Suffering from Cracked, Chipped, or Discolored Teeth?
Sometimes called either porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates, dental veneers are ultra-thin custom-made shells of tooth-colored ceramic materials that are bonded to the front of teeth in order to cover worn tooth enamel, teeth that are discolored, cracked or chipped and teeth that have uneven spacing, are out of alignment or worn down. These issues often contribute to worsening dental problems, and they’re also unsightly — and they prevent many otherwise healthy people from living the happy lifestyle they deserve.
You don’t have to let stained, cracked or chipped teeth keep you from enjoying life to the fullest. Schedule a consultation with Dr. James Courey of Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey to discuss your options for porcelain dental veneers in our Manalapan, NJ office. Voted by oral health professionals as one of Manalapan, New Jersey’s favorite cosmetic veneers dentists year after year, both doctors build great smiles every day.
Porcelain Veneers Dental Specialists in Manalapan
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey (SDNJ) is an award winning dental office in Manalapan, NJ and home to one of the friendliest staffs in New Jersey! Not only do we utilize advanced technology to make your visits as effective as possible, but we also have some of the top rated dentists in New Jersey. If you're interested in getting porcelain veneers, contact our office today or get more information below.
What to Know About Porcelain and Composite Veneers
Dental veneers look natural, are stain resistant and can make dark teeth appear whiter. Beyond their teeth whitening benefit, they alsp give you an attractive, natural smile by creating teeth that are bright, white, aligned and shapely. Our Manalapan, N.J., office offers two kinds of dental veneers: porcelain and resin composite. Porcelain veneers are more stain resistant but resin veneers are easier to apply.
Porcelain veneers look natural and do not change color, even after years of wear. This is one of the reasons why cosmetic dentists recommend porcelain laminate veneers for teeth whitening when tooth restoration is needed. Once you fit your teeth with veneers, you’ll have them indefinitely, because the procedure is not reversible. They conceal several imperfections, including gaps and large chips. Our dentists affix the veneer to the tooth using a strong adhesive. Before applying the veneer, Dr. Courey or Dr. Zagami must remove a small amount of natural tooth enamel. This allows the dental veneer to fit naturally into the bite and assures proper tooth function.
Resin composite veneers require less preparation, and affixing the veneer to the tooth is a faster and often more comfortable process. Nevertheless, many patients discover they are better suited for porcelain laminate veneers. Dr. Courey will help you decide the veneer that is right for you.
How To Decide Between Bonding & Veneers
If you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry to get yourself a winning smile, whether the problem is mis-alignment, cracked or chipping teeth, unsightly spacing, uneven or dark colored dentition, uneven or too much (or not enough) smile showing, or even gum erosion, the eternal question always arises: What would be the best solution?
In the past, crowns were the primary choice for masking tooth problems, but since the late 1980s, cosmetic dentistry has offered both bonding and veneers to improve your smile. This leads to the eternal question: “Bonding or veneers?”
Pros and Cons of Dental Bonding
Dental bonding involves the application of a durable composite material directly to the surface of the tooth, by your dentist, which is then sculpted and artistically shaped to the exact look the patient desires, to blend naturally and seamlessly with the patient’s existing teeth. A laser (or high intensity light) is then used to cure the composite material, hardening and reinforcing it to the surface of the tooth.
This bonding technique has many applications, not only for aesthetic uses but also for prosthodontics and pediatric dentistry. The advantages to dental bonding are a quick treatment time (can be completed in one office visit after a consultation and a relatively low cost per tooth when compared with porcelain veneers. Durability of bonding will be affected by the oral environment. Since composite bonding is a mixture of quartz particle 70% – 80% filled) and resin, discoloration and breakage is inevitable if your mouth has a high acidic pH value (if you are a soda drinker, lemon lover or candy sucker if the bonding was not supported by a solid tooth structure, or if you are a night grinder.
Pros and Cons of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are fabricated in the laboratory. They are 100% filled with hard mineral particles, and are fired at a high temperature with a vacuum (to procure the best physical properties to sustain the veneer’s strength in the harsh oral environment). Compared to bonding, there is more procedural work involved with porcelain veneers. There are different techniques to fabricate the veneer pieces (which call for different methods of preparation for the tooth); the pressing technique produces a stronger veneer, but requires 0.8mm thickness of the veneer. The porcelain powder build-up technique can produce super thin veneers (0.3mm which produces a very conservative look on your tooth structure, while at the same time keeping a natural silhouette.
The veneer piece lays on top of the tooth structure and is similar to a press-on nail. They chemically adhere to the tooth with bonding composite cement; since porcelain is acid resistant and stronger in physical properties than composite material, this restoration provides long-term service. When getting the veneers, the first visit consists of preparation and imprints f the teeth (which might involve anesthetic). After this, you will leave the office with temporary veneers which look like natural teeth. A wafer-thin veneer is then crafted out of porcelain which is seamlessly cemented to the front side of the tooth on the second visit.
In addition to straightening teeth, porcelain veneers can close gaps between teeth, whiten teeth that do not respond well to bleaching, and can also be used to protect damaged tooth surfaces. The advantages to porcelain veneers over bonding is that veneers are much longer lasting (and stronger) than composite bonding material.
What To Expect When Getting Veneers
Both bonding and veneers are additive procedures, depending on the position, alignment and shape of your teeth, which is the foundation for any new restorations. This foundation will need to be in the right fundamental situation to receive restorations to result in a fabulous smile. In other words, sometimes, you do not need to do much to your own teeth before applying cosmetic restorations. It might be necessary to reduce or modify the tooth structure before anything can be added onto it to make it look perfect.
There is some risk involved with cosmetic bonding or veneers, so be cautious with any cosmetic procedure. A comprehensive evaluation of your present dental condition is absolutely necessary as a first step; blue prints of your teeth and of your prospective dental project are needed to establish clear verbal communication between all parties involved (including you including possible mock-up or wax-up models to preview possible changes, which could avoid costly mistakes.
Caring for Veneers
Dental veneers are a more conservative alternative to dental crowns and, other than normal brushing and flossing, no special hygiene is required. Avoiding chewing on ice, fingernails and other tough objects prolongs the life of the veneers and prevents problems. Never open a sharp or tough object with your veneers in order to preserve your dental restoration. If you grind your teeth, our doctors may recommend you wear a mouthguard. Some sensitivity may occur after your dental veneer application, but this should abate over time.
Don’t forget to schedule a follow-up appointment after Dr. Courey affixes your veneers to assure your mouth is adjusting well to the change. You’ll need to visit your general dentist for periodic checkups and cleanings as usual. Although you should expect to replace your veneers every few years, with conscientious care you’ll enjoy many happy and healthy years between visits.
Dental Veneers vs. Lumineers and Implants
Wafer-thin, customized dental veneers – also called dental porcelain laminates – and Lumineers bond to teeth permanently to conceal minor imperfections, lengthen or straighten teeth and to minimize gaps between teeth. Although veneers and Lumineers – a brand of veneers – offer a quick fix for minimally unattractive teeth, they only cover front portions of the tooth and are not recommended for dental cosmetic makeovers requiring orthodontic-type treatment.
For teeth with structural damage or more serious cosmetic flaws, replacing them with dental implants may be a better option than veneers or Lumineers. Natural-looking, synthetic crowns that feel and function like real teeth, dental implants are long-term solutions to dental problems that require minimally invasive oral surgery. In addition, implants are sturdier than porcelain veneers and much more resistant to damage such as breaking or chipping.
Scheduling a dentistry consultation with Dr. Courey can help you determine whether veneers or dental implants best suit your oral cosmetic needs.
Contact Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey for a Consultation
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey (SDNJ) provides porcelain veneers in Manalapan, NJ. Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey serves the ares of Freehold, Old Bridge, Morganville, Marlboro, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, Middlesex County, and Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Schedule a consultation today.
Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey (SDNJ) provides porcelain veneers in Manalapan, NJ. Specialized Dentistry of New Jersey serves the ares of Freehold, Old Bridge,
Morganville, Marlboro, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, Middlesex County, and Monmouth County, New Jersey.
