Veneers in Redmond

Veneers are thin, durable pieces of porcelain that are custom-made by a dental lab. Think of a veneer as a shell that fits over each tooth and improves the appearance of your smile! Veneers can help with chips, gaps, discoloration, and other cosmetic imperfections.

Veneers will cover the front surface of your tooth whereas a crown will encase your whole tooth. Veneers are typically used for cosmetic purposes whereas crowns are used to restore a tooth’s shape and help improve its strength.

Veneers are not covered by insurance. Insurance will not pay for any cosmetic work since it is aesthetic, and not medically necessary.

On average, the whole process takes about 3-4 weeks. You will first come in for a consultation with the doctor and discuss your smile goals. During your first appointment, the doctor will shape your teeth, take impressions, and place temporary veneers. Then we’ll send the impressions off to the lab and get them back in about 2 weeks. Finally, you will come in to try on the veneers and have them cemented if you are happy with the way everything looks.

No, veneers do not ruin your teeth. Your teeth will be more protected with veneers than without and won’t experience much staining,  unlike natural teeth.

Snap-on veneers can help with a number of problems from missing teeth to gapped teeth. Your natural teeth will not be shaved or ground down for these types of veneers. You take impressions and these will fit over your natural teeth to improve their appearance. However, these are not done at dental offices.

Veneers are a permanent procedure as they are bonded to your teeth after part of the natural enamel is removed. The average lifespan of porcelain veneers is about 10 years but they can last up to 20 years with appropriate oral hygiene.

While most foods are safe to eat, you do need to be careful eating anything that’s more firm such as apples, raw carrots, and bone-in meats. We also recommend avoiding hard candies with veneers as they can crack when biting down on extremely hard foods.

Veneers are not required to go on all teeth however, it is possible to do so if you wish. In some cases, veneers are only needed on a few teeth.

We use porcelain veneers.

It’s important to practice good oral hygiene daily – veneers need the same type of care as your natural teeth. Brush twice daily with a soft toothbrush, floss, and use mouthwash. Make sure you’re scheduling your dental checkups on time as plaque and tartar can accumulate on or around veneers and make them appear dull.