Veneers

What are veneers?

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain bonded to the front surface of your permanent teeth. They mask minor imperfections that don’t respond to other types of treatment like teeth whitening or dental bonding. 

What conditions can veneers help treat?

At Holistic Smiles LA, Dr. Monempour uses veneers to minimize the appearance of various oral imperfections, including:

• Chipped and broken teeth
• Intrinsic staining, severe discoloration, or uneven coloring
• Gaps in your teeth
• Smaller-than-average teeth
• Full- Smile Makeovers

You might also benefit from veneers if you have pointy or unusually shaped teeth.

Can anyone get veneers?

To get veneers, you need to have healthy teeth and gums. If you have a cavity or gum disease, Dr. Monempour recommends addressing the issue before moving forward. That’s because veneers permanently alter your teeth, so they must be in optimal condition. 

Will my veneers look natural?

Yes. To ensure your veneers look natural, Dr. Monempour uses an advanced technique called digital smile design (DSD). DSD uses professional photography and special software, so you can see what your smile will look like after getting veneers. 

During the DSD process, Dr. Monempour takes a professional portrait of your smile. He uploads the portrait to Photoshop and uses an iPad to draw “landmark lines” from your pupils through the midline of your face to your smile line. This process helps him design veneers that fit your facial features perfectly.

Dr. Monempour is one of only a few dentists who use the DSD process. It allows for more aesthetically pleasing results and long-lasting outcomes.

What does getting veneers involve?

The process for getting veneers varies depending on the number of teeth treated. It is a relatively simple procedure if it’s as little as two teeth. Only a small amount of facial tooth structure is removed, a digital impression is taken and then sent to the lab. Temporary veneers will be custom-made for you on the spot, and you’ll receive your final veneers in two weeks.

Before permanently bonding the new veneers, Dr. Monempour will let you try them on to ensure they are perfect. If there is something either you or the doctor do not like about them, they can be sent back to the lab with specific requests. 

If you desire a Full Smile Makeover, the process is entirely different. Dr. Monempour takes a series of photos and will render a before and after image to see his proposed smile design. Once you approve, digital impressions are taken and sent to the lab, along with the Dr. Monempour smile design for you. The lab will send a wax-up model of your teeth, so you can see in-hand, in 3 dimensions, what your new smile will look like. 

The next step is preparing the teeth. Once prepared, a stent that was made from the wax-up will be used to make you your temporaries. You will be in these temporaries for three weeks and will use them as a “test drive” because these temporaries represent what your final teeth will look like. During this test drive, if you don't like anything, like shape, position, color, anything, you should let the doctor know.

Once you approve of the temporaries and the final product, Dr. Monempour will permanently bond the veneers into place. Contacts are checked and occlusion adjusted as needed.

At any stage, if there is anything you don't like, please let the doctor know so he can make the changes. The goal here is to make you happy, so don’t be afraid to speak up. 

After completion, you will come in for your post-op appointment one to two weeks after. At this visit, the doctor will re-examine all the margins, contacts, and occlusion to ensure everything is as it should be. Post-op photos will also be taken at this time.

How long do veneers last?

Veneers usually last 12-15* years, but they can last even longer with proper care. To keep your veneers in optimal condition, Dr. Monempour recommends brushing your teeth twice daily with an extra soft toothbrush, visiting Holistic Smiles LA every three to six months for professional teeth cleaning, wearing a mouthguard when playing sports, and a nightguard when sleeping. Good habits like these can make all the difference when it comes to prolonging the life of any dental restorations, especially veneers.

To learn more about the benefits of veneers, make an appointment at Holistic Smiles LA by calling the office today.