Existing Patients: (978) 454-9332 | New Patients: (877) 790-5172 |
Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Ultra-Thin vs. Traditional Porcelain Veneers – What Matters?

Posted on by .

If you are interested in porcelain veneers, you may have discovered that traditional and ultra-thin veneers are available. How can you determine which type is appropriate for you? We will compare veneers and factors to help you decide which is best for your oral health and smile.

Ultra-Thin Porcelain Veneers

A porcelain veneer being bonded to a tooth

Consult with an advanced cosmetic dentist about porcelain veneers

Ultra-thin porcelain veneers are half the thickness of traditional veneers. Manufacturers market some brands as requiring no preparation, meaning a dentist can apply them to your teeth without removing any tooth enamel. Nevertheless, sometimes failure to remove s small amount of tooth enamel can make your teeth look bulky.

Features of ultra-thin porcelain veneers

  • Thickness – Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can measure 0.2 mm, while traditional veneers are 0.5 mm
  • Tooth preparation – A cosmetic dentist will remove a fraction of a millimeter of tooth enamel.
  • Limitations – Ultra-thin veneers are ideal for patients requiring slight tooth color, shape, or alignment adjustments.
  • Aesthetics – They look natural and allow natural tooth color to show through. Many patients choose to replace old dental bonding with ultra-thin veneers.

Traditional Porcelain Veneers

Traditional porcelain veneers are thin but thicker than ultra-thin types and require more tooth preparation. Still, a skilled cosmetic dentist collaborates with a dental ceramist to skillfully craft customized, natural-looking veneers for each patient.

Features of traditional porcelain veneers

  • Thickness – Traditional porcelain veneers are about 0.5 mm
  • Tooth preparation – While remaining conservative with tooth preparation, a cosmetic dentist must remove more tooth enamel than ultra-thin veneers.
  • Limitations – They are well-suited for more complex tooth discoloration, misshape, and alignment cases.
  • Aesthetics – A skilled cosmetic dentist and expert ceramist create beautiful smiles with traditional veneers.

Should You Choose Ultra-Thin or Traditional Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers vary in thickness. Your cosmetic dentist may recommend ultra-thin veneers slightly thicker than 0.2 mm but not as thick as 0.5 mm.

Whether you choose ultra-thin or traditional veneers depends on several factors, including:

  • Your smile goals
  • The condition of your teeth
  • Your teeth alignment
  • Your cosmetic dentist’s recommendation

High-quality dental ceramics are dense and virtually stain resistant. Your cosmetic dentist will explain the results you can expect with each type of veneer that may suit your case.

Schedule a Porcelain Veneers Consultation

Look for accredited cosmetic dentists or advanced cosmetic dentists with extensive post-graduate training. Schedule consultations with at least two dentists to discuss your smile goals and treatment options.

 

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Can I Get My Crowns Replaced with Veneers?

Posted on by .

I am concerned about the toxicity of my metal crowns because they contain palladium. I want all six crowns replaced with veneers, so I will know that I don’t have metal in my mouth. How do I find a dentist who will replace them? Thank you. Len from Manhattan

Len

Thank you for your question.

Palladium is a moderately biocompatible noble metal in the platinum group. Sensitivities to the metal are rare, but it is possible to react to palladium. Most dental crowns and bridges with a metal framework contain palladium.

Still, if you want a metal-free alternative, consider these factors:

Can You Replace Dental Crowns with Veneers?

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

Porcelain veneers require minimal tooth preparation and do not work for teeth that had crowns on them

A dentist is unable to replace dental crowns with veneers. Preparing teeth for crowns requires shaving each tooth on all sides to allow the crown to fit over it. Porcelain veneers only cover the fronts of your teeth and require minimal preparation. After a dentist shaves tooth structure in preparation for crowns, you will not have enough tooth structure for veneers. You can only get new crowns.

The Role of Metals in the Human Body

Our daily nutrition and life rely on metal ions.

  • Sodium – As a pure metal, sodium is toxic. It becomes salt when combined with chlorine.
  • Iron – We cannot consume metallic iron, but iron ions in our hemoglobin give our blood its red color and help our muscles store and use oxygen.
  • Other metal ions – Other metals that we need for a healthy diet and nutrition include:
    • Calcium
    • Cobalt
    • Copper
    • Magnesium
    • Manganese
    • Molybdenum
    • Potassium
    • Zinc

What about Ceramic Crowns?

  • Lithium – Sodium-based is in ocean water. Lithium disilicate is a high-strength ceramic. E.max crowns contain lithium disilicate.
  • Zirconium – Zirconium dioxide or zirconia is so strong that engineers use it in aerodynamics. It is more durable than other ceramics for dental restorations. Zirconia crowns make exceptionally durable dental bridges.
  • Porcelain – Cosmetic dentists mainly use porcelain crowns for front teeth because porcelain is not as strong as lithium or zirconia. Dental porcelain contains kaolin, a clay that contains silica and the ion aluminum oxide, which is not a metal.

We recommend scheduling a consultation with an advanced cosmetic dentist to discuss your concerns about your metal-based crowns and alternatives for replacing them.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.

Will Porcelain Veneers Work for Overlapped Teeth?

Posted on by .

My center front teeth overlap. I also have two teeth on the left side that overlap. I know braces will work, but I am not sure about the time commitment. It seems like a lot of trouble to spend more than a year getting four teeth straight. My other teeth look okay. Will four porcelain veneers work to get rid of the overlapping, or will I have to get braces? Thanks. Everett from Lansing, MI

Everett – Thank you for your question.

Porcelain veneers can correct overlapped teeth, but a skilled cosmetic dentist must examine your teeth first to determine whether veneers will enhance your smile.

Will Veneers Work for Overlapped Teeth?

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

A skilled cosmetic dentist can determine whether porcelain veneers will correct overlapped teeth

An advanced cosmetic dentist may be able to reshape your teeth to accommodate veneers. You may need a combination of cosmetic dentistry treatments to ensure your smile looks natural.

Although only four teeth might seem to be affected, other teeth might be shifting. If so, you will need to compare orthodontic treatment vs. porcelain veneers. If your teeth are moving, cosmetic dentistry will not stop the movement. Orthodontics might provide a longer-lasting solution.

Even if you are a candidate for porcelain veneers, you may need more than four veneers to produce natural-looking results. Sometimes adjacent teeth require veneers to balance out your smile.

Finding a Cosmetic Dentist for Overlapped Teeth

Correcting your smile with cosmetic dentistry and porcelain veneers requires much skill. Schedule an appointment with at least two experienced cosmetic dentists to receive an exam and discuss your treatment options. Remember to prepare questions about your treatment options, including:

  • Ask to see before-and-after pictures of similar cases the dentist has completed.
  • Ask about the results you can expect if you receive porcelain veneers.
  • Other than the four teeth you are concerned about, ask if there are any apparent issues with other teeth that need attention.

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Are Veneers My Only Option for Tetracycline-Stained Teeth?

Posted on by .

I am increasingly self-conscious about tetracycline stains on my teeth. It is embarrassing to try to explain it to people who seem distracted by my teeth and unable to concentrate on our conversation. Last month, I had a consultation with a cosmetic dentist who recommended porcelain veneers. The cost of $20,000 – $30,000 would heavily impact my savings. My teeth and self-esteem are worth it, but I am interested in knowing whether I have other options. – Thank you. Aaron from Georgia

Aaron,

Thank you for your question.

The cost quoted to you is reasonable for premier porcelain veneers from a skilled dentist. We will explain more about the treatment for tetracycline stains.

Do Porcelain Veneers Work for Tetracycline Stains?

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneer

Concealing tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers takes advanced training, skill, and artistry from a cosmetic dentist. If you find a dentist with low fees who claims to be able to hide the stains, you can count on getting inferior results. The stains may show through the veneers, or the veneers may look opaque or pasty, making it evident that you had dental work. But an advanced cosmetic dentist and adept ceramist can produce incredible results with veneers.

Will Bonding or Teeth Whitening Help Tetracycline Stains?

Whether dental bonding or teeth whitening will help tetracycline stains depends on the severity of stains and a dentist’s skill and experience.

  • Dental bonding – The skill and precision it takes a cosmetic dentist to blend composites and apply them to your teeth to hide tetracycline stains can be more costly than porcelain veneers.
  • Teeth whitening – A skilled cosmetic dentist may recommend a high-strength whitening system to improve tetracycline stains, but the results will not be as effective as porcelain veneers. Bleaching treatment is a tiny fraction of the cost of porcelain veneers.

Request Another Consultation for Tetracycline Stains

Comparing your options can help you understand whether you are making the right decision regarding cosmetic dentistry. We recommend scheduling another consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to examine your x-rays and teeth. The second opinion can clarify which treatment will give you results that help you feel good about your smile.

Best wishes.

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Can Dental Crowns Be Replaced by or Covered with Veneers?

Posted on by .

If I have crowns on my two front teeth, will a dentist need to remove them for me to get porcelain veneers? I’m not sure how it will work, and I would like some ideas before I go to a dentist who wants to take off the crowns when it might not be necessary. I’m narrowing my list of dentists down to three, and I hope to meet with two of them within the next few weeks. Stacie from Boston

Stacie,

Thanks for your question.

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns are made of the same material. But they differ in how much of the tooth they cover.

  • Porcelain crown – A dentist shaves the entire circumference of a tooth before placing a crown over it. You can’t leave the altered tooth uncovered, and you can’t use a porcelain veneer on it.
  • Porcelain veneer – It covers the front and sides of a tooth. Your dentist will lightly shave the fronts of your teeth to ensure the veneers fit well at your gumline and look natural, not bulky.

What About Covering a Dental Crown with a Veneer?

Some dentists will shave a dental crown and put a veneer over it. There are disadvantages of placing a veneer over a crown:

  • The veneer will be vulnerable and might fail, but a crown will last longer.
  • It doesn’t look as aesthetically pleasing as a new crown.
  • It takes the same amount of work as replacing the crown, and it doesn’t save money.

Select an Advanced Cosmetic Dentist

An advanced cosmetic dentist is concerned about aesthetics and your oral health. They will replace your two crowns, place veneers on your remaining teeth, and ensure they all match perfectly.

Select a dentist who is skilled in cosmetic dentistry and has training in the art—beyond dental school. Look for a smile gallery of patient photos on the dentist’s website. And read the dentist’s bio and look for indications of post-graduate training in dental aesthetics.