Veneers: Bridging the Gap In Your Smile

We’ve all been there. You’re coming up on a family reunion, and your sister has already warned you to arrive early because the photographer needs you for several planned shots. As happy as you are to see everyone, all you can think about is your gapped teeth.

I guess you’ll just have to grin and bear it. It’s not like you can do anything about it. Or can you? Think veneers, says Jose Marcano, DMD, at the Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. This versatile cosmetic option can give your smile the ultimate do-over and will leave your family wondering how you got such a great smile.

Veneers explained

Veneers are custom-made, super-thin shells of composite resin or porcelain that your dentist bonds to the front surface of a tooth to cover up tooth imperfections. Veneers are a handy treatment option for teeth in the upper arch, which are visible when you smile.

Since your dentist color-matches your veneers to your neighboring teeth and they are made from materials with the same luminosity as your natural teeth, they are virtually undetectable, making those imperfections seemingly disappear.  

If this sounds a lot like something that happens from a makeup trailer on a back lot Hollywood movie set, there’s a good reason. Veneers can trace their roots back to California dentist Charles L. Pincus, DDS, who developed this technique to rewrite the imperfect smiles of legendary actors like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Shirley Temple.

Transforms gapped teeth and more

One of the great benefits of veneers is that they can address a wide range of issues, including unevenly spaced teeth and gaps between teeth. With gapped teeth, your dentist uses veneers to close up and get rid of that “picket fence” look once and for all. By bonding veneers that are sized evenly, you can stop being self-conscious about your smile.

Similarly, veneers can tackle:

• Slightly overlapping teeth or crooked teeth
• Oddly shaped or unevenly sized teeth
• Damaged, chipped, or cracked teeth; and
• Tooth discoloration

Smile transformation in two just appointments

Veneers offer a significant impact with nearly immediate gratification. Imagine finally achieving the smile you’ve always wanted with minimal wait time. Here at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, from your first consultation to your final visit, you can achieve your best smile in just a couple of weeks.

Remarkably, Dr. Marcano performs veneer installation in two appointments spaced one to two weeks apart. The process unfolds during your first visit, when Dr. Marcano reviews your dental health history, conducts an oral exam, and inquires about your treatment goals.

If he deems you a good candidate for veneers, he begins by preparing each tooth that will receive a veneer. After administering an anesthetic to keep you comfortable, Dr. Marcano shaves a thin layer of enamel from each tooth to make room for the veneer. The final step of the first visit concludes with a series of digital impressions and color matching. Dr. Marcano transmits this data to a dental laboratory that makes your custom veneers.

When your veneers return from the lab, you’ll come in for your final appointment. Dr. Marcano first checks the fit of the veneers to ensure that they blend functionally and aesthetically with your natural teeth. This not only ensures that they will appear natural, but also ensures that they don’t interfere with your bite.

If everything checks out, Dr. Marcano bonds your veneers to your teeth. He completes this visit by cleaning up and trimming any excess material and polishing your teeth. And then you're off to enjoy your new, epic smile.

If your smile could use a little TLC and you're wondering if veneers are right for you, contact the Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment. Contact the office today at 689-220-2651 to book an appointment.