Porcelain Veneers | Rydal & Jenkintown, PA

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Porcelain Veneers In Rydal PA

Porcelain veneers are very thin, tooth-colored shells of ceramic that are custom-fit and bonded to the front of the teeth. They can create an attractively white and even smile. A veneer placed on top of a tooth can quickly and easily improve the look of a smile. Dental veneers make it possible to correct a variety of problems, including:

  • Spaces between the teeth
  • Chipped teeth
  • Yellowing or stains
  • Misshapen or crooked teeth
  • Small holes or pits in teeth
  • Uneven or undersized teeth

If you are interested in porcelain veneers in Abington, Jenkintown and surrounding areas, contact McDowell Dental Group today to schedule an appointment.

Types Of Veneers

There are two types of dental veneers that we utilize at our office in Abington, PA. Porcelain (Indirect) Veneers are custom-made in a laboratory and applied to the teeth. They resist stains better than composite veneers and better simulate the shine of natural teeth. Composite (Direct) Veneers are special plastic resin that is molded and bonded directly to the tooth in one appointment. Composite veneers are thinner and require less removal of the tooth surface before placement.

The Procedure

The placement of porcelain veneers requires three appointments for the following:

Diagnosis And Treatment Planning

This initial appointment provides the patient with the opportunity to take an active role in designing and discussing the restorative veneer process. The dentist will discuss the corrective abilities and limitations of this procedure with the patient.

Preparation

At the second appointment, the teeth being veneered are lightly buffed to compensate for the added thickness the veneers will create. The teeth are typically reduced by approximately one half to one millimeter in depth. Next, an impression is taken and sent to the lab for the creation of veneers. Temporary veneers are placed that will simulate the final esthetics of the veneers. This gives the patient a chance to function with the new teeth and any changes can be made prior to the final placement of the veneers.

Bonding

At the third appointment, the dentist will initially hold the veneers in place on the teeth with water or glycerin to determine whether they are perfect in fit and color. The color of the veneers can still be adjusted by altering the shade of the cement used to adhere them. Once the color is finalized, bonding agents are painted to the teeth. Dental cement is then applied between the teeth and the veneers, and a special light is used to quickly harden the cement.

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Care And Maintenance Of Porcelain Veneers

Sensitivity to hot and cold may occur after placement of veneers; this is caused by the reduction of enamel on the prepared teeth. Sensitivity is a common residual effect that typically dissipates in one to two weeks.

Porcelain veneers should be cared for in the same way that natural teeth are. They will not be damaged by brushing and flossing, although using nonabrasive toothpaste is recommended. Porcelain veneers improve the appearance of teeth and, with proper home care and regular dental visits, will last for many years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic procedure. Yes, they change the appearance of the teeth, but they only do this by overlaying the visible surface of the teeth. That means the overall health of the teeth must be good for a person to be eligible for porcelain veneers. If your teeth have decay, if you have signs of gum disease, if a tooth may have an infection — these are problems that must be addressed and treated before a patient could then have porcelain veneers applied.

Plus, you need to remember that having veneers is a long-term commitment. To make room for the veneers, we need to remove a small amount of the healthy enamel on the fronts and sometimes from the sides of the teeth to receive veneers. This means that these teeth will always have to have veneers to cover them. Since veneers can last up to 15+ years, that means you’ll likely need at least one additional set down the road.

But if your teeth are healthy, veneers are a great way to give you a perfect smile.

Veneers are an incredible way to change your smile. There are tons of pros to placing veneers on your teeth, but there are a couple of things to consider, as well.

Pros

  • Porcelain veneers have a similar translucence and reflect light in a very similar way to natural tooth enamel, so they look completely natural.
  • Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to staining, so they continue to look great for years and years.
  • They can correct chips, cracks, pit marks, and other tooth imperfections.
  • They can cover crooked teeth.
  • The can fix gaps between teeth.
  • They can make misshapen teeth look perfect.
  • They can cover deeply stained teeth.
  • They can give the patient a perfect, bright white smile.
  • A perfect smile with veneers can give a person a real boost in self-confidence.

Cons

  • To place the veneers, some of the tooth enamel needs to be removed.
  • Removed enamel cannot be replaced.
  • Veneers need to be replaced every 15-20 years, with good care.
  • The teeth with the enamel removed must always have a veneer or crown on them.
  • There is some risk that the patient may experience some tooth sensitivity due to the removed enamel, although this is usually temporary.

Porcelain veneers are custom-made in a dental laboratory to look exactly like the patient’s natural teeth. They are among the best of the restorative options when it comes to replicating the look of healthy tooth enamel. They are also resistant to staining from coffee, tea and from smoking cigarettes. In addition, due to the fact that veneers are so thin, light shines through them, helping them blend in naturally with the other teeth.Porcelain veneers are also strong and durable. With proper care, porcelain veneers will often last for 10 to 15 years. Veneers are manufactured from the highest quality porcelain, fitted with precision, and bonded with the most advanced adhesive materials available.

 
No. Once the enamel has been shaved off the fronts of the teeth to make room for the veneers, this is a permanent thing. Enamel cannot be replaced. Forevermore, those teeth will need to be covered with either a veneer or a crown.
 
Porcelain veneers do not increase the likelihood that a tooth will have decay in any way. Caring for your veneers is no different than caring for your teeth without veneers. If your care is lackadaisical, or if you neglect your twice-yearly cleanings and exams with Dr. McDowell or Dr. Ashley and our team, the underlying teeth can develop decay and cavities. But the veneers don’t change that one way or the other. With proper care, your veneers can last up to 15 years.
 
Porcelain veneers are very strong and sturdy, but certain bad habits such as nail biting, chewing ice, and using your teeth to open packages or bottles can lead to a veneer coming off. These habits are bad for your natural teeth anyway, so they should be curtailed. As for foods, you may want to avoid biting into some extremely sticky foods such as caramel apples, to avoid placing extreme pressure on the veneers and their underlying cement. But you really don’t have any food restrictions.
 
Most insurance companies consider porcelain veneers to be a cosmetic procedure, not a requirement, so they are usually not covered.
"The staff at McDowell Dental are fantastic. They were able to fit me in for a last minute appointment. This office uses high tech cleaning instruments that makes the experience VERY pleasant as they are not scraping your teeth with metal tools like conventional dentists. The hygienist and Dr. Ashley take time to talk to the patients and have excellent soft skills to make patients feel comfortable. I would highly recommend this office."

- Karen Thudium

Schedule A Consultation

McDowell Dental Group proudly provides porcelain veneers to patients in Rydal, Jenkintown, Horsham, Willow Grove, and Philadelphia, PA. For more information call 215.885.0555 or fill out our contact form today!

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Monday : 8am - 7pm
Tuesday: 7am - 4pm
Wednesday: 7am - 2pm
Thursday: 8am - 7pm
Friday: 8am - 2pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

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WE HAVE MOVED!

Yes! After our long tenured residence at the Tempenns building, McDowell Dental Group will be relocating. In addition to the move we are changing our name to McDowell Dental & Aesthetics. Don’t worry, even though there are a lot of changes happening we are still committed to providing our patients with the same valued care we always have. Lead by Dr. Ashley McDowell the office will bring additional focus to cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics along with all general dentistry services. Dr. Ashley has been working tirelessly over the past year to create a state of the art practice utilizing the best equipment and latest technologies. We are so excited for everyone to see and enjoy our new office.

 

Starting Monday, November 20th we will be seeing patients at:

1077 Rydal Road
Suite 300
Rydal, PA 19046

 

It is located just a short distance from our current office. The building has a spacious parking lot and an elevator for ease of travel. We look forward to seeing everyone at our new location!

Best,
McDowell Dental & Aesthetics Team

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