Veneers – Richmond, VA

Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What’s Right for Me?

Thanks to advancements in cosmetic dentistry, there are now many ways you can transform your smile into one you’ll confidently show off. Even though porcelain veneers are a great option, it’s essential to explore all your available choices. Each service comes at a different cost and can help you achieve different results. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect from the following treatments:

• Veneers: This solution may not be the most affordable, but it’s certainly the most versatile. The ultra-thin shells of dental-grade porcelain are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth, altering their shape, color, and position all at once. You can expect to enjoy your new smile for well over a decade with proper dental care!
• Teeth Whitening: Do you have a stained or discolored smile? Professional teeth whitening treatment can brighten your pearly whites in no time. However, they won’t be able to change the shape or position of your teeth. Even though it’s a fast and cost-effective treatment, it’s limited in its ability to transform your grin.
• Dental Bonding: If you have minor flaws, dental bonding is a great option to consider. It’s one of the quickest and most affordable ways to correct a small chip or stain. While weighing your options, keep in mind that this treatment will have to be redone every few years.
• Invisalign: Are you only looking to fix crooked or misaligned teeth? Invisalign can address your concerns and improve your oral health. Although it can certainly give you the straight smile you’ve always wanted, it can’t change the actual shape and color of your teeth.

How to Make Veneers Affordable

Porcelain veneers are a form of cosmetic dentistry, meaning they won’t be covered by dental insurance. But don’t lose hope! There are alternative methods of paying for the expenses of your treatment plan. Here are a few options we offer to help make your dental bills budget-friendly:

• In-House Dental Membership Plan – This plan is an affordable alternative to traditional insurance that allows you to pay less and get more at your appointments. We’ll tailor your plan to fit your exact budget, helping relieve some of the stress from managing your dental bills!
• CareCredit Financing – If you require extensive care, CareCredit can help you split the cost of treatment into smaller, budget-friendly monthly installments. They offer a range of payment plans which feature little to no interest!

Are you ready to transform your smile with porcelain veneers in Richmond? Your first step on your journey is a consultation with our team. We’ll help you achieve your dream look while keeping your expenses as low as possible!

How Do I Know If Veneers Are Right for Me?

One of your main questions is probably about your candidacy for veneers. The best way to know if veneers are right for you is to visit our office for a consultation. One of our experts will carefully examine your smile, checking for imperfections and flaws that affect your teeth. Afterward, we can develop a personalized treatment plan. Typically, patients with a combination of chips, cracks, gaps, discoloration, and more can benefit from veneers. That’s because this treatment can correct numerous problems at the same time.

How Many Veneers Will I Need?

The beauty of veneers is that they can be used for one tooth, your entire smile, or any number in between. Our experts take pride in their ability to blend art and science, matching your veneers to the rest of your smile for a radiant set of teeth. By using high-quality materials that reflect light like your natural grin, we can seamlessly veneer any pattern of teeth to conceal imperfections and enhance the appearance of your smile. To know the exact number of veneers you may need, don’t hesitate to contact our office and set an appointment.

Is There a Way to Preview My Veneers Before Getting Them Placed?

We want all of our patients to feel confident in their treatment as well as the results they can expect. Veneers are a big commitment, which is why we offer the opportunity for patients to see how veneers can change their life with a virtual smile design. Using the latest technology, we can show you exactly how your smile would look if you were to choose veneers for your treatment. That way, you can look forward to a beautiful smile at the end of the process.

What Habits I Should Avoid with Veneers?

Once you get veneers, you can enjoy their beauty for at least 10 to 15 years as long as you care for them properly. However, in addition to brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits, you should also watch out for certain habits that can harm your veneers. Avoid habits like nail biting, straw chewing, or biting on any non-food items to protect your new smile. Additionally, be extra careful when it comes to eating hard items like candy and popcorn kernels.

Do Veneers Feel Like Real Teeth?

Most of our patients with veneers have reported that it didn’t take very long after their procedure for their veneers to feel like a natural part of their mouths. In fact, they didn’t even notice their veneers when eating or speaking. Our team takes great care to ensure that your veneers fit perfectly over your teeth after the thin layer of enamel has been removed. This way, the veneers will become a seamless part of your smile. Additionally, dental porcelain is quite smooth and doesn’t irritate the soft tissues in the mouth, so it shouldn’t cause discomfort.

Can You Whiten Veneers?

Natural tooth enamel contains microscopic pores through which staining particles can enter and cause discoloration. Teeth whitening treatments can also penetrate the enamel through these pores, breaking down the stain molecules. However, because veneers are non-porous, they cannot be whitened like real teeth, but you shouldn’t even need to whiten them in the first place.

Porcelain is incredibly stain-resistant, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your veneers darkening over time. Although, the teeth surrounding the veneers can still become discolored and respond to whitening treatments, which may make the overall tone of your smile appear uneven. If you’re planning on undergoing whitening in addition to veneers, you should begin with whitening so that your veneers can be shaded to match the current, ideal color of your pearly whites.

Is It Painful to Get Veneers?

Before the preparation and placement of veneers, our dentists will be sure to apply local anesthetic to your mouth, preventing you from feeling discomfort during your procedure. It’s normal to experience some lingering sensitivity and soreness for a few days after your temporary veneers are attached, but it should be mild and temporary. To ease this discomfort, you can take over-the-counter pain medications as you normally would. It may also help to avoid hot and cold foods and beverages during this period, as they could aggravate your sensitivity.

What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?

The veneers themselves will not harm your teeth, as only a very small layer of enamel is removed before placement. That being said, enamel cannot regenerate once it has been lost, making the veneers preparation procedure irreversible. From that point on, the teeth in question will always need some sort of protection, whether that be with veneers or with other restorations like dental crowns.

It’s worth pointing out that veneers neither increase not decrease the risk of decay in the affected teeth. However, inadequate oral hygiene can cause cavities to develop in the teeth supporting the veneers, ultimately resulting in the veneer failing. To prevent this, make sure to brush and floss every day, and visit our team for your six-month dental checkups.