Veneers – Petaluma, CA
Porcelain Veneers Perfect Petaluma Chips, Cracks, & Stains
If you're looking for a dramatic change, porcelain veneers in Petaluma might be the right choice for you. Dr. Bob Koenitzer has a detailed and artistic eye that can take drab smiles and turn them into beautiful works of art. If you’re tired of looking at chips, cracks, stains, discoloration, or misshapen or misaligned teeth, contact our team to schedule a consultation to find out if you are a qualified candidate for veneers.
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are very thin shells of ceramic that are bonded to the outside surface of the front teeth. They provide an effective method to transform teeth that are discolored, chipped, worn, widely spaced, or simply not very attractive into beautiful smiles.
They are customized to change the shape, size, and color of your teeth and require two dental appointments to complete the entire process. With regular care and maintenance, however, you can expect your new restorations to last a decade or longer.
The Process of Getting Veneers
The process of receiving veneers requires working with a trusted cosmetic dentist in Petaluma like Dr. Koenitzer. During your initial consultation, he will evaluate your teeth and gums to determine if you have any existing oral health problems that might cause issues with your veneers (i.e., tooth decay, gum disease, recession, etc.). If so, you’ll be required to undergo the necessary treatments to improve the state of your oral health before moving forward with cosmetic dentistry.
Once you’re cleared, we will remove a small bit of tooth enamel from the surfaces of your teeth. This makes the process semi-permanent, as you cannot reverse it. When it’s time to replace your veneers, you must be committed to doing so.
After capturing impressions of your teeth, we will send them to a dental lab where technicians will begin fabricating your customized veneers. In the meantime, you’ll be fitted with temporaries. These will be removed when you return for your second appointment and Dr. Koenitzer removes them to put your finalized restorations in place.
The Benefits of Veneers
Choosing veneers is a decision that should not be made lightly or quickly. Yes, they provide a truly transformational way to improve your smile, but they’re also a lifetime commitment. If you are doubting whether to move forward with this cosmetic dental treatment, you may be surprised to learn many great benefits come with veneers, such as:
- They’re less likely to stain as opposed to traditional tooth enamel
- They can last a decade or longer with regular care
- They’re durable and can withstand daily wear and tear
- They improve your overall aesthetics and boost your confidence
- They’re extremely versatile in hiding all types of imperfections
- The process of receiving veneers is less invasive than undergoing dental crown placement
Veneer FAQs
Are Veneers Permanent?
Veneers are meant to be a long-term cosmetic solution for your teeth, designed to change the appearance of the teeth for decades after they’re put in place. However, no dental work lasts forever, which means that you will have to replace them eventually.
It’s also important to note that the enamel removed to put the veneers in place cannot grow back. This means that you’ll always need veneers in order to fully protect your teeth and will have to replace them if they should ever break or fall off.
Can Veneers Be Used for Bite Corrections?
While veneers are sometimes referred to as “instant orthodontics,” they don’t actually move any of your teeth or your jaw. They can only change the way that your teeth fit together by altering their shape, which makes them limited in their capacity to address bite problems.
If you’re only dealing with a mild open bite, it may be possible to use your veneers to bring teeth together so that they meet. In more dramatic cases of bite misalignment, it may be necessary to get orthodontics and then veneers if you’re attempting to correct these issues.
What Materials are Used for Veneers?
Porcelain is the material used most often for veneers, and for good reason. This ceramic has many aesthetic similarities to natural enamel; its color can be changed to perfectly fit your smile, and it’s smooth enough that it doesn’t feel odd in comparison to your other teeth.
Porcelain is also a fairly durable material, capable of eating most things that your natural teeth can without any issues. It also means that the veneers can last for a fairly long time, around 10-20 years before needing to be replaced.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
It can be hard to tell, but your enamel is covered in small pores. These pores are part of the reason that your teeth collect stains over time. Porcelain doesn’t have any of these small crevices on it, which means that it won’t collect stains nearly as easily.
However, it also means that whitening solutions are unable to penetrate into your veneers, making them ineffective. If you should ever notice that your veneers have changed color, professional teeth whitening isn’t going to be an option—you’ll have to replace your veneers entirely.