Avoid Fake Veneers - Tips for Natural Looking Veneers
Dr. Bruce Wilderman prides himself on achieving natural-looking dental care results. No matter what dental procedure patients undergo, our Philadelphia, PA cosmetic dentistry center wants patients to be pleased with the outcomes. That seems like it should be simple with porcelain veneers, but there are a lot of shoddy veneer jobs out there. We can spot them pretty easily, but people outside of the dental field may not know what to look for.
The team at Artistic Expressions Dentistry would like to offer a few tips to help you get the most natural porcelain veneer results possible. This will also involve us identifying some telltale signs of fake-looking porcelain veneers.
Find a Cosmetic Dentist That You Trust
The first tip to avoid getting veneers that look fake is finding the right cosmetic dentist. A skilled cosmetic dentist is someone who will not stand for unnatural results.
If you currently have a cosmetic dentist who does great things for your smile, you’re all set and can move on to the other tips below.
If do not have a cosmetic dentist already, be sure to ask friends and family members for recommendations. Should that turn up no leads, start your search online and do research on various dentists in the area. Simply searching “cosmetic dentist Philadelphia” is a good way to start. A combination of patient reviews and before and after photos will help you find a good fit.
Veneers Shouldn’t Be Too White
The sure sign of a fake-looking porcelain veneer is that they are too white or too bright. There’s an artificial whiteness that a good cosmetic dentist can identify and avoid. Instead, the porcelain veneer should be stain-free but matched to your other teeth.
The Shape Is Off
Porcelain veneers can give smiles a much more balanced and symmetrical look, but fake-looking veneers often look too perfect. They may be too symmetrical and squared off, which gives them a false appearance. Natural, more rounded shapes tend to lead to better porcelain veneers.
The Opacity/Translucence of Veneers Matters
Porcelain veneers are semi-translucent, meaning that light partially passes through them just like natural tooth structure. If veneers have a flat or opaque look, they will appear totally artificial when they are in place. A porcelain veneer that is too opaque might also be the wrong color when in place.
The Veneers Shouldn’t Be Too Thick
In order to place a porcelain veneer, a small amount of tooth structure is removed. Most porcelain veneers are thin or ultra-thin. A fake-looking porcelain veneer tends to be too thick. When the veneers are too thick, they tend to be opaque and they jut out off the teeth in a way that calls attention to themselves.
The Veneers Are Too Close Together
Finally, the spacing of the porcelain veneers matters. While porcelain veneers can close gaps between teeth, a cosmetic dentist should leave just a little bit of space between veneers and natural teeth for the best possible results. Sometimes dentists who are not as skilled will press veneers right against other surfaces. This makes it hard to floss and simply does not look real at all.
Learn More About Porcelain Veneers
If you live in the Philadelphia area and would like more information about porcelain veneers, be sure to contact a skilled cosmetic and restorative dentist. You can reach Artistic Expressions Dentistry by phone at (215) 340-1199.