Dr. Marc Alber is a Dentist who has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Porcelain Veneers.
Q. What are porcelain veneers?
A. Porcelain Veneers are a thin porcelain facing that is made to cover the fronts of the front teeth to improve their looks, change their shade or shape or to straighten crooked teeth in just a few appointments.
Q. How long dental veneers last?
A. I would say the average dental veneer will last at least 10 to 15 years, but to be honest, most cases that I see last much longer than that. I’ve seen 20 year old cases that looked like they were placed yesterday.
Q. Do dental veneers require special care?
A. Dental veneers require no special maintenance from the patient. You just brush and floss them like normal teeth. They do require some special considerations in the dental office. We need to be careful around the margins with our ultrasonic cleaners, but the patient can just treat them like the rest of their teeth.
Q. Are there alternatives to dental veneers?
A. There are many alternatives to porcelain veneers depending on the individual. One of the most exciting new advancements is prepless porcelain veneers. These are ultra thin veneers that require removing very little if any of the enamel and are usually done without shots or anesthetic. Even though they are thin, they are incredibly strong once bonded and will last for years. I am one of only 2 dentists in Colorado certified to produce Durathin prepless veneers that, in my opinion, look far better than some of the more popular prepless veneer brands out there. There is also Invisalign clear braces to help straighten teeth, Zoom one hour whitening to brighten one’ s smile, and bonded veneers which are placed directly on the teeth instead of made in a lab (these usually only last about 10 years or less).
Q. Do Veneers look natural?
A. Veneers done by a trained aesthetic dentist will be indistinguishable from natural teeth. They are absolutely beautiful when done correctly. Unfortunately, many dentists are placing ultra white (chicklet) looking veneers these days that make many people feel they look fake, but done properly no one will know you had them done unless you want them to know.
Q. Does the veneer protect one’s tooth from decay?
A. Veneers do act to protect the tooth surface that they cover so in that regard yes, but they still need to be cared for just like all the other teeth to prevent problems and decay.
Q. How much does veneer cost?
A. There is a wide price range for veneers and this is not an area where one wants to price shop. Like many other things in life, you often get what you pay for. The average veneer in Boulder County will run from $1,000 to $1,500 per tooth for porcelain, slightly less for the bonded ones that wear out faster.
Q. How to contact Dr. Alber if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
2919 Valmont Road • Suite 106 • Boulder, Colorado 80301
Phone: (303) 647-1895
Fax: (303) 449-4320
Email: marc.boulderdental@earthlink.net
Website:boulderdentist.com
