Everyone wants a beautiful smile, and one of the most effective ways to transform yours from dull to dynamite is with porcelain veneers. These wafer-thin restorations are what Hollywood celebrities use to achieve their sparkling bright smiles, and you can too!
Led by Dr. Vlad Fedin, Chicago Dental Arts provides the highest quality porcelain veneers available in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Fedin has extensive experience in cosmetic dentistry procedures, including the placement of porcelain veneers.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells made of a strong ceramic material. These dental prosthetics are placed over natural teeth, concealing flaws and transforming a problematic smile into one that is Hollywood-perfect and camera-ready.
Am I a Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?
You may be an excellent candidate for porcelain veneers if your teeth are otherwise healthy but have one or more of these cosmetic dental issues:
- Intrinsic Discoloration
While extrinsic (surface) stains can be treated with professional teeth whitening (like Zoom! or BIOLASE laser treatments), permanently discolored (intrinsic) dental discoloration caused by medications, illness, or genetics can only be treated with dental veneers.
- Mild Dental Misalignment or Small Gaps
Seriously misaligned or twisted teeth should be corrected with braces or Invisalign®, but mild orthodontic problems can often be addressed with porcelain veneers.
- Chipped Teeth
Structural damage to teeth that jeopardizes their health may require porcelain crowns. However, chips and other surface damage can be treated with dental veneers.
- Worn Down, Small, or Misshapen Teeth
If one or more teeth are very small, you may need a crown, but usually, Dr. Fedin can use veneers to deliver a uniformly attractive smile.
What Are the Benefits of Porcelain Veneers?
Considered to be the most convenient and effective way to improve your smile, our Chicago porcelain veneers are popular for the following reasons:
- Veneers can dramatically increase the appeal of your smile
- Veneers involve a fast and straightforward process
- Veneers can be combined with other cosmetic dental services for a smile makeover
Dental veneers are often a significant part of a complete smile makeover when combined with other cosmetic dental treatments such as:
- Invisalign® clear aligners – If your teeth need to be straightened, this would be the first step. During the last two weeks of your Invisalign® treatment, you can use professional-strength, at-home teeth whitener with your last set of aligners to brighten your smile.
- Professional teeth whitening – If you have extrinsic staining on your teeth, whitening them before receiving veneers will allow you to choose a brighter shade when color-matching your veneers (or crowns) to your natural teeth. Chicago Dental Arts offers Zoom! and BIOLASE.
- Dental crowns – A crown may be needed for teeth that are extremely small, broken, or have deep cracks and will blend in perfectly with your veneers.
- Dental implant placement – If you have missing teeth, you can have dental implants placed before receiving porcelain veneers. This procedure would begin before receiving veneers and during or after orthodontic treatment.
Want to learn more about what porcelain veneers can do for you? Call Chicago Dental Arts today at (312) 642-6631.
What Can I Expect During the Porcelain Veneers Procedure?
Dental veneers are extremely thin porcelain shells typically attached to front-facing teeth and usually require two dental visits, two weeks apart.
At your first appointment, Dr. Fedin will prepare the teeth to be treated with veneers by removing a minimal amount of enamel. He then makes an impression of your teeth, which is sent to our trusted lab to fabricate your porcelain veneers.
Once they are ready, you will return to our office. Dr. Fedin will place them carefully over your prepared teeth and ensure they are in the ideal position before using a strong adhesive cement to secure them permanently.
Is There Downtime Associated With Porcelain Veneers?
Patients receiving up to four dental veneers generally feel little to no pain and can resume their normal activities immediately.
Patients receiving eight or more veneers may experience mild soreness in their gums and jaw. Over-the-counter medications are usually sufficient to relieve this discomfort but may not be needed.
Taking Care of Your Porcelain Veneers
Even though your porcelain veneers are almost paper-thin, they are strong, resilient, and stain-resistant. However, they are not indestructible, and certain beverages, foods, and behaviors can decrease their appeal.
Dr. Fedin recommends that his porcelain veneer patients avoid:
- Red wine, coffee, tea, grape juice – Veneers are not as vulnerable to pigment causes of discoloration as natural teeth, but if these and similar beverages are consumed regularly, they can eventually stain your veneers. When you do drink these beverages, use a straw to limit contact with your veneers.
- Hard foods – Eating exceptionally hard foods, like hard natural nuts, corn nuts, and popcorn kernels, increases the risk of damaging your porcelain veneers, as does chewing on ice.
- Alcohol – Drinking alcoholic beverages can slowly degrade the bonding material used to secure the veneers to your teeth, so it’s best to limit your alcohol consumption. To reduce this risk further, when you do drink alcohol, consider using a straw.
- Tobacco products – Smoking or using tobacco can also loosen the adhesive used to attach your veneers. Additionally, tobacco will stain veneers.
Be sure to implement or continue a proper oral hygiene routine that includes brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes. Give extra attention to where the veneers meet the gum, as debris can get stuck here and cause bacteria to grow, leading to plaque, tartar, decay, and gum disease.
Floss once per day at a minimum, or ideally, both in the morning and at night. Dr. Fedin recommends patients who receive porcelain restorations use a water flosser.
Finally, attend your scheduled twice-yearly dental check-ups and cleanings.
What Results Can I Expect After Receiving Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are the fastest way to an ideal smile and can be easily combined with other dental procedures. After treatment with porcelain veneers, you can expect your teeth to be:
- Brighter
- Well-shaped
- Seamlessly uniform
- Free of visible structural flaws
Are You Looking for Porcelain Veneers in Chicago, IL?
Dr. Fedin and the entire team at Chicago Dental Arts are here to restore or improve your smile through custom cosmetic dental treatments like porcelain veneers.
Check out Dr. Fedin’s Before and After photos here.
Call our Chicago, Illinois, cosmetic dental office today at (312) 642-6631 to learn more about porcelain veneers. We look forward to answering your questions!
Porcelain Veneers FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Porcelain veneers vs. porcelain crowns – What is the difference?
Porcelain veneers are a strictly cosmetic dental treatment and only cover the front of damaged or discolored teeth. Crowns can be used as a cosmetic solution for small or broken teeth and as part of root canal treatment or tooth replacement with dental implants and fixed bridges.
Porcelain veneers vs. Dental Bonding – What is the difference?
Porcelain veneers and dental bonding serve a similar purpose: to conceal dental imperfections and deep, whitening-resistant stains. There are a few differences, including the price, procedure length, durability, and longevity of results. Porcelain veneers are more expensive than dental bonding, usually take two visits to complete, and last longer. Dental bonding can be completed in one dental visit, is less resistant to staining, and is more prone to chipping.
How much Do porcelain veneers cost in Chicago?
The cost of dental veneers depends on the number of teeth being treated and the condition of your natural teeth. Your teeth must be healthy, so general dentistry services must be completed first. The best way to know exactly how much your dental veneers will cost is by scheduling a consultation at Chicago Dental Arts.
Case Study
Dental Veneers Revision
Patient presented to our dental clinic with dissatisfaction regarding her dental veneers, which were originally placed ten years ago by a different dentist. She expressed concerns about the shape and asymmetry of her teeth, as well as experiencing gum inflammation around the veneers.
Following the completion of the treatment, the patient experienced a significant improvement in the appearance of her smile. The new dental veneers provided enhanced shape and symmetry, while the gum surgery successfully resolved the inflammation and restored the health of her gum tissue.
By combining veneer replacement with gum surgery, tailored to the patient’s individual needs, we were able to achieve both aesthetic and functional improvements, ultimately enhancing the patient’s overall dental health and quality of life.
