Dental veneers have become a buzzword and for good reason. Simple, fast and painless, your smile can become movie star perfect in just two visits to our Suffolk County office.
Making a good impression with porcelain veneers
Forbes Magazine published an article several years ago entitled “Seven Seconds to Make a First Impression”. It described the thousands of mental computations a stranger makes at lightning speed when they meet a person for the first time. The article pointed to a study that found nonverbal cues far more important in making the first impression than any words that are also exchanged.
The top three nonverbal cues to making a good first impression?
- Adjust your attitude—people pick up your attitude instantly. Before you turn to greet someone, make a conscious choice about the attitude you want to embody.
- Straighten your posture—standing tall, pulling your shoulders back, and holding your head straight are all signals of confidence and competence.
- SMILE—a smile is an invitation, a sign of welcome. It says, “I’m friendly and approachable”.
An attractive set of teeth makes a statement that you take care of yourself and are proud of your good appearance. Problems arise when internal worry about your less than perfect teeth conveys lacking self-confidence and seeming incompetence. A great smile on the other hand, creates the opposite effect.
To help project a more positive first impression, top Long Island cosmetic dentists, Dr. Elliot and Dr. Nick, have perfected the art of porcelain dental veneers. Call us at Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, ask for a simple “smile analysis,” and come in for a free consultation with our team. Our Huntington office is convenient to Long Island residents throughout Suffolk County.
Different dental veneers for different needs
If your teeth are chipped or damaged, discolored or misaligned, you may be a perfect candidate for dental veneers, also known as porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates. Veneers are designed to recreate the look of natural teeth and are the option of choice if you are looking to make a slight tooth position change or alter the color, shape, size, or length of your teeth.
Dental veneers can be made either from ultra-thin ceramic porcelain layers, resin composites, or acrylic materials which are custom fitted to your existing teeth. Porcelain veneers are popular because they have a pleasing reflective quality that closely mimics your natural teeth and are more stain-resistant than resin veneers. Resin veneers are thinner than porcelain and allow you to retain more of your natural tooth surface.
A visit to Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry in Suffolk County will help you determine if porcelain veneers are the right option for you. Honest communication with your dentist about what you really want is the key to a great outcome.
How do porcelain veneers work and how are they applied?
Since porcelain veneers cover the original teeth, your dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel from each tooth to accommodate the porcelain replacing it. Your veneers are custom-made so your dentist will take an impression or make a model of your teeth and then make the individual veneers which will be bonded to your own teeth.
After checking for proper color, the tooth is trimmed to ensure correct fit. The tooth is then polished and etched to make sure that the bonding will adhere. A light-sensitive resin compound is then applied to the veneer and tooth. A curing light applied to the veneer activates the bonding material, and a solid bond is created. After some final trimming and adjustments to your bite- you are done!
Some patients experience a period of brief sensitivity to hot or cold which disappear in a few days. But once that’s passed, you will not be able to tell the difference between the veneers and your real teeth. One added benefit—unlike real teeth, veneers resist coffee, tea, and nicotine stains because of their composition.
An alternative to porcelain veneers
Some of our patients ask about Lumineers® wanting to understand the difference between the two options. Unlike porcelain veneers, Lumineers are a kind of ultra-thin dental veneer that do not however require removal of existing tooth enamel. There is both a fitting phase as well as an application session. They’re not a permanent solution like porcelain veneers but are an effective application for the right candidate.
During your consultation at Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, we will be happy to weigh the pros and cons of each type of veneer to ensure that you make the right choice.
Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry provides all manner of cosmetic and general dentistry, including same day dental implants, throughout Long Island including Suffolk and Nassau County. Whether you are interested in veneers, dental implants, innovative laser dentistry for an anxiety-free dental experience without anesthesia, Invisalign, or teeth whitening, we are committed to providing you with highest level of service and beautiful results.
Please call us at 631-423-6563 anytime to ask us a question or to request a time to visit our Huntington offices and see how we can help you.
Click here to read our article in Bella Magazine.
