getting deeper.
Stained or Discolored Teeth
Here are examples of things you may be searching for pertaining to Stained or Discolored Teeth:
- Tooth discoloration grey
- How to remove brown stains from back of teeth
- Black stains on teeth
- Sudden brown stains between teeth
- Teeth discoloration vitamin deficiency
- Types of teeth stains
- Brown stains on back of teeth
- Brown stains on teeth near gums
- Discoloration of teeth
- How to remove deep stains from teeth
There are two broad categories of stains: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are environmental stains that are a result of consuming things such as wine, coffee, tea, and blueberries. These types of stains can often be minimized with whitening agents. Intrinsic stains are those that happen internally, usually when a tooth is developing, and are usually brown or black and may have white splotches. These kinds of stains do not respond as well to external bleaching, but can be masked well with dental veneers.
Worn Teeth
Here are examples of things you may be searching for pertaining to a Worn Tooth:
- Flattened teeth
- Worn down molars
- Veneers for worn down teeth
- Teeth worn down to gums
- Worn teeth repair cost
- Front teeth wearing away
- Worn down teeth treatment
- Build up worn down teeth
Our teeth wear over time from chewing and grinding. Once enamel is lost, there is no way to “grow” it back. Dental veneers can make your teeth look better proportioned and give you your more youthful smile back.
Crooked Tooth
Here are examples of things you may be searching for pertaining to a Crooked Tooth:
- Straight teeth
- How to prevent crooked teeth
- One front tooth sticks out further
- How to fix one crooked tooth without braces
- How to fix slightly crooked teeth
- Crooked teeth treatment
- How to fix crooked teeth without braces
- Teeth straightening surgery
Sometimes our teeth aren’t perfectly aligned because they move over time and tend to crowd together as we age. If braces or clear aligners are not an option or are not desired, veneers can often be used to make teeth look straighter and better aligned.
Choosing Westlake Hills Dental Arts
While it seems that every dentist now calls him or herself a cosmetic dentist, actually few have received advanced training in cosmetic dentistry and most have only limited experience in this field. There is a huge range in the skill levels of dentists in the cosmetic dental field and thereby a wide range in the quality of results.
Dr. Long is highly skilled and trained in the art and science of cosmetic dentistry. She has taken numerous advanced courses in veneers and cosmetic restorations. Her endless drive to enhance her knowledge and refine her skills has made Westlake Hills Dental Arts one of the premier dental offices in Austin for veneers.
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
It’s impossible to put a price tag on a confident smile. However, we understand that the cost of veneers in Westlake is concerning for many patients. Admittedly, veneers can be a bit more expensive than other treatments, but if you want to make several major smile transformations at the same time, veneers can often be the most efficient and cost-effective way to do so. If you decide to pursue treatment with veneers, we’ll devise a strategy to revitalize your smile without breaking the bank. Our friendly team at Westlake Hills Dental Arts will help you explore your options for making veneers affordable!
Veneers vs. Other Cosmetic Dentistry Services: What's Right for Me?
Thanks to the countless advancements in modern dental technology and techniques, there are more ways than ever before for your cosmetic dentist in Westlake to transform your smile. When deciding on the treatment that’s best for you, Dr. Long will review your options, which may include:
- Braces – Whether you choose brackets and wires or clear aligners, braces are an effective method of straightening crooked teeth. However, they often take 18 months or longer to deliver results. If all you need is a quick fix for a couple of slightly misaligned front teeth or a small gap, then veneers may be the ideal solution.
- Teeth whitening – Professional teeth whitening can get rid of stubborn stains to create a stunningly bright smile, but the results only last for a few months at most. Veneers, on the other hand, can conceal even the most deeply set stains for a decade or longer. Porcelain is also resistant to discoloration, so your smile should stay bright for quite some time.
- Cosmetic dental bonding – Applying a tooth-colored composite resin is a quick and easy way to fix minor chips, cracks, and gaps. While versatile, this treatment has its disadvantages. For example, the results will need to be touched up or redone every few years. In contrast, veneers can last several times as long.
- Veneers – Although veneers in Westlake may have a higher price tag than some other cosmetic dentistry services, our patients can tell you that they’re worth every penny! Veneers are a great way to fix multiple smile imperfections in just a couple of appointments with a lifelike solution that lasts.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
As beneficial as veneers are, they are rarely considered “medically necessary.” Therefore, dental insurance is unlikely to cover the cost. Don’t let that deter you, though; our team can look over your specific policy just to be sure you’re not missing out on any coverage that you’re entitled to.
In addition to dental insurance, we make veneers affordable with our CareCredit partnership. CareCredit is a third-party financier that has helped countless Americans split up their dental care costs into monthly chunks via flexible payment plans. Many of these plans come with low to no interest rates! Our team members will gladly help you with the application process.
Porcelain Veneers Frequently Asked Questions
Although you may be excited to finally achieve your dream smile with veneers in Westlake, it’s normal to have a few questions or concerns before going through with the procedure. Rest assured that during your initial consultation, Dr. Long will sit down with you and answer any questions you may have regarding veneers. Until then, we encourage you to read through this list of some of the questions about veneers that our team members get asked the most often.
How Are Porcelain Veneers Different from Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns, or “caps,” are similar to veneers in that they cover up part of a tooth. The main difference is that a crown fits over the entire section of a tooth that is visible above the gums, while a veneer only covers the tooth’s front-facing surface.
In order to make room for a dental crown, more enamel must be shaved off of the tooth. So, veneers are usually considered the more conservative treatment that allows you to retain more of your natural tooth structure.
Is Getting Porcelain Veneers Painful?
Before your veneers can be placed, a very thin layer of enamel (about as thin as a contact lens) must be removed. This may sound painful, but Dr. Long will most likely administer a local anesthetic beforehand to numb your mouth. We even offer sedation options to ensure your comfort.
That said, your mouth may feel a bit sore after your teeth have been prepped and after your veneers have been placed. This should only be temporary, and taking an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen as needed should be more than enough to relieve your discomfort.
How Many Porcelain Veneers Do I Need?
In most cases, we recommend getting an even number of veneers to treat the front two, four, six, or eight teeth. Doing so ensures a more uniform, natural-looking result. However, if you only have one problem tooth, it’s perfectly fine to only receive a single veneer. We can discuss how many veneers you should get during your consultation.
Can I Still Get Cavities If I Have Porcelain Veneers?
Unfortunately, just because your teeth are covered with veneers doesn’t mean they’re immune to decay. Bacteria in your mouth can still build up and attack the enamel, creating cavities. That’s why even if you have veneers, it’s still important to practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing on a daily basis.
Do Porcelain Veneers Require Any Special Care?
In general, maintaining your veneers isn’t much different from taking care of natural teeth. Here are some tips for making your veneers last as long as possible:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Floss every night before going to bed.
- Visit us twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. If there’s a problem with your veneers, these appointments let us detect and treat it as soon as possible.
- Wear a mouthguard if you play sports and a nightguard if you suffer from chronic teeth grinding (bruxism).
- Avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages or chew on hard inedible objects like ice or pens.