Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. How long do porcelain veneers last?
A. Porcelain veneers can last a very long time, depending on the patient. Routine checkups are essential when you have had any dental work completed, in order to ensure the health of your teeth and the surrounding tissue in the oral cavity. Good dental hygiene and home care will maintain the quality of the veneers and keep them looking vibrant and new for a long time.
Q. Will my porcelain veneers look bulky or will they look lifelike?
A. Porcelain veneers look very natural. Modern technology has improved upon the porcelain and methods used to fabricate the actual veneer. Many considerations are taken into account by the dentist in order to make the veneers that are right for you. New methods now enable our technicians to incorporate different shades and translucencies into the porcelain, making them look so real most people would never guess they weren't your natural teeth.
Q. Will they have those black lines by the gums?
A. No. Porcelain veneers are made only of porcelain. They differ from the older style crowns or caps, in which technicians used metal on the underlying structure of the restoration. Over time, recession of the gums caused the dark metal margin of the crowns to show at the gumline, which is what caused those black lines by the gums to appear. This won't happen with porcelain veneers.
Q. Can I have porcelain veneers if I have crooked teeth?
A. Upon your initial examination, Dr. Kraus will determine if you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers. There are considerations to be taken with orthodontically-involved teeth. Many times we are able to complete minor tooth movement with veneers successfully. Occasionally a minimal amount of pretreatment ortho is required.
Q. How long does the actual procedure take?
A. If you decide to go ahead with booking your veneer appointment, the procedure consists of two longer appointments. There are also two additional short appointments to fabricate temporaries and make final adjustments. Your preparatory appointment will be approximately three hours and you will leave our office that day, wearing beautifully sculpted temporary veneers. The following day will be a half-hour evaluation appointment for Dr. Kraus to make minor adjustments addressing aesthetic and functional concerns. One to two weeks later you will come to the office for your seat appointment to insert your permanent veneers. We recommend that you arrive for your longer appointments wearing comfortable clothing and having had a good meal prior as you won't be able to eat until the anesthesia wears off fully. There will be a final 45-minute postoperative appointment following the seating of your permanent veneers, for photos, minor adjusting and final polishing.
Q. Will it change the shape of my lips?
A. If you are unhappy with the shape of your lips and would like them to appear fuller, there are ways of making that happen. We can build out the teeth for a fuller smile, which in turn will create that "fuller lips" effect that you are looking for. If that is inappropriate for the smile design, then Dr. Kraus can offer a referral to a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. This is something that should be discussed with Dr. Kraus prior to treatment.
Q. Are veneers expensive?
A. To do a full mouth reconstruction or even just the upper teeth, can be costly, but most of our patients have no regrets and the result can often be life changing. Read Our Testimonials There are payment options for those who need them.
Q. How effective is the laser bleaching and does it hurt?
A. Laser bleaching varies from person to person. Our new Zoom2! system has shown effective and pleasing results in the majority of our patients, however, there is a degree of rebound, which is unpredictable. Some patients then choose to have veneers done. Also, some patients' teeth are prone to sensitivity and we address this with fluoride treatments and multiple visits to make the treatment more comfortable.