Rejuvenate Your Smile With Porcelain Veneers
Avoiding age-related wear and tear on our smiles is nearly impossible. Over time, teeth can become stained or chipped, making it difficult to smile with confidence. Restorative treatments, while effective, can be costly and drawn-out. Fortunately, porcelain veneers can conceal minor cosmetic imperfections and help you achieve your dream smile in just two short visits with our Woodland Hills dentist. With porcelain veneers, you can enjoy the movie-star smile you deserve.
At Southern Cal Smiles, Dr. Susan Fredericks is proud to offer this cosmetic dentistry treatment to help patients in the Calabasas, West Hills, Chatsworth, Hidden Hills, and surrounding areas restore their beautiful smiles. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, our Southern California patients are in good hands with Dr. Fredericks.
Read on to learn more about porcelain veneers and how your smile can benefit.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin, durable, tooth-shaped shells affixed to the front surface of your teeth to conceal minor cosmetic imperfections. Receiving veneers involves a minimally invasive procedure, and the results can typically last up to 10 years with regular dental cleanings and maintenance.
For patients in Southern California, veneers placed by Dr. Fredericks can be customized to match the shape, size, and color of your surrounding teeth for a natural appearance.
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers come with several advantages that make them such a popular cosmetic treatment. Some benefits of veneers that earned them rave reviews include:
- Natural Appearance: Because they can be customized to match your surrounding teeth, veneers blend seamlessly with your smile for a natural look.
- Durable & Long-Lasting: Veneers are made to withstand your daily activities, lasting between 10 and 20 years before needing to be replaced.
- Quick Procedure: Receiving veneers is a minimally invasive process that can be completed in as few as two visits to our Woodland Hills office.
- Stain-Resistant: Unlike natural teeth, veneers won’t stain over time, making them a great option for patients looking to conceal discolored teeth.
What Can Porcelain Veneers Fix?
Porcelain veneers are a simple and effective way to conceal minor cosmetic imperfections in your smile. Dr. Fredericks may recommend veneers to patients whose teeth are:
- Unevenly spaced
- Stained or discolored
- Cracked, chipped, or broken
- Severely decayed
- Crooked or misaligned
- Misshapen
To learn if you qualify for porcelain veneers, Southern California patients can schedule a free consultation with Dr. Fredericks. She’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your oral health and determine if porcelain veneers are right for you.
The Porcelain Veneer Process
Initial Consultation
You’ll first undergo a consultation with Dr. Fredericks, where she’ll examine your teeth and evaluate your oral health to determine if veneers will be an effective treatment for you. She’ll also discuss your other treatment options so you can make an informed decision and address any underlying oral health issues beforehand to ensure a successful treatment.
Creating Your Veneers
To prepare your teeth for veneers, our Woodland Hills cosmetic dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain. Once your mouth is numb, she’ll remove a small portion of the enamel from the targeted teeth to make room for the veneers.
Once your teeth are prepared, Dr. Fredericks will take a digital impression of your mouth, which will be sent to a dental lab and used as a blueprint to create your customized veneers. You’ll receive temporary veneers in the meantime.
Placing Your Veneers
After we receive your customized restorations, you’ll return to our Woodland Hills office for your final fitting. Dr. Fredericks will remove your temporary veneers before applying a bonding agent to the surface of your teeth.
She’ll then attach your veneers, making any necessary adjustments to ensure they fit naturally and comfortably. Once the veneers properly bond to your teeth, you can leave our office with a renewed, beautiful smile!
Porcelain Veneer Placement Aftercare
We’ll typically schedule a follow-up appointment for our patients one week after their veneer placements. This is so Dr. Fredericks can ensure the veneers are secure and fit comfortably. To keep your veneers in good condition, it’s best to avoid foods and beverages that may cause teeth to stain such as coffee, red wine, and berries. Porcelain veneers, while stain-resistant, are coated in a resin that could be stripped by these foods and drinks, leading to damage.
Will Insurance Cover Porcelain Veneers?
The cost of porcelain veneers isn’t they’re generally not covered by dental insurance as they’re considered a cosmetic procedure. We suggest contacting your dental insurance provider ahead of time to learn what your plan will cover. Southern Cal Smiles accepts many forms of payment, and we also offer affordable payment plans.
You can visit our financing page to learn more about CareCredit, a third-party financing service designed to help patients pay for their treatments. Applying online is quick and easy, and they offer plans for nearly any budget. You may even qualify for aid regardless of your insurance status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Receiving veneers is a virtually painless experience. Dr. Fredericks will administer a local anesthetic beforehand to ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. You may experience slight discomfort once the numbness subsides, but the pain should pass after a few days and can be easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
However, if the pain persists for more than a few days, it may be a sign of a complication. If this is the case, schedule an appointment at our Woodland Hills office immediately by calling 818-346-3337. Dr. Fredericks will assess your situation and work to alleviate any issues you may be having with your treatment.
With proper care, porcelain veneers can last between 10 and 20 years before needing to be replaced. It’s crucial to practice good oral hygiene to keep your restorations in good condition. This consists of brushing with a non-abrasive toothpaste, rinsing with mouthwash between meals, and flossing twice a day. We also strongly advise attending biannual visits to our Woodland Hills office for routine exams and cleanings.
If your veneer sustains damage or falls off, don’t attempt to reattach it, as this may cause more damage and set back your treatment significantly. Instead, place the veneer in a small plastic bag to bring to your appointment. Schedule an appointment at our Woodland Hills office right away and bring your broken veneers with you on your appointment date. Dr. Fredericks will assess your situation and either replace or repair the veneer.