Veneers – Long Island City, NY
Versatile Shells That Transform Your Smile
Even if you want a prettier smile, maybe you think it’d be too much effort. Wouldn’t you have to get a bunch of different treatments for that to work? Still, there’s actually a way you (and others) could address many smile flaws all at once: veneers in Long Island City! We at LIC Dental Associates can place these shells to beautify your whole grin. To learn more about them, just keep reading or book a consultation today.
What are Dental Veneers?
In essence, dental veneers are thin shells placed on the fronts of teeth. Modern dentists use them to hide nearly any smile flaw – stains, chips, cracks, misalignments, and more! Once they cover the faults, the shells blend seamlessly with your other teeth and enhance your grin’s look.
Veneers’ amazing effects come from their high-grade materials. The shells use porcelain or ceramic, so dentists can customize each to match a tooth’s color, size, and shape. The result is that the final veneers look natural and “fit in” with their surroundings. Those qualities should also last a while, as veneers have high stain resistance and durability.
The Process of Getting Veneers
An average veneer treatment takes two dental visits. For the first one, you’ll consult our dentists and let them “prep” your teeth for care. The later appointment is the “final placement,” during which the final veneers are placed.
At the start of the first visit, you’ll discuss treatment with our dentists. Doing so lets us learn about your oral health, medical history, and other relevant factors. We’ll use those details (and the results of your oral exam) to confirm whether you qualify for veneers.
With our approval, the second half of the consultation will prepare your teeth for treatment. This process will remove small bits of their enamel, ensuring the veneers have room on your smile. Our team will then take an impression of the “prepped” teeth and send it to a dental lab. Using the impression, lab workers will craft your final veneers while you wear temporary ones in the meantime.
Once your veneers are ready, you’ll return to our office for the final placement. That’s when we’ll set the shells on your teeth and truly beautify your smile!
The Benefits of Veneers
Our practice’s dental veneers offer many benefits, including:
- A Beautiful Smile – Thanks to their materials, veneers match your surrounding teeth. That means they blend with your smile seamlessly and look incredibly lifelike!
- Versatile Care – Because they cover the whole fronts of teeth, veneers can fix chips, cracks, misalignments, and more.
- Stain-Resistance – Veneers use stain-resistant porcelain or ceramic, so the shells don’t discolor much from meals.
- Enduring Effects – Even an average veneer can last 15 years or so, while well-maintained ones can reach lifespans of 30+ years.
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
Since they’re so versatile, you may worry veneers are outside your price range. Fair enough – the shells can’t help if paying for them “breaks the bank.” However, the cost of veneers varies by patient; you should consult our dentists for a precise estimate. Our team will also work diligently to make your care more affordable, walking you through its ins and outs. We’ll even guide you through treatment’s pricing factors and our office’s payment options.
Veneer FAQs
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?
Although there aren’t any foods that are completely off-limits, there are some that could damage your veneers (i.e., hard pretzels, thin pizza crust, tortilla chips). That’s why we encourage patients to eat more nutrient-dense, smile-friendly foods, like plain yogurt, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. Not only will this help prevent stubborn stains, but it will also lower your risk of tooth decay, a crack in your enamel, or a chipped veneer.
Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?
Yes, but there are a few precautions we recommend taking. After all, even though your veneers are crafted from stain-resistant materials, your natural teeth can still discolor. So, make sure that you always use a straw, that you keep sugar and other additives to a minimum, and that you brush your teeth about 20 minutes after you’re done.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
The longevity of your veneers depends largely on how well you care for them. For example, if you smoke, eat crunchy foods, drink alcohol in excess, and don’t brush your teeth consistently, there’s a good chance that they will chip, crack, or fall off quickly. If, on the other hand, you commit to good oral hygiene habits, then your veneers could last for 10 years or longer.
Is There Anyone Who Shouldn’t Get Veneers?
There are some patients who aren’t candidates for veneers right away. After all, your teeth and gums need to be healthy before we can provide any cosmetic dental services. So, if we find a cavity or infection during your initial exam, we will need to intervene with the necessary restorative care first. Similarly, if your teeth are severely rotated out of position, then we will need to move them into proper alignment before we can enhance their size, shape, and shade with veneers.
Is There a Way to Make Veneers More Affordable?
Yes! Although dental insurance providers don’t typically cover the cost of veneers, you can make the price more affordable with third-party financiers like CareCredit. In this case, you simply determine what your monthly budget is, and then you break up the cost of your smile transformation into smaller chunks. One of the best parts is that several of their payment plans have little-to-no interest attached!
Can You Whiten Veneers?
Unfortunately, veneers cannot be whitened. The good news is that they are crafted from stain-resistant materials, so that’s typically not necessary anyway. That said, if there does come a time when you are no longer happy with the color of yours, you can always schedule an appointment with our Long Island City dental team. That way, we can learn about your concerns, your smile goals, and your treatment options.