Porcelain Veneers At Smiles4OC, Costa Mesa

Getting veneers is a painless, straightforward process in the skilled hands of the Costa Mesa dentists, Drs. Thomas J. Rolfes, Christina T. Do, and Timothy J. Rolfes. We begin with a great deal of input from you, asking questions and learning how you would like to change your appearance. We can evaluate the smile and decide what treatment may be best. For patients who are not appropriate candidates for veneers, we may suggest alternative solutions such as composite resin bonding. Composite resin bonding can also cover imperfections of the anterior teeth and can be done in one day, but does not last as long and is susceptible to staining. Many patients love veneers because they are more long-term and more durable than bonding.

If veneers are the best solution, we take x-rays and make impressions of your upper and lower teeth. We also find just the right porcelain shade for the look you want. Information from the x-rays, the impressions, and color match gets forwarded to a professional lab where your veneers are fabricated. This laboratory creates the perfect restorations for optimum fit, function, and appearance.

In about two weeks you will return for your veneer seat appointment. The new veneers are fitted onto your teeth with cement and bonded using a light-activation process. At the end of this appointment, you will have a brand new beautiful smile to share with the world! Patients are also educated during this time on how to maintain their dental veneers to ensure their longevity.

The result is a very natural look that is easy to maintain. They are durable and resistant to staining. However, good home care, brushing and flossing, is always important. Veneers protect a tooth from decay only where it is covered.

Since the veneer is a thin covering, cemented to the surface of the tooth, it extends just to the gum line. The area where the veneer meets the gum is called the margin. Veneers require a little extra attention at the margin, where breakdown can occur. By developing a habit of brushing well in this area, you will help ensure that your veneers look great and last a lifetime.

It is also essential that patients who have veneers and other dental restorations visit their dentist regularly for recall appointments. These appointments allow our team to clean the teeth and evaluate the health of the smile. X-rays are often taken to monitor for any signs of decay that may be occurring on the teeth underneath the porcelain veneers. Routine care is so important and cannot be stressed to patients enough!

Most patients who have porcelain veneers and care for them well can enjoy them for a decade or longer. This makes them a wise investment for patients seeking more permanent options of repair for the imperfections in their smiles.

At Smiles4OC, we work closely with patients to give them as many options as possible to choose from when they are interested in aesthetic changes to their smiles. We welcome patients to consult with our team and ask about the ways in which they can address missing, broken, or unsightly teeth. Other solutions that may be discussed during these consultation appointments include:

• Composite resin bonding – this method is more short-term but economical, though can stain over time
• Dental crowns – these are better for coverage on teeth near the back of the mouth versus the front
• Professional teeth whitening – staining may be addressed with the use of professional teeth whiteining solutions instead of placing porcelain veneers
• Inlays and onlays – inlays and onlays are more conservative than crowns and may be a solution for some of our patients

Contact Smiles4OC today to schedule an appointment with Drs. Thomas J. Rolfes, Christina T. Do, or Timothy J. Rolfes. We are ready and willing to assist with general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry solutions such as this. Call our front office at (714) 557-0700 and visit us at Suite J at 1530 Baker Street. We are here to assist patients in achieving the smile they’ve always wanted, and learn about the advantages of affordable cosmetic dentistry options available to them.