Porcelain Veneers - FAQ's

Serving the Arlington, Virginia area.

What do porcelain veneers correct?

Dr. Kim uses porcelain veneers to correct many different dental problems. Gaps, chipped or cracked teeth, worn teeth, misshaped or disfigured teeth, and discolored teeth can all be corrected with the use of porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers provide a cosmetic dentistry option that can be used to give you a smile that you have always wanted in just two visits to the dentist office.

Also, if you are just having one or two teeth repaired or corrected, Dr. Kim may be able to use CEREC technology to provide you with custom porcelain veneers in just one visit to his office.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are ceramic porcelain shells that are custom-made to fit over the front surfaces of your teeth in order to change their color, size, position, and shape. Much like the way your natural teeth do, porcelain veneers reflect light and resist stains; they are a wonderful option for people who want a straighter, brighter smile that is free of irregularities without orthodontic braces.

To determine the best color, shape, translucency, and custom fit of the porcelain veneers for your mouth, Dr. Kim will make impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab. The lab will create a mold of what you teeth will look like and send them to Dr. Kim for your approval. Once the mold has been approved, the lab will create your new, custom, porcelain veneers.

A small amount of enamel must be removed for the porcelain veneers to look good and fit correctly in you mouth. The teeth that have the porcelain veneers may be more sensitive, but this feeling will soon pass.

What are the advantages of porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers can be the perfect solution for you if you would like to correct your smile. Not only can porcelain veneers correct chipped teeth, cracked teeth, and broken teeth, but also, porcelain veneers can correct your smile if it has too many gaps, if you have crooked teeth, or if you want to enhance your smile.

Porcelain veneers are custom made to match the size, shape, and color of your teeth. Also, porcelain is translucent and reflects light much the same way your natural teeth do, this means that the porcelain veneers you receive will perfectly match your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers can also be chosen to brighten your smile and give you the dazzling white teeth that you have seen on television, magazines, and movies.

How do I get porcelain veneers?

Getting your porcelain veneers is an easy process. It begins with scheduling an initial consultation with Dr. Kim in Arlington, Virginia. During your initial consultation, Dr. Kim will discuss what results you want to see and if porcelain veneers are the right cosmetic dentistry choice to provide you with those results.

Once Dr. Kim and you have decided which of your teeth will be fitted with porcelain veneers, a mold will be made of your smile. The mold is then sent to a dental lab where they will create a model of what your teeth will look like with the porcelain veneers. The dental lab will then send the model back to Dr. Kim so that you can approve or make suggestions for how your teeth will look.

With the model approved, the dental lab will create your custom porcelain veneers and send them to Dr. Kim. When Dr. Kim has your final porcelain veneers, you will come in to have them fitted onto your teeth.

In order for the porcelain veneers to fit and match you teeth perfectly, a small amount of the enamel must be removed from the front surfaces of your teeth. Dr. Kim will then laser bond the porcelain veneers to your teeth, giving you a perfect smile in just a couple visits to the dentist office.

If you are only having one or two teeth fitted with porcelain veneers, then you may be able to have them applied to your teeth in just one visit to the office with the aid of CEREC. Contact Dr. Kim to find out if CEREC or porcelain veneers are the right cosmetic dentistry choice for you.

How much is the cost of porcelain veneers?

Since porcelain veneers can require more than one visit to the dentist office, and since they are custom made for your teeth, they are not inexpensive. However, Dr. Kim believes that you should be confident in your smile and that money should be the last of your concern when deciding on a dental procedure. Because of this, Dr. Kim offers affordable financing options so that the cost of your cosmetic dentistry does not stand in the way of having the smile you have always wanted.

How long will my porcelain veneers last?

Since porcelain veneers are laser bonded to your teeth, there is a very small chance that they will fall off. With proper care your porcelain veneers can last for many years. There are different ways you can extend the life of your porcelain veneers. For instance, you should not clench or grind your teeth with porcelain veneers.

Although porcelain veneers are stain resistant, dark foods, smoking and other habits can stain them after prolonged exposure. Dr. Kim can answer any questions you have about your porcelain veneers and give you any special guidelines for them during you initial consultation.

Duke H. Kim, DDS, MAGD
(703) 931-5555
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Cosmetic and Comprehensive General Dentistry
Serving Arlington, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area