Patient in Phoenix Asks, “Am I a Candidate for Dental Veneers?”

Porcelain dental veneers are an affordable and highly versatile treatment for a host of imperfections in the smile. Often associated with a “movie star smile,” they originally served as a temporary means of correcting immediate problems. Over the past several decades, advances in the materials used for bonding veneers have made them more durable and long lasting.

Just as furniture veneers are typically thin pieces of decorative, fine grade wood that serve to enhance the beauty of the piece, porcelain dental veneers can create the appearance of teeth that are whiter, straighter, symmetrical, and properly-shaped. Porcelain is a choice material for tooth restorations and enhancements due to its ability to mimic the reflective properties of enamel and react to temperature variances in a similar fashion. Stain-resistant, durable, and natural-looking, porcelain veneers allow patients to design the smile of their dreams.

At Biltmore Dental Center in Phoenix, Arizona, our doctor, Sameet Koppikar, DDS, is a board-certified physician and dental surgeon. Dr. Koppikar provides a complete array of dental care including cosmetic and restorative, family, emergency, and sedation services. Patients have many choices when it comes to changing the appearance of their smiles, such a porcelain veneers.

To determine if a patient is a candidate for dental veneers, Dr. Koppikar identifies each patient’s unique goals, expectations, and wishes and recommends a personalized plan of care. The best candidates for porcelain veneers are typically interested in perfecting the appearance of the teeth that show when they smile, without potentially receiving multiple treatments to whiten or straighten the teeth.

Once Dr. Koppikar and a patient have decided that porcelain dental veneers are the treatment of choice, digital images are taken of the patient’s smile. The desired characteristics and appearance of the veneers may be discussed or patients may bring in photos of smiles that they have found appealing. Then a physical model of the teeth is made and sent to a highly specialized ceramist who creates the new design.

Dr. Koppikar prepares the patient’s teeth so that the veneers fit perfectly and securely. The veneers, when received in the office, are approved by the patient and Dr. Koppikar and then are securely bonded to the fronts of the teeth. The process from consultation to successful results generally takes about six weeks.

For more information or a comprehensive consultation, contact Biltmore Dental Center today at (602) 704-0659.