Wilmington, DE Veneers | Delaware Dental Studio

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers might be the most versatile and transformative treatment available in cosmetic dentistry. Porcelain veneers are custom-made, tooth-shaped pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the front of your tooth. They can be used to change the shape, symmetry, color, and size of your teeth, and thus, offer a natural-looking option for chips, discoloration, concealing cracks, and other cosmetic flaws. Porcelain is the ideal material because it naturally replicates human enamel. Porcelain veneers are extremely thin (approximately 0.3mm), but do not let their thinness deceive you: Once bonded on a tooth, they are incredibly strong.

At Delaware Dental Studio, we believe that the key to providing our Wilmington patients with the optimal results for their porcelain veneers is by creating the most realistic, natural appearance. In other words, we create a natural looking smile people assume you were born with. The key to the realistic appearance of veneers lies in the light reflecting properties of porcelain. Like natural tooth enamel, porcelain is translucent, meaning that it allows some light to pass through its surface rather than simply reflecting it. When high-grade porcelain is crafted to perfectly complement the shape, color, size, and symmetry of your nearby teeth, porcelain veneers are almost indistinguishable from your other teeth.

What Are The Benefits of Veneers?

As one of the top veneer dentists in Wilmington, Dr. Lynn Fee’s expertise with porcelain veneers makes it possible for her to create a beautiful and natural looking smile quickly. Some of the notable benefits our Wilmington patients have found with their porcelain veneers include:

Eliminating space between teeth
Lengthening teeth to desired length
Reducing “gummy” smiles
Reshaping worn, chipped, or misaligned teeth
Eliminating severely discolored or stained teeth with natural enamel looking porcelain veneers
Making your teeth both cosmetically beautiful and functionally stronger (veneers can strengthen and align the bite)
Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, allowing your teeth to stay whiter and brighter longer, even if you love having a hot cup of coffee every morning

Based on overwhelming anecdotal evidence, Dr. Lynn Fee has also found that a smile makeover, which porcelain veneers often play a critical role in creating, improves self-esteem and self-confidence.

How Are Veneers Placed?

At Delaware Dental Studio, placing porcelain veneers is minimally invasive and relatively painless. As a leading veneer dentist in Wilmington, Dr. Lynn Fee employs the latest techniques with an eye towards creating you a beautiful and natural looking smile tailored to your unique facial features.

Step 1 – Free Consultation

The process begins with a visit to Delaware Dental Studio. At your free consultation with our cosmetic dentist, we will spend time with you looking at photographs and listening to what you have to say about your smile. We will offer you guidance regarding which smile might best match the shape and contours of your face and listen to your input, whether it is closing spaces, straightening, or reshaping your teeth.

After determining if you are a suitable candidate for porcelain veneers and your desired outcome, our team will take an impression of your teeth. The impression will be sent to a dental cosmetic laboratory, which consists of expert lab technicians that will custom craft your veneers according to your precise specifications.

Step 2 – Temporary Veneers

In order to have your dental porcelain veneers placed, Dr. Lynn Fee will prepare your tooth by removing a very small portion of your tooth’s enamel. This is necessary so that the veneer will lay flat and in line with your gum tissue. With the ultra-thin porcelain veneers we use at Delaware Dental Studio, there is little or no reduction of the tooth structure before placement.

After the tooth has been prepared, a temporary veneer will be secured using removable glue. While you are in your temporary veneers, which typically is about two weeks, you can decide if you are happy with your new smile; if not, our team can adjust your porcelain veneers until you are happy. While wearing a temporary veneer, you should brush your teeth gently and try not to eat foods that could push the veneers out of place.

Step 3 – Permanent Veneers

When you return to Delaware Dental Studio for your second and last visit, Dr. Lynn Fee will remove your temporary veneers. Once the permanent veneers are tried on and we make sure you love the results, Dr. Lynn Fee will bond them to the front surface of your tooth. Our Wilmington patients are amazed at the look of their new smile! You will leave this appointment with a beautifully restored smile that will likely last more than a decade with proper care.

Veneers FAQs

Am I A Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

If you have healthy gums and teeth, you are may be a candidate for veneers. If you have some tooth decay or gum disease, our Wilmington dentists would have to treat you before placing porcelain veneers. The easiest way to determine whether you are a candidate for veneers is to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Lynn Fee. At our consultations, we work closely with our Wilmington patients to answer each of their questions and tell you why Delaware Dental Studio can provide you with the best porcelain veneers Wilmington has to offer.

How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

With proper home care, porcelain veneers generally last 15 years or longer. Ultimately, how long your veneers last largely depend on maintaining your oral care habits, including wearing a bite guard (if recommended) and regular 6-month dental checkups.

Are Veneers Painful?

For most veneers, the process is not painful. At Delaware Dental Studio, we are conservative in our approach with the amount of reduction to the tooth. We carefully craft your tooth so as not to reduce your original tooth further than your outer enamel. The outer surface of your tooth does not have any nerves that result in sensitivity; consequently, our Wilmington patients generally do not complain about sensitivity with their veneers.

Do Porcelain Veneers Stain?

One of the significant benefits of porcelain veneers is their resistance to staining and discoloration. Porcelain is not a porous material, and as a result, beverages associated with staining teeth (e.g., coffee, tea, and red wine) usually cannot penetrate porcelain veneers. Porcelain is similar to fine china – properly cared for, it will not fade or wear over time. If it seems like your veneers have discolored over a long period of time, there is a high likelihood that the tooth behind the veneer has changed. If you have concerns about your smile losing whiteness, please contact Delaware Dental Studio and we will talk through your concerns and various options.

What Is The Difference Between A Veneer And A Crown?

At the most basic level, the difference is how much of the tooth is covered. A crown is often necessary when the tooth has severe decay and the health of the tooth is in jeopardy. A crown, which used to be called a dental cap, covers the entire tooth. A veneer, on the other hand, is a very thin film of porcelain that covers only the front of the tooth. While a veneer will help strengthen a tooth, the tooth must be healthy before the veneer is placed.

Your Dentist for Porcelain Veneers in Wilmington – Schedule a Free Consultation to Learn More!

At Delaware Dental Studio, Dr. Lynn Fee specializes in smile design with porcelain veneers and a variety of other aesthetic dental restorations, such as crowns and bridges, whitening, and Invisalign, which collectively offer the most comprehensive smile makeover available in Wilmington.

Whether you are looking to treat a single tooth or a complete smile makeover, porcelain veneers could be a potential solution. For more information and to schedule your free consultation, please contact us at (302) 475-0600, or drop by our office at 2500 Grubb Rd, Suite 130, Wilmington, DE 19810. We’re always accepting new patients, and we hope to see you soon.

Get in Touch – Contact us if you have questions or book an appointment to experience the difference.
You can call or text us at 302-475-0600.