Heidi - Porcelain Veneers

Facial Dynamics and Arch Width

Patients occasionally present multiple issues that can be resolved by a combination of surgical and mechanical solutions. Her lips, length of face and overall balance of her facial features are excellent. Only the teeth are out of coordination with the wonderful facial features.

The width of her upper arch and the length of her bicuspid teeth need enhancing to establish the full balanced smile necessary to augment her lips. The two central incisors are out of balance with the rest of her teeth. They look too big.

Non Invasive Porcelain Veneers and Porcelain crowns

The goal of treatment is to plan the least amount of care necessary to obtain the maximum benefit. Non invasive porcelain veneers were able to add the width to her smile and give this patient teeth that coordinate with the rest of her naturally balanced facial features. Non invasive porcelain veneers do not require grinding on her natural teeth. The key issue is the length of her bicuspid teeth are short because of the over growth of her attached gingiva. Surgical procedures with a CO2 laser are successful in this area however there are other methods more effective than the laser. After the gums were re-contoured and the teeth appeared longer the porcelain veneers were bonded.

Gum Surgery and Porcelain Veneers

The porcelain veneers can hold the tissue higher and avoid a relapse of the gum growth by giving the teeth a more natural slant toward her cheeks. By reshaping the teeth with porcelain veneers the gums will not overgrow again.

Porcelain Crowns vs Porcelain Veneers

Cosmetic dentists have a difficult time with balancing the color between a porcelain crown and porcelain veneer. Cosmetic Dentistry has to be able to get both teeth to look alike in all types of different lighting. The patient has a porcelain crown on one central incisor and a porcelain veneer on the other. The cosmetic dentist has to be able to balance the optic characteristics of the light translucency in order to make two very different restorations look exactly the same.

Wider Arch and a Full Smile

With an upper arch that appears wider, the teeth fill the space that her lips require. The lips of the patient frame the teeth and if the teeth are too short or too narrow, the teeth will fail to compliment her face. There are different types of smiles that enhance different varieties of lips.

The Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentistry has evolved to new levels of care. Bonding porcelain veneers is not enough. The artistic, three dimensional cosmetic dentist has to be able to visualize the entire face and be able to deliver the high level of care that is demanded by todays patients. The level of quality and acceptable standards of care have dramatically risen.