Premium Veneers Buy You More Than Just White Teeth!
How about improved confidence? Higher self-esteem? These are just a few of the many good things that happen after you’ve gotten your contagious smile that including our premium porcelain veneers. Patients have reported raises and promotions, been told they look younger, and as discovered new and/or improved relationships, which they attribute to their new smiles. It’s not surprising when you consider this – studies show that you have 10 seconds to make an impression on someone and in that time, people notice two things – your eyes and your teeth. Your smile will be exquisite, and your confidence will show in your eyes. Also, studies have shown that people with great smiles are perceived to be smarter and more successful, and because with a new smile they tend to smile more, they’re also seen as friendlier. Net, change your smile, change your life!
The Biggest Name on the Red Carpet? DaVinci® Porcelain Veneers
That’s right. That dazzling Hollywood smiles you’ve seen for years that grace the faces of A-list actors and entertainers were likely created using premium porcelain veneers from the founders of DaVinci Labs in Hollywood. Fortunately, the dental veneer dentists at Dallas Laser Dentistry can do the same for you, as we’ve had a decades-long relationship with the original craftsmen at DaVinci. Better still, our doctors are not only porcelain veneer dentists, they’re also artisans who see the whole picture – your facial structure, your personality, and your budget. Further, they’re award-winning cosmetic dentists – consistently named the best in Dallas – with hundreds of 5-star reviews. That’s why Dallas Laser Dentistry, winner of the DFW Consumer’s Choice Award for Cosmetic Dentistry for the last thirteen years, is where you want to go for premium dental veneers and a smile that’s simply contagious!
Here, we’ve reimagined what it means to go to the dentist. Unlike most other dental offices that are cold and clinical and smell like a dental office, our office feels and smells like a spa. You’ll be soothed by our elegant, open exam and treatment areas that boast a stunning view for miles of North Dallas from ten stories up. You’ll see our focus on patient service. Take a seat in comfortable, body-hugging chairs, then breathe deep and let bi-polar ions calm your body and soul. Your Zen is waiting.
What You’ll Learn About Porcelain Dental Veneers
- What are the benefits of a smile makeover using porcelain dental veneers from an award-winning cosmetic dentist?
- How do you educate yourself about veneers to see if they are a solution to improve your smile?
- What’s the best way to assess if you’re a good candidate for veneers, and how much of an improvement veneers will make to your smile?
- Can you afford premium dental veneers, and are there less costly alternatives?
- What happens when I decide to proceed and get veneers from a premium cosmetic dentist?
WHAT ARE PORCELAIN DENTAL VENEERS?
Veneers are thin handcrafted porcelain shields worn on the front of the tooth which improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, cracked, stained or worn. Veneers are thin as contact lenses, and are an aesthetically pleasing option of closing gaps, lengthening teeth, and providing symmetry to make your smile more natural. Veneers are intended to last for many years without changing color. They are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in dentistry. Ask your dentist if veneers may be right for you.
THE BENEFITS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Patients come to us with a variety of reasons for wanting veneers – looking younger, sexier, prettier, more professional, or to make the best first impression for business or their personal life. But for many the primary benefit is emotional – improved self-confidence, being ashamed of their smile, being perceived by others to be unfriendly because they don’t smile when they really want acceptance from their peers – the list is long. We could on and on about the quality and durability of our dental veneers and the artistry of our work, but the easiest way is to let our happy, radiant patients describe some of the benefits to them:
The New Smile That Made Her Big Day Even Better. “I was very excited about getting married but terribly upset about my teeth. I just didn’t feel beautiful: I had a gorgeous, dreamy white gown but my smile just didn’t match. I’d tried teeth whitening once, but my teeth were still yellow and dull, and there was some crowding. Plus, some teeth looked too short and some too long. In fact, I was having so much anxiety about my unsightly teeth it seemed to be affecting everything about my upcoming nuptials. Fortunately, the cosmetic dentist at Dallas Laser Dentistry came to my rescue with a customized plan. I started with Invisalign® orthodontics to make sure my teeth were straight and in position. Next, I had laser gum contouring and laser teeth whitening. Finally, I received DaVinci veneers whose color and sparkle matched my newly whitened teeth… When the big day arrived, I was beaming with the smile and the man of my dreams. My wedding was even more magical than I ever thought it could be.”
Closing the Gap Led to Red-Carpet Ready. “I had been bugged by the space between my two front teeth for years. In fact, I hated it. And it didn’t help that I got comments like, “Oh, you have that gap like Candice Bergen, how sexy.”” While everyone chuckled, I sure didn’t. A friend, who saw how upset I was, had gotten a new smile from Dallas Laser Dentistry and insisted I call to make an appointment. I finally did, and as I sat with the cosmetic dentist, I shared how self-conscious and anxious I was. She completely understood what I was going through – I felt heard. She recommended Invisalign® to correct my bite and close the big front space, along with all the other spaces. Laser whitening made sure teeth not receiving veneers were white again. This was followed by DaVinci dental veneers perfectly matching the color of my newly whitened teeth for the finishing touch. At last, I have a bright new smile. I feel like a new person and now, I have to admit – I’m ready for the red carpet!”
Never Too Old for a Contagious Smile. “For decades, I lived with the pain of unsightly crooked, chipped teeth. When I was nearing retirement, I could no longer bear my ugly smile, so I got braces to at least make them straight–the painful, metal kind from a regular dentist. After a couple of years of this ordeal, still, I hadn’t gotten the look I wanted. I wasn’t happy. I’d heard that Dallas Laser Dentistry was the best in town, so I contacted them–I had waited too long not to get the perfect smile! The cosmetic dentist recommended eight DaVinci® Veneers, along with Laser Gum Contouring, so that my teeth appeared longer and more seamless. I also received Laser Whitening to brighten my bottom teeth. When I held the mirror in my hand and saw my finished smile, I burst into tears. Finally, I have a stunning, contagious smile, the smile of my dreams!”
He Went from Exhausted to Ecstatic. “Because of my unattractive teeth, I’d stopped smiling and, in many instances, stopped speaking. I was sinking lower and lower – at the end of my rope. When I walked into Dallas Laser Dentistry, I was exhausted. I’d been to the office after office trying to get help for my dull, discolored smile, but no one could help me visualize the difference in my smile that cosmetic dentistry would make. Given that major cosmetic dentistry is quite an investment, I didn’t know if it would be worth it. The doctor suggested a Smile Simulation so I could make my own decision as to whether the investment in cosmetic dentistry would be worth it to me. When I saw what I could look like, I was blown away – I was ready to start living again. I got eight porcelain dental veneers and laser teeth whitening. Now I just can’t stop smiling – I’m ecstatic, a completely new person and best of all, everyone says they’ve never seen me happier!”
Educating Yourself About Veneers
Just keep reading below and check out our blog posts on veneers, and you’ll go a long way to better understanding cosmetic dental veneers, their function, their benefits and drawbacks, and ultimately whether you’ll want to invest in premium porcelain veneers to change your smile and your life.
Assessing Your Smile, The Impact of Cosmetic Veneers, and Cost
We have a number of tools to help you assess your current smile and your feelings about it:
- Free Smile Consultation – At the consultation, the doctor can hear your concerns and desired results, then see if you are a candidate for a good cosmetic dentistry outcome. She can also help determine what “tools” or treatments are needed specifically to get the results you want and whether veneers are one of those tools. A specific treatment plan and costs are developed and shared, and following a more comprehensive exam, it will include any restorative work as well that needs to be done to provide a good foundation for the cosmetic investment you’re making. And if you’re wondering how much of a change veneers will make on your smile, we will also provide a digital smile simulation showing approximate digital before/after looks with veneers.
- Digital Smile Simulation – We’ll take a photo when you arrive for a consultation, and using special software we create a simulated “Current/Possible” digital presentation. We’ve found this helps many better understand what veneers can do to change their appearance, particularly those who are more visually oriented.
What Do Premium Porcelain Veneers Cost?
Premium porcelain veneers fabricated at a top aesthetic lab and designed specifically for your facial structure by an experienced dentist whose practice is focused on cosmetic dentistry is a major expense for anyone at $20-50k, depending on the number of veneers. But choosing veneers is an investment in yourself – not only your appearance but also your self-confidence. Our labs are the best, and the veneers are made from the highest quality materials and fabrication techniques around – there are no finer porcelain veneers in the world. To quote an often used but very true phrase – “You get what you pay for”. When it comes to your smile, why would you settle for anything less than the best? With our aesthetic skills and artistry, you’ll have an irresistible white smile that will go the distance – and decades – for you.
Veneers may only be a portion of the total cost. Critical to making your investment in veneers last as long as possible is ensuring that the foundation upon which the veneers are placed is optimized. If your “bite” is not correct it will cause stresses on your veneers that can cause them to fail prematurely, so we may also diagnose the need for orthodontic aligner treatment from Invisalign® to correct that. Likewise, any decay or disease needs to be cleaned up before veneers are placed. All of these can add cost but are critical to maximize your cosmetic veneer longevity and return on investment.
Most patients ask about financing, and we provide multiple third-party lenders that offer financing periods up to five years, including Alphaeon and CareCredit. We also accept major credit cards as well as debit cards.
Another way to save money on veneers and other preventative and restorative dentistry is by joining our Preferred Patient Membership Program. Patients choosing the Cosmetic Plan to save 15% on our premium veneers, plus all diagnostic, exams, and preventative procedures are included for the next year. Be sure to ask about this program when you decide to have us change your life by changing your smile!
CHANGE YOUR LIFE – CALL FOR A FREE SMILE CONSULTATION
YOU DECIDE TO GET VENEERS – NOW WHAT?
Health Before Beauty
Your oral health is our top priority. In fact, what sets Dallas Laser Dentistry apart is the creed we live by – a beautiful smile starts with a healthy foundation. We look at the long-term picture – optimizing your overall dental health and your bite first before we help you chart a course to your contagious smile – a roadmap. This ensures that your investment in cosmetic dentistry is maximized. We then create a customized design that maximizes your unique qualities – your face shape, your lips, and the symmetry of your gums and face.
Getting Your Veneers
Here’s what will happen. We’ll do a comprehensive exam to detect any oral health issues needing addressing first. We’ll also see if your bite is correct, or if we need to use Invisalign to make it perfect. We’ll then provide a treatment plan and costs for that work, make arrangements for payment, and get the work scheduled.
If we find your oral health and bite are fine, or when that needed treatment is complete, we’ll provide a treatment plan for laser whitening and the veneers, collect a down payment, and/or arrange to finance and schedule your laser whitening. We do the whitening first to all the teeth, and later when we do the veneers we color match them to your new whiter smile for a more natural appearance. After your separate laser whitening session, you’ll spend about two hours with one of our cosmetic dentists getting your teeth prepped for your porcelain dental veneers. This includes taking 3-D digital impressions of your teeth and mouth, which are then sent to the lab along with the dentist’s instruction, where the technicians will custom fabricate each one and match them to the color of your teeth so that your smile looks naturally white.
Two to three weeks later, you’ll spend about two hours having your veneers permanently bonded into place. Each one is bonded to the front of your teeth to cover stains, close small gaps, and straighten crooked teeth – whatever your needs are. In fact, the veneers create a strong bond that actually strengthens each tooth. How cool is that? Best of all, they’re designed to be resistant to coffee, tea, sodas, and cigarettes. This way if you wish you can drink up and enjoy your life without any worries. You’ll emerge with the appearance, function, and feel of real teeth that are amazingly white and with a smile that’s contagious – you’ll be fabulous!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain shells that are bonded to teeth. They can match the original color of your natural teeth or can be adjusted to the color the patient desires, giving patients a beautiful white smile. Veneers are typically used cosmetically for chipped, stained, or uneven teeth, or to create an optimal “Hollywood Smile”. How lifelike and beautiful that smile is depends on the artistic skill of the cosmetic dentist, the quality of the materials, and talent of the lab used to make the veneers.
Veneers are made of durable porcelain and can be fairly long lasting. Typically veneers last between 10-15 years, depending on the wear and tear to the veneers over time.
Porcelain veneers are used for patients who have aged, chipped, stained, or uneven teeth who want to look younger or just have a smile they’re not ashamed to show off. Veneers can be used to fix an asymmetrical smile and can help create a natural looking smile. Or, veneers can be a key part of a Smile Makeover to transform an average smile into a “Hollywood Smile”, since most every actor or actress maximizes their smiles with porcelain veneers.
The best candidate is someone who wants to make the best first impression socially or in business; someone who wants to look younger; or someone who loves having people smile at them – because if you’re smiling most folks will smile back!
While veneers are primarily used cosmetically, they can also help restore damaged or diseased teeth. They may be able to fix chipped or broken teeth that are in need of repair. Veneers are a great solution for teeth with small gaps between them. With small gaps veneers have been used to provide “instant orthodontics” rather than wear braces for months on end.
There are two main types of veneers, porcelain and composite. Composite veneers are made by the dentist, by “sculpting” a resin applied directly to your teeth. Porcelain veneers are made in a laboratory and are bonded onto the tooth’s surface.
Composite veneers typically are less expensive initially. However, they do not strengthen the teeth like porcelain does. Porcelain veneers preserve the bright appearance of natural teeth and last longer compared to composite veneers. Over time porcelain veneers do not change color or stain like composite veneers do.
Veneers are usually used for an elective cosmetic procedure and are not typically covered by most dental insurance plans. Some insurance plans will cover veneers for some non-cosmetic procedures, since veneers can be used both cosmetically and for restorative purposes. If you’re having a veneer done to restore a tooth and want partial insurance reimbursement it is important to check with your insurance provider and understand your coverage regarding veneers before you move forward with the procedure.
The process for porcelain veneers takes more than one appointment. We offer a complimentary Smile Consultation so that we can learn your goals, what you want to change about your smile and why, what benefits you wish to achieve by investing in veneers, and when you want to start. We then develop and discuss a customized treatment plan, which may include other procedures that need to be done to ensure the veneers have a healthy foundation to maximize their expected life and your investment. Specific cost and timing are discussed at that initial appointment. An appointment is scheduled to begin the treatment plan – which usually starts with laser whitening so we can color match your veneers to your other teeth – as well as the two appointments needed to complete the preparation and final placement of your new veneers.
When you return to do the veneers, we will prepare your teeth for the veneers, take laser digital 3D scans of your teeth, and send the scans along with photographs to our Hollywood lab to prepare the veneers. Once the veneers are ready, we will check the fit and ensure you’re satisfied with the color before they are permanently bonded to your teeth.
Most patients initially only do veneers on their upper teeth. This is because for many folks it’s only some of their top teeth that usually show when they smile – unless they are laughing for example. To determine how many top teeth will need veneers look in the mirror and smile like you’re really happy and love your smile – then count how many teeth are showing. It will be at least six and maybe more. We typically see 6-10 teeth needing veneers, but if you smile like actress Julia Roberts you’d likely need 14-16!
If when you smile your lower lip pulls down and your lower teeth show, you may want to consider doing veneers on some of your lower teeth as well, although the laser whitening we do first may make their appearance so good it’s not necessary.
DaVinci veneers from DaVinci Labs in Hollywood were for years considered the go to place for movie stars and anyone wanting a Hollywood smile. Their veneers were the most lifelike and they could match existing teeth better than anyone. They were featured on the hit TV show Extreme Makeover, and as a private lab had the best ceramicists, technicians, and warranties. However, DaVinci’s been gobbled up by a big corporate lab twice in the last five years, and what made them special – the skilled ceramicists and technicians – has been diluted. The founders, and most of the original and most skilled technicians have left and formed their own company in Hollywood, where they can return to being outstanding craftsmen. So, we now utilize the new company to be assured of the highest quality veneers for our patients.
There are many advantages to Porcelain Veneers. The primary one is that in about two weeks you can transform your smile to a “Hollywood Smile” for life. Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and can make your teeth whiter and you look younger. Our gum tissue tolerates porcelain well, and this makes porcelain veneers a great choice for patients. Veneers are a conservative choice for patients looking to change the apparent size, shape, or color of a tooth or teeth. The procedure is not extensive, and porcelain veneers are durable, giving patients a beautiful white smile for life.
Porcelain veneers are not reversible and are more expensive initially compared to composite resin bonding, although they’re a better value over your lifetime depending on your age. Wear and tear, or biting on hard objects can cause veneers to dislodge or fall off. You can minimize this by not putting excessive pressure on your teeth – in other words, don’t plan on chewing ice cubes! If you clench or grind your teeth at night this can cause the veneers to crack or chip, so you’ll need to protect them with a night guard.
There are certainly alternatives to getting porcelain veneers. There is another option called composite resin bonding, and this is a less expensive alternative to porcelain veneers. However, resin bonding is not as durable as porcelain veneers, but it does provide another option for patients. If you are looking to get veneers simply to give you a whiter smile, our laser teeth whitening treatment is an excellent alternative. Dental crowns can also give patients a white smile and provide an alternative to veneers. During the smile consultation appointment we will evaluate your smile and determine what option works best for you.
Once your porcelain veneers are placed, we do recommend that you avoid biting on any hard objects because this can damage your veneers. If you grind or clench your teeth regularly it is important to be careful not to put pressure on your veneers. This can cause damage and shorten the life of the veneer, so wearing a nightguard becomes a necessity.
Overall, caring for veneers is just like caring for natural teeth. Good oral hygiene and a routine at home with brushing and flossing daily will help keep your veneers looking great for years.
Porcelain veneers are not considered permanent because at some point it is likely they may need to be replaced. If your bite is optimized before they are placed, veneers last for years as long as they are taken care of properly, and some patients never need veneer replacement at all.
Porcelain veneers are irreversible once the enamel is reduced to make room for the veneer. The enamel does not grow back so patients will always need veneers or crowns on those teeth.
Once you have porcelain veneers, caring for them is similar to caring for your natural teeth. Patients can eat and drink as they would with natural teeth. We do recommend you avoid biting on any hard objects or foods. Examples are biting your nails, chewing ice, or opening a package or bottle of beer with your teeth. This may cause damage to your veneers.
Also, if you grind or clench your teeth regularly, we strongly recommend wearing a nightguard to avoid putting pressure on your teeth. This will help avoid chipping, breaking, or loosening the veneers.
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