Porcelain Dental Veneers

Porcelain and composite (chairside) veneers from Dr. Arash Azarbal can give you a stunning smile makeover without the time commitment or appearance of traditional braces. Follow the links below to learn more about veneers or contact us today to schedule a consultation.

• What Are Porcelain Veneers?
• What Are Chairside Veneers?
• Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
• Candidates for Porcelain Veneers
• Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Crowns
• Porcelain Veneers vs. Invisalign®
• Porcelain Veneers Procedure
• Porcelain Veneers Results
• Porcelain Veneers Before-and-After Photos
• Porcelain Veneers Cost
• Porcelain Veneers Alternatives
• Learn More About Porcelain Veneers
• The Pasadena Dental Aesthetics Difference

Made from thin porcelain shells, dental veneers can be placed over the outside of your teeth to enhance your smile. A small amount of tooth structure will be removed to ensure your teeth do not appear thick and to ensure the most aesthetically pleasing final result. As an advocate of conservative treatment, Dr. Azarbal will minimize tooth reduction and maintain as much healthy tooth structure as possible. Veneers can be placed on one or more teeth, or all of them, depending on your individual needs and desired outcome.

In some cases, prep-less or chairside veneers may be used. With this technique, the procedure is completed in one appointment, as the veneers are bonded to the teeth with composite. As a result, you will not have to return for a second appointment as you would with traditional porcelain veneers. Not everyone is a candidate for this procedure. Dr. Azarbal will discuss this option with you at your initial consultation if it’s appropriate for you.

What Are Composite (Chairside) Dental Veneers?

A more conservative approach, composite veneers can enhance the look of your teeth with less turnaround time than porcelain veneers. Also called chairside or prep-less veneers, this technique offers many benefits for the ideal candidate. Although not appropriate for everyone, composite veneers can address mild to moderate dental concerns in one visit, including staining, small gaps and cracks, and chips. Composite veneers are also typically more cost-effective than porcelain; however, they last for a shorter period of time. During your initial consultation with Dr. Azarbal, he can help you determine if composite or porcelain veneers will optimize your outcome based on your needs and goals.

If you have deep tooth staining from the use of tetracycline, veneers (porcelain or composite) offer the best chance for having completely white teeth.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Porcelain Veneers?

Dental veneers come with many benefits, particularly that they are custom-made for each tooth, for each person. Veneers are also very natural-looking, and when placed by a skilled dentist like Dr. Azarbal, people should not be able to tell the difference between the natural teeth and the veneers. Veneers also resist staining and strengthen the tooth they cover. It’s important to understand that traditional veneers are considered a permanent procedure, so you should discuss your desired outcome and long-term goals with Dr. Azarbal to ensure this is the ideal technique for your needs.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

If you have deep staining, chipped or cracked teeth, gaps, crowding, poorly shaped teeth, or a combination of these concerns, dental veneers can often help significantly improve the appearance of your smile. These thin porcelain shells are placed over your existing teeth to create a beautiful and natural-looking result that can also enhance your confidence. You should not have any active oral health conditions, such as gum disease, before getting veneers, and Dr. Azarbal will review your oral health to determine if this technique is optimal for your aesthetic goals.

Porcelain Veneers vs. Dental Crowns

Porcelain veneers and dental crowns are both solutions to restore chipped, cracked, or otherwise imperfect teeth. The difference between the two restorations has to do with the extent of damage requiring correction. Porcelain veneers are intended to resolve minor cosmetic flaws like chips and gaps, while crowns are protective “caps” designed to strengthen and protect vulnerable teeth. If the concerns you wish to address do not cause pain or affect your ability to bite, porcelain veneers may be the optimal treatment choice to renew your smile. However, if the structure of your tooth has been weakened by decay, a dental injury, or teeth clenching/grinding, a dental crown is likely the best restoration option to repair your bite.

The good news is that porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns can both offer functional and aesthetic benefits to some degree. Veneers can be extremely durable as well as realistic in their resemblance to natural teeth, often providing a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing restoration. Dental crowns are similarly crafted to blend in seamlessly with your smile and can deliver the protection necessary to safeguard a compromised tooth from further damage. Dr. Azarbal can give you insight into the best treatment option(s) to help you attain a healthy, beautiful smile.

Porcelain Veneers vs. Invisalign®

The ability to “straighten” the appearance of misaligned teeth is one of the many advantages of porcelain veneers, which can lead some patients to wonder whether they are able to resolve their orthodontic concerns with veneers rather than braces. If you experience structural issues with your bite, such as an underbite, overbite, cross bite, or open bite, Invisalign® or another orthodontic system is usually the most appropriate treatment. While porcelain veneers can lengthen the teeth and make them more symmetrical, these porcelain restorations cannot treat biting problems or jaw misalignments. In general, there are typically few major orthodontic issues that veneers can effectively address. That said, gaps and crowded teeth are among the concerns that patients may be able to correct with porcelain veneers.

What Should I Expect During the Porcelain Veneers Procedure?

Dr. Azarbal will discuss your goals for your smile makeover. How do you want it to look? Do you have a preference for the shape and color of your new smile? Dr. Azarbal will also offer suggestions on smile design and address any concerns you have.

Dr. Azarbal will prepare your teeth for veneers by shaving off a very thin layer of enamel (about the width of a fingernail) from the front of each tooth that will receive a veneer. He will carefully shape each tooth. You will be shown a computer-generated simulation of your teeth, as well as a wax-up model, of them as a preview of how your new smile will look. If you want any changes made, Dr. Azarbal can make those modifications. If you are having porcelain veneers placed, impressions of your teeth will be sent to Dr. Azarbal’s master ceramist who will craft the veneers. He will give very subtle and detailed color instructions to the ceramist to ensure the veneers will have a natural appearance and aesthetics.

While your porcelain veneers are being made, you will have temporary veneers placed based on models of the final result. This way you will have a preview of your final outcome, and you can evaluate your porcelain veneers for a few days to determine if you may want any shape or color modifications.

The ceramist will use the digital impressions, together with Dr. Azarbal’s detailed color instructions, to create beautiful porcelain veneers for you.

The custom veneers are temporarily applied to the teeth and checked to ensure they achieve the appearance you want. You will take a look at your temporary smile, and if you have any hesitations about it, Dr. Azarbal will have adjustments made to your veneers, or have them completely re-done. When you are thrilled with the look of your smile makeover, the veneers will be permanently bonded to your teeth.

What Results Can I Expect from Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are tough, strong, and long-lasting. Many patients can enjoy the benefits for decades. Chairside veneers often last a shorter period of time and may need to be replaced after about a few years or so. An important part of getting the most life out of your treatment is proper care and oral hygiene.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?

The cost of your porcelain dental veneers will depend on a number of factors unique to you. Veneers are fully customized to suit your dental needs and expressed goals, so the price will range based on the amount of work needed. This procedure requires additional training not provided in the typical dental program. Dr. Azarbal has undergone extensive training in placing porcelain veneers at the UCLA School of Dentistry Aesthetic Continuum and at the Eubanks Teaching Institute in Smile Design and Advanced Occlusion. He was also Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Restorative Sciences at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC from 2103 through 2015, where he served as one of the Directors of Dental Morphology, Function, and Esthetics (DMFE). With comfort, care, and results his primary concerns, he seeks to give each patient the most natural-looking and longest-lasting outcome possible.

A consultation is essential in determining the cost of your treatment, as we personalize every procedure. During this meeting, we will discuss your needs, goals, and financial situation to come to a decision that best suits you. We want you to leave feeling confident in our care and satisfied with the approach.

To help you bring the cost of dental veneers in your budget, we accept a number of payment options, including VISA®, AMEX®, and MasterCard®. If you prefer to pay in monthly installments, we work with a number of reputable lending institutions, such as CareCredit® and SimplePay™, that offer qualified applicants low or no-interest rates and appealing terms.

Are there any alternatives to porcelain veneers?

Depending on your concerns, there may be a number of appealing alternatives to dental veneers. Staining can be minimized with teeth whitening, chips and cracks can be repaired with cosmetic bonding, and gaps and crowding can be improved with Invisalign®. If you have several concerns, a Smile Makeover can help you achieve multiple goals. Regardless of your objectives, our skilled team can develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Porcelain Veneers

Still curious if porcelain veneers might be right for you? Dr. Azarbal has provided answers to a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this popular cosmetic technique. If you would like to know more, we encourage you to schedule a consultation today.

What kind of maintenance is required for porcelain veneers?

Just like your natural teeth, porcelain dental veneers should be brushed twice daily, and flossed once daily. Regular checkups with Dr. Azarbal are highly recommended to address any damage or decay, as you normally would. Healthy gums and excellent oral care will help to ensure your dental veneers last for many years.

Can you whiten veneers?

Porcelain dental veneers resist staining, so teeth whitening should not be necessary. Light staining on porcelain veneers can usually be polished off during your routine hygiene cleanings. That said, the only way to truly whiten veneers is to replace them.

Does insurance cover porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers and cosmetic procedures are generally not covered by insurance companies. However, in certain instances where there is decay or damage to the teeth they may cover a portion of the treatment. We recommend speaking with your insurance representative to determine what your benefits include. In most cases, you will have to pay out of pocket for your veneers, and we work with several reputable lending agencies if you would like to consider dental financing.

How strong are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are designed to be durable, beautiful, and similar in strength to your natural teeth. However, they are not impervious to damage. You should not attempt to use your teeth as tools (to open bottles or packages), and you should wear a night guard if you grind your teeth. We also advise patients not to chew ice or other solid objects. By taking good care of your veneers via brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly, you should be able to enjoy your smile for many years.

Do porcelain veneers stain?

Composite veneers can become stained, over time. A professional cleaning can help polish off the staining. Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are more resistant to staining, far more than your natural teeth. Even so, you may wish to limit consumption of foods and beverages that can discolor teeth, and we always recommend avoiding tobacco products. If you would like more dramatic whitening, you may wish to have the veneer replaced.

Are porcelain veneers reversible?

The porcelain veneers process typically involves reshaping the natural teeth, so this procedure is not reversible. This is why it is important to choose a dentist that you feel comfortable with and who has the skills to create a beautiful result using the most conservative technique possible. Should you need to replace a veneer for any reason, we can help you restore your smile.

Do porcelain veneers look natural?

As restorations crafted specifically to the exact dimensions, proportions, and shade of your natural teeth, porcelain veneers can look very realistic in relation to the rest of your smile. Since a small, precise portion of the treated tooth is reduced during the preparation process, veneers should fit snugly on the surface of the enamel without protruding outward. Furthermore, dental porcelain provides a translucency and sheen that closely resemble the look of a natural tooth, allowing your veneer(s) to remain undetectable to outside observers.

Do porcelain veneers hurt?

Once bonded to your tooth, a porcelain veneer should feel natural and comfortable in your mouth. Patients typically do not report pain or discomfort during the placement process, nor after the veneer is cemented to the tooth. However, a local anesthetic can be utilized at the time of treatment to further enhance comfort during your appointment.

Can I just get one porcelain veneer or will I need a whole set?

You can receive as many porcelain veneers as necessary to achieve your ideal smile. Patients usually choose to treat their front teeth, as these teeth are the most visible when smiling; however, your treatment plan is fully customized to your unique needs and desires.

Will I have tooth sensitivity after porcelain veneers treatment?

Mild sensitivity after getting porcelain veneers can happen occasionally, but usually resolves naturally within a few days following treatment. Sensitivity is most frequently experienced when eating very hot or cold foods, so discomfort can often be managed by avoiding food or drink served at excessive temperatures. Using oral rinses designed to reduce sensitivity, such as Sensodyne® products, can also help achieve relief in the meantime.

Why Should I Choose Pasadena Dental Aesthetics for My Porcelain Veneers?

Though many dentists offer composite and porcelain veneers, it is very important that you choose one with the additional training and artistic perspective necessary to give you a beautiful smile makeover. Cosmetic procedures like this one are not taught in dental school and, in order to do them well, dentists must invest in a significant amount of additional training and proper equipment to give you a personalized smile design. Dr. Azarbal has made the investment. He received training from the UCLA School of Dentistry Aesthetic Continuum and participated in Smile Design and Advanced Occlusion courses at the Eubanks Teaching Institute. He was also an adjunct professor in the USC School of Dentistry Restorative Department, specifically in DMFE (Dental Morphology Function and Esthetics) from 2013 through 2015.

Visit our smile gallery for more examples of Dr. Azarbal’s beautiful work with porcelain veneers.