Veneers – Bartlesville, OK
Mask Cosmetic Flaws and Imperfections
Do you have teeth that are cracked, chipped, stained, or slightly misaligned? When there are aesthetic imperfections
that litter your smile, it can be difficult to feel confident when showing it off. The good news is that there are
variety of options out there that can help you achieve a grin that’s free of cosmetic flaws. At Dentistry by
Design, Dr. Luke Lumpkin provides customized
veneers in Bartlesville to improve the appearance of your teeth. Contact our office to schedule your initial
consultation.
What are Dental Veneers?
Veneers are extremely thin shells of tooth-colored porcelain that are placed over the front-facing surfaces of the teeth to cover cosmetic imperfections. The durable, natural-looking material is able to conceal a single damaged tooth or a mouthful of flaws. Generally, veneers are used to address teeth that are chipped, gapped, misaligned, misshapen, discolored, undersized, and much more!
The Process of Getting Veneers
Dental veneers can be placed in just two appointments. During your first visit, we will carefully examine your smile to make sure that it’s healthy enough to support veneers. Once this is concluded, we’ll prepare your teeth by removing a small amount f protective enamel to make room for the veneers. Impressions will then be taken of the teeth to be sent to the dental laboratory where your final veneers will be made.
In the meantime, you will be given a temporary set of veneers to protect your teeth and allow you to get used to what your veneers will feel like. Once your final restorations are complete, you will be able to return to the practice for the placement. Then you will be able to show off your improved pearly whites!
The Benefits of Veneers
With so many unique benefits, it’s no wonder why veneers are so popular. Here are just a few of them:
- Natural Appearance: The porcelain used to craft the veneers appears just like natural tooth enamel.
- Quick Treatment: Getting veneers often only requires two visits to the dental office.
- Whiter Teeth: Dental veneers are more resistant than natural teeth when it comes to staining. You won’t have to worry about discoloration as a result of dark-colored foods and beverages.
- Long-Lasting: Veneers can last for longer than 15 years when maintained properly.
Understanding the Cost of Veneers
While you may want veneers, you may worry about their price. That’s a fair concern – you can’t get the shells if they’re outside your price range. Still, the cost of veneers actually varies by patient; you’ll need to consult Dr. Lumpkin for an estimate. Luckily, though, our office will take measures to make treatment affordable. We’ll even review our cosmetic services and payment options with you. To learn more, just keep reading or call us for details.
Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What’s Right for Me?
We at Dr. Lumpkin’s office offer high-quality veneers, but we also provide other cosmetic procedures. These other treatments have varying prices and effects, so you may want to review them before settling on care. To that end, consider the choices listed below:
- Direct Bonding – By applying tooth-colored resin to it, direct bonding can correct your smile’s minor stains and cracks. While quick and cheap, though, the service is not long-lasting; it needs touch-ups every few years.
- Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening has the power to brighten your grin. To do so, it applies a special gel to your enamel that removes tooth stains. Our own office happens to provide whitening through in-office treatment and take-home kits. Either way, it has a moderate price and only affects tooth color.
- Metal-Free Restorations – With our non-metallic crowns and fillings, we can both protect your teeth and hide their damage. Their materials are durable and tooth-colored, leading to seamless results.
- Porcelain Veneers – Porcelain veneers are thin shells placed on the fronts of teeth. Typically, dentists use them to hide a wide range of smile flaws. They’re especially known for their versatility, as they improve tooth position, color, and shape. However, such quality also makes them expensive.
How to Make Veneers Affordable
Truthfully, dental insurance usually won’t cover veneers. Most plans consider the shells a luxury that’s “medically unnecessary.” Of course, there are occasional exceptions; some policies will cover veneers if they protect damaged teeth. In light of this fact, confirm your plan’s benefits before pursuing treatment. Our office staff will happily assist if you need help.
All that said, insurance isn’t the only way to make veneers affordable. Many practices offer unique financing options on behalf of their patients. If you find a good one, your veneer treatment could fit your budget.
Just look at Dentistry by Design, for example. Our office happens to work with CareCredit, a reputable third-party financier. They’d allow you to pay for veneers with low-interest monthly installments. That way, you could gradually cover the treatment cost.
As you can see, Dentistry by Design is ready and eager to provide budget-friendly veneers. So, go ahead and book a consult visit with us soon!
Veneers FAQs
Are veneers permanent?
Are you wondering whether veneers are designed to be removed and reinserted as often as dentures? Although the first set was indeed intended to be a temporary enhancement to perfect a movie star’s smile for the big screen, today, this treatment isn’t intended to be taken out except by a professional, like Dr. Lumpkin.
However, this treatment isn’t necessarily considered permanent, either, because the restorations tend to wear down and might eventually require replacement. But for them to fit correctly, a small amount of enamel must be removed, which doesn’t grow back. That means getting veneers involves making irreversible changes to the structure of your teeth.
What happens to the teeth under veneers?
Are you wondering whether your cosmetic upgrade will harm the enamel of the underlying teeth? Fortunately, the bonding material used is considered safe, and because the ceramic material used is less porous than enamel, the covers can help shield your teeth from developing chips, cracks, or discoloration.
But that doesn’t mean that they’re invincible. These shells only cover the fronts of your teeth, so it’s still possible to develop cavities, gum disease, or other concerns. You can keep your grin in excellent condition by continuing to brush and floss twice daily and avoiding overly hard, crunchy, sticky, or darkly tinted foods.
How long do veneers last?
Most dental insurance policies don’t cover the cost of veneers, and it’s only natural to wonder if they last long enough to be worth the investment of time and personal resources to acquire them.
Thankfully, according to a 2012 study, most of these restorations can last a decade or more. Researchers evaluated 318 shells and found that 95% lasted 5 years, 94% lasted 10 years, and 83% lasted 20 years or more. You can help maintain your recent cosmetic enhancement by cleaning your mouth consistently, avoiding foods that might harm the porcelain, and visiting our team every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning.
Do veneers cause a lisp?
Although veneers are usually only about 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick, it can still take your tongue and the other tissues in your mouth a few weeks to acclimate to their dimensions. You might develop a temporary lisp or slur during this transition, especially regarding “s” and “v” sounds.
The effect typically resolves once you fully adjust to the restorations, though you can accelerate the process by reading or speaking to yourself out loud at home, where no one can judge you for any potential errors. If the problem persists after about a month, please contact our team to let us know. We may be able to thin your veneers slightly to minimize the effect.