Downtown Dental dentist debunks four myths about porcelain dental veneer treatment

You yearn for a dazzling Hollywood smile, and Dr. Mungcal can help you achieve it.

There’s the gap between your upper front teeth and the chipped incisor to the right of them. How about that yellowish coffee discoloration that’s crept across your once-pearly whites?

You’ve read about the wonders of porcelain dental veneer treatment, and you know it’s available in your Los Angeles neighborhood. But you’ve also researched some internet threads that have you wondering if porcelain veneers will harm your teeth in the long run; if they’ll last; if they’ll look natural; and if they are accessible to you. Dr. Don Mungcal of Downtown Dental, voted Best Dentist in Downtown in Los Angeles Downtown News for four years in a row, stands ready to help you sort out fact from fiction.

Envision your veneer smile

Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells formed from strong ceramic materials designed to mimic actual tooth enamel. Veneers are custom-fit for each patient and bonded to the natural teeth. They’re one of the most popular treatments for correcting various dental issues, rectifying everything from a single chipped tooth to an entire row of small, misshapen, or gapped teeth. In some instances of minor tooth misalignment, veneers can serve as an alternative to braces. They are also the perfect cover for stained or discolored teeth.

Myth #1: The veneer application process will ruin my natural teeth

Veneers will not ruin your natural teeth if preparation and application are handled by an experienced cosmetic dentist trained in the latest procedures and if the veneers are crafted in a qualified lab.

There are several steps involved in placing veneers.

• First, your dentist determines if you are a good candidate. Patients with poor oral hygiene, gum disease, or those who grind their teeth may not be well-suited to veneers
• If veneers are right for you, the next step is to make an impression of your mouth so that the veneers can be precisely customized to fit together well and work with your natural teeth. You are fitted with a “mock-up” of your new smile to see if you are happy with the look and feel
• If you decide to move forward, your teeth are prepared for application by lightly removing a bit of natural enamel, so the veneers will fit well and feel natural
• You’re sent home with your temporary “trial smile” to wear for a week or two until your veneers return from the lab. You will go back for one more visit to have the mock-up removed and the new veneers bonded to your teeth

Patients worry that removing some of the natural enamel will permanently ruin their teeth. However, the amount of enamel removed is usually thinner than a fingernail. That’s about half a millimeter. It is true that some patients experience tooth sensitivity after the procedure. That’s why choosing an experienced cosmetic dentist to prepare your teeth for veneers is so important.

Myth #2: Veneers can look unnatural

Again, it’s all about the expertise of the professional who treats you. In an inexperienced dentist’s hands, veneers can fit poorly, looking and feeling “thick.” Choose a cosmetic dentist with the artistic eye and dental skill to craft a smile that suits you as an individual. Such physicians are intent on matching your veneers’ size, shape, and color with the rest of your natural teeth.

Myth #3: Veneers don’t last

For most patients, veneers last 10 to 15 years. Remember, veneers exist because natural teeth chip, crack, and become discolored.

Myth #4: Veneers are expensive

Veneers can be costly. But they are an excellent dental investment. They can often treat several cosmetic issues in one fell swoop, correcting mild misalignment, protecting a fractured tooth, and whitening your smile, all at the same time. Veneers are often less expensive than crowns.

Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist about payment plans or financing options; most offer them.

If you’re on the fence about treatment with veneers, make an appointment today to talk with Dr. Don Mungcal at Downtown Dental. He and his staff are committed to making you smile! You can reach him at 213-863-9464.

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