Dental Veneers
Vancouver, WA
Dental Veneers provided by Joseph Kim, DDS
in Vancouver, WA at Riverstone Family Dentistry
 When you're concerned about the aesthetics of your smile, you should reach out to us at Riverstone Family Dentistry. We have a wide variety of options available to discuss with you - including veneers (a.k.a. porcelain veneers, dental porcelain laminates), which are simply a thin layer of material that's custom-made to be placed over the top of the surface of your tooth. Once it's there, it will make your tooth look better and to protect it from being damaged.
The Process Involved in Getting Veneers
When getting veneers, it's important to remember that you want all your teeth to match when you smile. Typically, this means that the average person will need eight veneers on their top teeth. However, some people will require as many as 12 while others will require as few as four. Fortunately, the entire process is rather painless, especially since we will use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth when we clean, prepare, and polish your teeth.
This doesn't mean you won't experience any discomfort, especially when this anesthesia begins wearing off. So, not only will you not experience pain you should also know that while there have been some rumors stating that veneers will ruin your teeth when a properly trained, highly experienced dentist sets them in place, this won't happen.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Veneers
Before you get veneers, you should know that they're expensive and so you'll want to make sure they're done right the first time.
Additionally, once you get them, you can't have them removed even if they make your teeth sensitive or that tooth becomes decayed. Fortunately, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. We won't need to do any extensive tooth shaping to place veneers in your mouth, so they're easy to get. They also look like real teeth, but they won't stain. As such, they're a great way to improve your overall smile; unless you have many fillings, then you'll want to get crowns instead.
Regardless of these pros and cons, it would help if you remembered that veneers aren't meant to fix any challenges you face with your teeth. While they can fix small gaps there, they won't prevent you from developing cavities.
The Lifespan of Veneers
Veneers won't last forever because we must slightly shave your teeth before setting them in place. However, they will usually last for 7-20 years unless there's a problem with the bond. This is because they're made from strong porcelain that's permanently bonded to your tooth structure. As such, you'd have to have an accident (e.g., a fall, biting a fork) to break them. If and when they do come off of your teeth, they shouldn't leave behind any permanent damage unless they've been improperly placed in the first place.
Now that you understand what veneers are and the benefits of getting them, you may want to reach out to Riverstone Family Dentistry at (360) 326-1443. We'll gladly schedule an appointment for you to come in and discuss this cosmetic dentistry option with us then proceed from there. |
Hours
(360) 326-1443 
Joseph Kim, DDS