“What’s the gist on dental veneers?”
What exactly are veneers? What can you expect when getting veneers at McKinney-Graham?
One of the things that we believe sets us apart in the world of cosmetic dentistry is our approach to smile design.
Here at McKinney-Graham Dental Arts, we take both traditional and state-of-the-art technology techniques, and we bring them both together to develop the best “smile design” plan for you.
So, what exactly are dental veneers?
In what cases are dental veneers most ideal?
How can we use veneers to seamlessly transform your smile?
What can I expect in the cosmetic dentistry “smile design” process?
We’re excited to answer these questions for you!
Here’s the gist on dental veneers…
Dental veneers conservatively cover the surface of the tooth, mimicking the strength and look of real teeth. Veneers can be used to correct a wide variety of dental flaws, such as chipped or broken teeth, misaligned teeth, and severe staining or discoloration. They are often used to improve the shape or color of teeth with beautiful cosmetic outcomes.
When you visit our Hickory office and you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry, the first thing that we’re going to do is discuss your goals. We’ll sit down together and discuss important questions such as,
“What do you see about your smile that you would like to transform?”
“What do you like? What do you not like?”
“What is the smile you’ve always dreamed of?”
What’s really cool about the “smile design” process is we take your dreams—your vision for your dream smile, paired what we know works well—and we create a customized plan that will work uniquely for you.
“So, how does the process of getting veneers work at McKinney-Graham Dental Arts? What can I expect with the procedure?”
We use the latest and the greatest dental technology here at McKinney-Graham, which makes the process much easier, and less time-consuming for you, allowing for your smile transformation to flow smoothly and seamlessly.
Our advanced, state-of-the-art design process will save you a ton of time, so you’ll spend more time showing off your gorgeous new smile, and not near as much time sitting in our dentist chair.
Good news, right? We think so too.
With veneers, here’s how it works…
First, we’ll start by taking some photos of your smile—this is where we really start to dial in, and then we use our CEREC® Primescan Technology to scan your teeth. We then take the images from the scans, put them on a computer, and we can sit down and work together to design the smile you’ve always wanted.
Once we have decided on the look that fits the vision, we’ll send that design to one of the cosmetic labs that we work with, and from that initial plan, we can get a 3D mock-up that we can actually try in the mouth. At this point we can have a discussion—“Here’s what we love, here’s what we want to change, etc.” It’s all custom to you, which is not what you get at every other dentist office.
Design Process of Veneers
“So, I’ve had some consults where the patient initially comes in, and they say, ‘I want pretty teeth, I don’t want white Chiclets, I don’t want white Chiclets.’ —that’s something I hear all the time. And I think where people have gotten mislead is when another provider lab used the wrong material for the procedure. The material that we use is a glass ceramic—it’s a material that looks natural. Also, with this material we get the best possible bond, which leads to the best longevity. You’re going to keep these veneers a long, long time if you follow our coaching and our guidelines that we’ve prepared for you.”—Dr. McKinney
The Difference: Before and After Veneers
Dr. McKinney goes on to say, “One thing that I’ve really started to appreciate—and it’s something I talk with our patients about ahead of time—you’re going to be seeing a different you, and you’re not expecting that. Your new smile can be breathtaking at first—you’ve looked at yourself one way for the last 10 years, 15 years, sometimes 30 years, and all of a sudden you’ve got this new smile, and you see a different person. You’re going to see someone you’ve never seen before— or maybe you haven’t seen this ‘you’ in a long time, and we’re bringing it back. To me this is one of the most rewarding things—and it’s one of the most interesting things to watch as a patient goes through this new smile upgrade.”
FAQ:
“How long are these veneers going to last?”
If you follow the protocols and care instructions that we give you, then your dental veneers can last 15 years, 20 years, or beyond.
Another very common question that we get asked is,
“Well doc, how much of my teeth do you have to take away for veneers?”
Dr. McKinney explains, “It’s very case dependent. The nice thing is, now, with the new materials that we have, and the bonding techniques that we use, it may be that we don’t have to take away any tooth structure at all, so that’s why it’s really important to go through the initial consult, we discuss the plan, and we do our photographs, our scans, and then I can tell you, ‘Hey, this is a case where I don’t have to touch a tooth.’ Or it may be that we would need to take away a little bit more to give you your best possible smile.”
If you have issues with your teeth or have questions that you’d like to discuss with us about the process of getting veneers, we’d love to talk with you! Click the contact button on this page to get in touch with us or give us a call. Schedule your cosmetic dentistry appointment today!
At your dentist appointment, we’ll go over your dental needs, and discuss a dental treatment plan that will be ideal for you— whether we use dental veneers or other areas of the dental arts. Here at McKinney-Graham Dental Arts, we are proud to be a trusted cosmetic dentist office right here in Hickory, NC.
We look forward to walking with you on your dental transformation journey!