Category Archives: Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain Veneers

Can I get my porcelain veneers replaced for $2400?

I’ve had three veneers on my front teeth for about 8 years and then they suddenly fell off one by one very fast. I even saved two of them, but, as I can guess, new ones will be needed. I do not think any artistry is required for this, just to restore what was there before. Besides,i’m in retirement at this point and have very limited resources.

So, my question: If a good professional can be found who can do this job within $2400 that i have at my disposal at this time. It actually took 4 years for me to save this amount, $50 each month. I’ll very appreciate your response,whatever it is. Thanks so much.

– Joe from New York

Dear Joe,
It looks like you’re a man who is very careful with his budget. I admire that.

A couple of points that will help you. First, I wouldn’t say, “there is no artistry required – just to restore what was there before.” Porcelain veneers are used to improve the appearance of the teeth. And getting front teeth to look good, even if it’s only a matter of replicating what was there, it’s art. A painter who paints landscapes is only reproducing what is in front of her eyes, and that’s still art. Bargains can be very expensive here. “No art” would be to leave your front teeth the way they are now.

So here’s what I’d do. Find an excellent cosmetic dentist. And discuss your situation over the phone to find out if they’ll work with you on this. You actually CAN have the old porcelain veneers re-bonded, IF you go to an expert cosmetic dentist who truly understands the procedures here. That would be the best way to save money – not to go to a bargain-basement dentist. While you can get bargains with basic drill-and-fill dentistry, you will get really stung if you try to get that with cosmetic dentistry – it’s a different marketplace for that. I think you could get done what you need to for the amount of money you’ve saved.

You can also save some money if you are willing to travel outside the New York City area, say, to the lower Hudson Valley or New Jersey. Fees vary quite a bit geographically, and New York City is one of the highest fee areas in the country.

Related links:
Lafayette cosmetic dentist
How to fix crooked teeth
Louisiana Lumineers

Porcelain Veneers

Should I have crowns for my tetracycline stains?

I have severe tetracycline stains, and have had porcelain veneers for the past eighteen years. My teeth look gray with the porcelain veneers, but it is much better than the awful stains I had before.

I wanted to get new porcelain veneers, but my dentist says I should get crowns, so that the stain will be completely covered. What do you think?

– Ann from Louisiana

Ann,
I don’t think you need crowns.

Tetracycline stains are very difficult to treat, and you really need a lot of training and experience with cosmetic dentistry to do them right. The stain is very dark, and go to the core of the tooth. When general dentists try to fix them they end up at one extreme or another — either the veneers are too translucent so that the dark stain shows through, or they’re too opaque, so that they look chalky and fake. Or sometimes they get over-aggressive and grind the teeth down for crowns and then put an opaque crown over them. None of these approaches results in a truly beautiful smile.

But there are ways to make a beautiful smile with conservative porcelain veneers over tetracycline stained teeth. You may want to visit our smile gallery where we show Dawanna, who had brown tetracycline stains, that we treated with porcelain veneers.

So my advice is to stick with the porcelain veneers, but to go to an expert cosmetic dentist. We’d be happy to help you if you’d like to come here.

Related links:
Porcelain crowns

Invisalign, Porcelain Veneers

How to fix one tooth that is out of line

Dr. Malone,
What is the best procedure that can be done to a front tooth that is out of line with the other ones, besides using braces?
– Mark in New York

Mark,
There are two main ways that we would usually use to fix your smile if you have one tooth that is out of alignment, without using braces. And there is another possible way that could sometimes be used.

The fastest way, and this can be done in just a couple of main appointments, is to use porcelain veneers. Veneers are placed over your teeth. Usually the teeth are shaved just a little bit first, about the thickness of a fingernail, so that they don’t end up being too thick once the veneers are on. Even if your teeth are pretty badly out of line, they can be made to look perfectly straight. A good illustration is the patient, Bea, in our smile gallery. She had crooked teeth that were corrected with porcelain veneers.

The second major way is with Invisalign. While these are called “invisible braces,” they’re not really braces, in that metal brackets aren’t put on your teeth. And they’re twice as fast as metal braces. We use a series of clear plastic aligners that you snap in, and they push your teeth into the correct positions.

And if you have, say, just one tooth that is out of alignment, some people like us to use direct tooth bonding on just the one tooth that is out of line. This can look great when it’s done, but the bonding material isn’t nearly as durable as porcelain, and it tends to pick up stain over time.