Few dental treatments have the potential to transform your smile more than porcelain veneers. They can be used to correct a number of aesthetic defects such as discoloration, misalignment, and worn or misshapen teeth. When placed by an expert cosmetic dentist, the results are dazzling.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain, about the thickness of a fingernail, that are bonded to the front surface of the teeth to enhance your smile.
Porcelain is the gold-standard material for veneers because it so closely resembles the appearance of natural teeth. It can be manipulated by a skilled ceramist to perfectly match the color, translucency, and texture of your teeth. Porcelain is also more durable and stain-resistant than natural enamel, so with good oral hygiene, your new smile will stay radiant for years to come.
Smile Design
What do you want your new smile to say? Dr. Stillman will work closely with you during the smile design phase to truly understand your goals. She encourages patients to bring photos of the look they are hoping to achieve. Together, you’ll consider the color, brightness, and shape of the veneers to best complement your age, complexion, facial features, and aesthetic preferences. While many dentists may offer veneers, designing a smile that fits your unique style and personality takes an artistically gifted cosmetic dentist like Dr. Stillman.
How Porcelain Veneers are Applied
To prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers, Dr. Stillman will typically remove a small amount of the enamel from the front surface. She will then take an impression of your prepared teeth to send to her preferred dental laboratory to create your veneers. In the meantime, you will be able to wear a wax mock up to “test drive” your new smile.
Tooth preparation isn’t needed in all cases. For some patients, a “no-preparation” technique may be used with ultra-thin veneers, giving a beautiful results. However, one well-known brand of no-prep veneers is Lumineers®. This particular brand is under trademark restrictions that require it to be made in the Lumineers laboratory, a laboratory that has been criticized by some cosmetic dentists as producing bulky, unnatural-looking results. If you and Dr. Stillman decide to go with no-prep veneers, she will recommend a different ultra-thin brand.
You will return for a second appointment once your permanent porcelain veneers are ready. Dr. Stillman will try them on to make sure you’re elated with the final results before bonding the veneers to your teeth.
Beautiful Smile Guarantee
Dr. Stillman is committed to providing you with your perfect smile. If you have any hesitation, Dr. Stillman will work with you and the laboratory as needed until you’ve achieved your ideal look. She will not bond the veneers to your teeth until you love them. That is her beautiful smile guarantee.
When you’re ready to schedule an exam with Dr. Stillman, you can call our office at (352) 424-6047, or you can request an appointment online and we will call you. If you have more questions about porcelain veneers, Dr. Stillman offers a complimentary consultation, if you would like, prior to your paid exam. Call our office at to arrange for a tour of our facility and a few minutes with Dr. Stillman to discuss your concerns.