1. What happens if one of my veneers comes off?

This can really feel awful when it happens, can' t it? Many times, however, we can easily replace the existing veneer with some minor treatment or fabricate a new one. As always, we never want our patients to go without a veneer, so we will make a provisional veneer until a replacement can be fabricated.


2. Can veneers be taken off if I want them removed?

Yes. When we replace veneers, we must remove the old ones in favor of new veneers.


3. What will my teeth feel like after a veneer has been placed?

Your teeth should feel very normal or better than before. More importantly is how you feel with a more attractive smile. Most patients say they feel so much more confident and attractive.


4. Composite vs. porcelain veneers; what' s the difference?

There are several differences. One great difference is that composites are normally directly placed on teeth and if done as veneers, require much more time and skill and cost when done at a very high level. Porcelain veneers are indirectly fabricated by skilled master technicians and are placed on the teeth in one layer. Both are strong, but porcelain has much higher wear resistance and color stability.


5. Do dental veneers look fake?

Veneers can look absolutely natural and seemless, and often even highly trained and experienced cosmetic dentists have a difficult time telling the difference. On the other hand, some patients, such as celebrity talk show host, Regis Philbin, is very proud of his veneers and has publicly spoken about his smile. Clearly, he wants people to know he has had his teeth "done." Finally, those veneers cases we don' t want to talk about is a poorly designed case or a clinician with inadequate training where results might be inadequate and look terrible. As always we suggest doing your homework and finding a highly trained cosmetic dentist. I have written an article on this that can be found on my website, www.drivansmiles.com and Dr. David Hall has written a similar article on his website, www.mynewsmile.com.


6. How do I keep my dental veneers white?

To optimally maintain your veneers, consult your doctor and hygienist. Mostly, just keeping them properly maintained and clean will help them last a long time. Veneers are amazingly resistant to staining.