Porcelain veneers can make an incredible difference in almost any smile. We can use venerers to repair chips, cracks, and gaps. Veneers can also lengthen teeth that are too small, perfect an irregular or jagged tooth line, and cover the most discolored or stained teeth. Dr. Joseph Cavallo provides custom porcelain veneers in Woodbridge, VA.
Veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment that can straighten, reshape, or brighten teeth. Dr. Cavallo can cover one or more teeth with veneers to create a beautiful smile.
What are Veneers?
At our Woodbridge, VA dental office, Dr. Joseph Cavallo uses porcelain veneers to improve the appearance and health of your smile. Veneers are thin shells made of strong porcelain that are placed over the front of your teeth. They can fix many different problems and help you feel more confident about your smile.
Porcelain veneers can make your teeth look better and can also improve your overall dental health. If you have teeth that are short, small, worn down, or crooked, veneers can help balance your bite. This means your teeth come together properly when you chew, which can help reduce pressure on certain teeth and prevent future damage.
Veneers are also a great option for restoring teeth that are chipped or cracked, especially when dental bonding isn’t the best choice. With veneers, Dr. Cavallo can rebuild your bite and stop the same problems from happening again.
Am I a Good Candidate for Veneers?
You may be a great match for veneers if you have healthy teeth and gums but want to fix things like:
- Stained or discolored teeth that don’t respond to whitening
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Gaps between your teeth
- Teeth that are uneven or worn down
- Mildly crooked teeth that don’t need braces
Before getting porcelain veneers, we make sure your mouth is healthy. This means your teeth and gums should be in good shape. If you have any problems like cavities or gum disease, they should be treated first. Veneers are meant to improve the look and function of healthy teeth, so taking care of your dental health is the first step. Once your teeth and gums are clean and healthy, you may be a great candidate for veneers.
If you’re interested in veneers, your first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cavallo. During this visit, he’ll carefully examine your teeth, gums, and bite to see if veneers are a good fit. He’ll also take time to listen to your goals and talk with you about what you’d like to change about your teeth.
What is the Difference Between a Crown & Veneers?
While crowns and veneers are a very similar type of restoration, there are a few key differences. One of the main differences between crowns and veneers is that a dental crown covers the entire tooth, while a dental veneer only covers the front and sides of a tooth.
Veneers can:
- Fix gaps between teeth
- Repair chipped or broken teeth
- Improve the appearance of crooked or misshapen teeth
- Change the shape or length of teeth
- Cover stained or discolored teeth
Porcelain veneers are only an aesthetic treatment for your teeth. They simply cover cosmetic flaws and present a perfect smile. But if you have issues such as decay or gum disease, you need to treat these problems before treatment.
Crowns are caps that fully cover your teeth. We recommend crowns for:
- Worn teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Large fillings
Dental crowns may also require more tooth preparation before treatment. We recommend crowns for patients with more damaged teeth. Our office also provides crowns that cover the back teeth. Veneers only cover the front of the teeth that show when you smile.
The Porcelain Veneer Process in Woodbridge, VA
Getting porcelain veneers is a step-by-step process that usually takes two to three visits. At Dr. Joseph Cavallo’s office in Woodbridge, VA, we want to make sure you are comfortable and fully understand what to expect during each part of your treatment.
Exam
The process begins with a complete dental exam and consultation. Dr. Cavallo will take time to look at your teeth, talk with you about your goals, and help you decide if veneers are the best option for improving your smile. If you decide to move forward, the next step is preparing your teeth.
Tooth Preparation
To get your teeth ready for veneers, Dr. Cavallo will gently remove a very small layer of enamel from the front of each tooth that will receive a veneer. This makes room for the thin porcelain shell so that it fits naturally and doesn’t feel bulky. Don’t worry, this part of the process is painless. Sometimes we may recommend a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable.
Impressions
Next, Dr. Cavallo will take dental impressions. He sends these impressions to a local dental lab. Skilled technicians custom-make your porcelain veneers to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth.
While you wait for your final veneers, we’ll give you temporary veneers. Temporaries protect your prepared teeth and keep your teeth looking great.
Final bonding
After about two to three weeks, your permanent porcelain veneers will be ready. You’ll come back to the office, and Dr. Cavallo will check the fit, shape, and color of each veneer to make sure everything looks just right. Once you and Dr. Cavallo are happy with how they look, he uses special bonding cement to securely attach the veneers to your teeth. He’ll also polish your veneers to match the sheen of your teeth.
Porcelain Veneer FAQs
Read answers to common questions about porcelain veneers in Woodbridge, VA:
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my veneer appointment?
No, there aren’t any restrictions. The application of veneers only affects the outer surfaces of the teeth.
Is there recovery after either appointment when I get my veneers?
This is a pain-free, recovery-free procedure. When he removes some of the enamel to make room for your veneers, Dr. Cavallo will provide some local anesthetic to remove any possible sensation you feel.
After the first appointment, some patients notice a slight temporary increase in sensitivity to hot and cold because Dr. Cavallo has removed some of the tooth enamel to make room for the veneers. This passes when the permanent veneers are placed. There isn’t a recovery period, and you can use your teeth with the veneers immediately.
How long do porcelain veneers last?
A set of porcelain veneers can last anywhere from seven to 20 years. This sounds like a wide range, but it is due to the health of the underlying teeth and gums. If a veneer does come off for some reason, in most cases, it can be reattached.
You do need to know that porcelain veneers are a lifetime commitment. Because the placement requires shaving the enamel off the fronts of the teeth, those teeth will forever need to be covered with veneers. So, once your veneers have reached their lifespan, you’ll need to have another set placed.
How do I care for my new veneers?
Porcelain veneers don’t require any special cleaning or maintenance at home, just regular brushing and flossing. Dr. Cavallo only uses porcelain for the veneers he places because they not only look just like natural tooth enamel, but they are highly resistant to staining. This ensures they will look great for the long haul.
There aren’t any limitations on what you can or cannot eat. But you may want to avoid things such as candy apples or chewing on bones, as veneers can sometimes detach. If a veneer does detach, however, it can be reapplied.
Is the porcelain veneer procedure painful?
Patients often worry about the pain associated with porcelain veneers. We take steps to ensure that each patient undergoing treatment with porcelain veneers is comfortable and relaxed. It is common for patients to experience some mild sensitivity immediately following treatment. These symptoms generally subside within 1 to 3 days of treatment.
Are porcelain veneers safe?
These are very low-risk procedures. There are no incisions, so there isn’t any possibility of infection. There isn’t any recovery time. Porcelain veneers only impact the outer surfaces of the teeth being covered by Dr. Cavallo. He removes a small amount of the tooth enamel, from 0.3 to 0.5 mm of the tooth to make room for the veneer.
This doesn’t make the tooth more prone to decay, nerve damage, or anything else. Porcelain veneers are a great tool for giving you a beautifully complete smile or for covering a single tooth or two with interior staining or other cosmetic defects.
Does insurance cover porcelain veneers?
No. These are deemed to be elective procedures, so they are not covered by dental insurance. We offer Care Credit should you want to finance your porcelain veneer procedure.
How much do porcelain veneers cost?
The cost of porcelain veneers varies depending on these factors:
- Type of material
- The number of porcelain veneers
- Your specific condition
Before treatment, we’ll complete a full review of the procedure, including the porcelain veneer cost. We offer convenient payment options, including interest-free financing through Care Credit for qualified patients.
Schedule a Veneer Consultation
Call Dr. Joseph Cavallo to get porcelain veneers in Woodbridge, VA, today at 571-520-9306. You can also request an appointment with us online.