My smile has definitely aged in the last few years. Not only are my teeth dingy looking, I’ve got a couple chipped ones, too. I’ll be celebrating my “Big 5-0” in a few months and my gift to myself will be porcelain veneers. I can hardly wait, so I asked my dentist about it at my last appointment. He has a CEREC machine and wants to create the veneers with it. He did one of my crowns with CEREC and it looks ok, but it seems a little strange to depend on a machine for such a delicate cosmetic procedure. I don’t want to be disappointed, so I’m wondering how CEREC veneers will compare to veneers crafted in a lab. — Janice
Dear Janice,
There are many dentists who believe they can get the same results with a CEREC machine that a dental lab can. Most cosmetic dentists would likely disagree and not even consider CEREC for porcelain veneers. If you’ve searched for photos of people who’ve had CEREC veneers done, pay close attention to several things:
- Is the gum line symmetrical?
- Does the shape of the teeth look natural or irregular?
- Does the shade match the surrounding teeth?
Porcelain veneers crafted by an experienced cosmetic dentist and lab are really a much better way to go. The only way you will truly know what to expect is to ask to see photos of real patients who have had similar work done. If you have any doubts, you might want to keep looking.
Ask your dentist if he will do porcelain veneers. If he says yes, make sure that his before and after photos look beautiful. If he’s hesitant, it’s a sure sign that his is not comfortable or confident in the procedure and you should find a dentist who is. You’ve waited fifty years for a smile that will look amazing, so be sure you find just the right dentist to help you achieve it. Good luck!
This blog post is brought to you by Des Moines cosmetic dentist, Dr. Phelan Thomas. For more information on the services he provides, please visit his Des Moines cosmetic dentist website.