Veneers

Stains, chips, gaps, and other cosmetic issues can leave you with a less-than-perfect smile. One of the most effective ways to correct these imperfections almost instantly is by getting dental veneers.

At Dr. Lance Ogata’s office, we help patients correct the appearance of their teeth with custom dental veneers. Getting a veneer is a common cosmetic procedure, but one that we execute with utmost care and attention to detail in order to give you a beautiful smile that still looks as natural as possible.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are thin coverings installed over the front surfaces of a patient’s teeth to cover imperfections. They’re typically made from porcelain or resin-composite material that is teeth-colored and look just as natural as the rest of your teeth.

You get veneers to cover just one chipped or broken tooth, but it's also possible to get as many as six or eight veneers to create a perfectly symmetrical smile. The thin shell installed over the surface of the teeth is meant to conceal aesthetic imperfections and enhance a patient’s smile.

The process of installing a veneer involves grinding down the surface of the teeth or even removing some part of the tooth to allow proper placement of the veneer shell. Grinding down the tooth surface this way creates a rough surface for the adhesive that holds the veneer and also helps to achieve uniformity with surrounding teeth.

What are the Different Types of Veneers?

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are made from high-quality dental porcelain material. They are thinner than other materials and often custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are known for their durability. They are also stain-resistant and can last for many years with proper care.

Composite Material

Also known as resin veneers, composite veneers are made from composite resin material. This type of veneer is often preferred by patients because they’re cost-effective and easy to apply. They’re typically applied directly to the teeth, then shaped to enhance the appearance.

Lumineers

This is a specific brand of ultra-thin veneers made from a kind of patented porcelain material known as Cerinate. Because they’re thin, this type of veneer does not require a lot of tooth preparation. Lumineers are also translucent and are often used to address minor cosmetic imperfections.

Who Needs Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are used to conceal a wide range of cosmetic dental issues. This means anyone looking to enhance the appearance of the teeth for a brighter and even smile can get veneers. Some of the dental issues that can be concealed with veneers include the following:

  • Chipped or broken teeth
  • Gaps or spaces between the teeth
  • Stained teeth that do not improve despite whitening the teeth
  • Small or misshapen teeth.

Note that veneers only serve a cosmetic purpose. It cannot be used to correct or treat cavities or other teeth and gum issues. In fact, you can only get a veneer after a thorough examination confirms that your mouth is free of gum diseases and other serious oral issues.

Getting Custom Dental Veneers at Your Maui Dentist

Getting custom dental veneers at Dr. Lance Ogata’s office typically takes just two visits. On your first visit, your Maui dentist will discuss your needs and assess your teeth to make sure you’re the right candidate for dental veneers.

Once all necessary checks have been carried out and you get the “all-clear,” we’ll take digital impressions of your teeth. This will be sent to the lab, where a custom digital model will be used to create your veneers.

Before applying veneers over the tooth (or teeth), it has to be prepared thoroughly to make room for the veneer shell. This typically involves grinding off at least half of a millimeter of the tooth with a grinding tool. In some cases, you’ll get a temporary veneer placed over your teeth until the permanent one is sent back from the lab about one or two weeks later.

Benefits of Getting Dental Veneers

Getting dental veneers is one of the most effective ways to transform your smile instantaneously. You get to make your teeth brighter or whiter while still maintaining a natural look. You can also get veneers to improve the shape of your individual tooth or achieve more evenness with your whole dentition. Your veneers are durable and more stain-resistant compared to natural teeth, so you’ll enjoy them for many years to come with proper care. You can also have the veneers replaced and improved if you want to.

The Difference of Custom Dental Veneers

As the top dentist in Kahului, we have a skilled cosmetic dentist that specializes in various cosmetic installations, including veneers. With us, your veneers are custom-made and tailored to fit right in with the rest of your teeth and look as natural as possible.

In addition to evaluating your teeth and taking accurate digital impressions on your first visit, we’ll also evaluate the shape, fit, and coloration of the veneers after they come back from the lab to ensure they’re just perfect for you before placing them on.

We’ll also show you what your teeth are likely to look like when the installation is complete, and you can request adjustments to the shape or color of the veneers if you want. We’ll work with you and the lab to ensure that your veneer is just the way you want it to look. We’ll take our time to color-match your new porcelain veneers with the rest of your teeth, so everything looks natural.

Once this has been done, your Kahului dentist will then use dental cement to bond the porcelain veneer to your tooth and harden the cement with ultraviolet light so it adheres and hardens quickly.

Getting veneers installed at Dr. Lance Ogata’s office is a meticulous process. You’ll be working with expert dental technicians that know what it takes to deliver a perfect veneer. Visit our dental clinic in Kahului, HI, or call us at 808-707-7445 to book a consultation.