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Porcelain Veneers - East Hartford, CT

Hide Your Smile’s Flaws

Man sharing flawless smile after porcelain veneer restoration

Some qualities of a beautiful smile are easy to identify; good tooth color, shape, and alignment are a few of the most important ones. If your teeth do not quite hit the mark in any of these categories, porcelain veneers may be a perfect treatment for you. A porcelain veneer is an extremely strong, extremely thin piece of porcelain that bears a strong resemblance to tooth enamel. When bonded to the teeth, veneers can create a natural-looking, beautiful new surface. Porcelain veneers in East Hartford, CT can disguise practically anything that you don't like about your smile.

Why Choose Comprehensive Dental Associates of Central Connecticut for Porcelain Veneers

What Can Porcelain Veneers Accomplish?

Man's smile compared with porcelain veneer shade chart

Veneers may be able to significantly improve any of the following characteristics of teeth:

Candidates for Porcelain Veneers

Man and woman with beautiful smiles after porcelain veneer treatment

While most people are candidates for porcelain veneers, there are some situations in which they would not be a suitable treatment. For example, if your teeth are significantly misaligned or have large gaps between them, braces or Invisalign® might be a more appropriate solution than veneers. Also, if you have lost a lot of tooth structure due to decay or trauma (or a particularly severe grinding habit), it might be better to restore your teeth with dental crowns that cover the entire tooth.

The Porcelain Veneer Process

Woman smiling during porcelain veneer treatment

The first step in creating a new smile with porcelain veneers is to visit us for a consultation. Be sure you can communicate exactly what you dislike about your smile as it is now. It is a good idea to bring in pictures of smiles that appeal to you; we can use these as a starting point for designing your veneers.

If you would like to preview how veneers would look on your teeth, that is possible via one of several methods. We can create a model of your teeth, over which wax “veneers” can be placed. In some cases, we are able to place acrylic (plastic) or tooth-colored filling material directly onto a patient’s teeth to demonstrate the effect that veneers would have on them.

Once we settle on a plan for your veneers, we will prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from them, if this step is necessary. We may have to do so in order to ensure that your veneers do not make your smile look bulky or unnatural. However, recent years have brought about remarkable advances in dental porcelain technology. These days, it is often possible to make veneers so thin that they can be bonded directly onto an existing tooth surface — no enamel removal necessary. When it is necessary to remove some enamel, we take an extremely thin layer — as thin as the veneer itself. Either way, the results are almost guaranteed to please.

After your teeth are ready, we will take molds of them. A skilled dental laboratory will use those molds to fabricate your veneers. In the meantime, you will receive a temporary set of veneers to wear during the few weeks it will take to craft your permanent ones. When your veneers arrive back in our dental office, we will verify their fit before we cement them onto your teeth.

Maintaining Your Porcelain Veneers

Woman showing off smile after porcelain veneers

Just like your natural teeth, teeth with porcelain veneers need gentle brushing and flossing on a daily basis. This will remove plaque buildup and promote gum health around the veneers. Regular checkups and cleanings at the dental office will remain as important as ever to your oral and overall health. Also, bear in mind that as tough as veneers are, they may not be able to stand up to forces that come from using your teeth as a tool (for example, to open packages), or biting into extremely hard foods like candy apples — which is not good for your natural teeth, either. If you habitually grind or clench your teeth at night, we are likely to recommend that you use a custom-made nightguard to protect your veneers as well as your natural teeth.

Porcelain Veneers – Without A Drill

Closeup of gorgeous smile after porcelain veneers

Both dentistry and medicine are constantly finding ways to be as conservative as possible without sacrificing results. We are proud to offer “no-prep” or “prepless” veneers. This remarkable treatment allows us to enhance our patients’ smiles — without the downside of having to drill away healthy tooth structure.

Understanding the Cost of Veneers

Smiling young woman enjoying her veneers in East Hartford

The cost of veneers in East Hartford is, in general, higher than that of other cosmetic treatments. However, they are a top-quality service that can provide a long-term smile transformation. When you visit us for your consultation, we will give you an estimate for their price and help you explore your payment options. If you would like to learn about other aesthetic treatments as well, we will be happy to answer your questions and assist you as you compare your options.

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Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What Should I Choose?

Dental patient enjoying the results of her cosmetic dentistry treatment

Veneers in East Hartford are just one of several treatments that can enhance the aesthetics of teeth. Here is a comparison of some of the most popular options, including generalizations about their cost:

  • Braces are best suited for significant dental misalignment that threatens oral health. They typically cost thousands of dollars and require well over a year to complete their work. They do an excellent job of straightening teeth, but they do not enhance their size, shape, or color.
  • Clear aligners. Similar to braces, clear aligners straighten teeth. However, they do so without brackets and wires. Their price is often several thousand dollars, and treatment may take several months to two years.
  • Teeth whitening. This is one of the most affordable treatments offered by a cosmetic dentist in East Hartford, usually costing just a few hundred dollars. However, the results are temporary, and it does nothing to address size or shape issues in teeth.
  • Dental bonding. Also known as direct bonding or cosmetic bonding, this service provides results that are similar to veneers at first. It is also relatively low-cost. However, bonding is not particularly durable; in most cases, it needs to be replaced every 3 – 5 years.
  • Veneers have a significant upfront cost. However, they are an excellent value because they can transform the size, shape, and color of teeth. In some cases, they can even disguise minor misalignment. For image-conscious individuals who want a fast and powerful way to freshen up their look, veneers are an excellent choice.

How to Make Veneers Affordable

Patient handing over card to pay for dental treatment

Veneers are usually considered to be a purely elective treatment. Therefore, it is extremely rare for dental insurance to cover them. However, there are other resources that you may be able to use to fit veneers into your budget:

  • Essential Dental Plan. This discount plan provides lower prices on virtually all the services available in our office. Unlike traditional insurance, it does not come with a waiting period or deductible.
  • Most patients qualify for a low-interest payment plan through a third-party lender, such as CareCredit.
  • Treatment plan adjustments. By using fewer veneers or making other adjustments to your treatment plan, we may be able to keep your care within a requested price range.

Are you ready to learn more about veneers, their price, and how you might be able to afford them? Contact our team today to schedule your personalized consultation. We look forward to helping your smile reach its full potential!

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