Winston Salem Porcelain Veneers

Dr. Matthew K. Keider is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Porcelain Veneers.


Q. What are porcelain veneers?

A. Porcelain veneers are best described as extremely thin covers, made of porcelain or composite resin (tooth-colored filling material), over the front and biting edge of the tooth or multiple teeth.  I sometimes describe it like a fake fingernail but instead of covering a nail it covers a tooth.  You can change color, shape and size of the teeth with a porcelain veneer.  These are made in a lab and cemented (glued) to the teeth in the dental office.  Depending on position of the teeth sometimes these can be done without the dentist reducing the front side of the tooth at all.  Many veneered teeth do require some reducing (drilling) on the tooth to compensate for the thickness of the veneer.  This is to see that the teeth do not look too big and bulky after the veneers are placed ( What I call "horse tooth syndrome").  I do not recommend porcelain veneers on front teeth that have had or need fillings in between the teeth.  In this case, usually the same issues can be solved better and longer term with crowns that cover the whole tooth.

Q. How long to dental veneers last?

A. Normally there are multiple options for treatment depending on what issues the patient has with their front teeth.  Most aesthetic complaints revolve around tooth shade, position, texture, alignment and spacing.  These problems can be solved in different ways.  Orthodontics (braces, appliances) can solve position, alignment or spacing issues but doesn’t do anything for shade or texture problems.  For these dentists can use composite resins (tooth-colored filling materials), veneers (porcelain or composite resins), and/or full crowns.  The composite resins, veneers and crowns can also deal with tooth position, alignment and spacing to a certain extent.  Longevity of treatment depends on the materials chosen to correct the problems.  In general, porcelain veneers and crowns will last the longest.  I tell patients as long as they keep the teeth and restorations clean and they do not suffer trauma they should continue to function in the mouth very well.  Composite resin materials can stain with time to caffeine, coffee, tea, soda and wine.  I tell patients to expect these restorations to last 5 to 8 years.  Although in an individual who cleans their mouth well and doesn’t drink any of these beverages I have seen them last up to 12 years or longer.

Q. Do dental veneers require special care? And does the veneer protect one’s tooth from decay?

A. There is really no "special" care needed for any of these restorations.  They all require good, oral hygiene including brushing at least morning and before bed and in the middle of the day if possible and flossing at least once daily with before bed being the best time.  All natural teeth, with no dental restorations, need this same care to continue to thrive and not need dental care in the future.  All restored teeth that involve natural tooth structure can decay after receiving any of the above treatments ie. composite resin, porcelain veneers, or crowns. The one dental restoration that is an exception and cannot decay is a dental implant, although it can suffer future problems with bone loss (periodontal disease) after it is completed.

Q. Are there alternatives to dental veneers? And how much does veneer cost?

A. Veneers can be made in the dental chair while the patient is being treated by the dentist by using composite resin.  Again, they don’t last as long as porcelain but if done well they can look as good for many years.  The cost of composite resin veneers is usually based on the time spent by the dentist creating them in the patient’s mouth.  They range from $275 to $500 per tooth depending on how extensive the needs are for each tooth.  The cost of porcelain veneers and crowns is usually around the same fee of approximately $1100 per tooth.

Q. Do Veneers look natural?

A. All of these restorations can look like natural teeth to the point that no one looking at you knows it’s not your natural teeth.

Q. How to contact Dr. Keider if we have further questions?    

A.
Address:
1572 Westbrook Plaza Dr.
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: 336.768.0480
Fax: 336.760.5525
Email:teeth@dr.com
Website: http://www.keiderdds.com/