Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Many people dream of having perfectly straight teeth but either do not want braces or are looking for a quicker way to perfect their smile. Veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that produces results within a couple of weeks. Results appear natural, and your teeth will look perfectly white, straight, and evenly sized. You can virtually see your new smile with the latest technology in digital imaging and smile design prior to starting treatment! Call for your smile design consult today! But one question you may have is, do teeth need to be straight before getting veneers? Dr. Christine Tenaglia, a cosmetic dentist in Okemos answers this question on the blog today.
What are porcelain veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin shell-like covers that get applied to the front of your natural tooth. As a pain-free option to enhance your smile, veneers are a popular treatment. The porcelain resembles your normal tooth’s composite, and it can be color-treated to match your surrounding teeth, or if placing veneers on all visible teeth, a whiter shade can be chosen. The East Lansing cosmetic dentist near you will carefully remove a small portion of your natural tooth enamel so that the veneers bond to the surface of each tooth. Digital x-rays and impressions are taken for the lab to use to fabricate your veneers. Before leaving the office, temporary veneers are placed over your teeth. It takes about two weeks for your final restoration to be ready and bonded to your teeth.
Do I need to get my teeth straightened before I get veneers?
Veneers are a treatment for crooked, gapped, missing, or discolored teeth. You should not need to have orthodontics or braces before getting veneers. However, depending on the diagnosis from your family Okemos dentist, Dr. Tenaglia, you could experience complications if your teeth overlap one another. Applying a veneer to a tooth that is partially or entirely covered by another tooth is challenging for dentists. If you have teeth that overlap, Dr. Tenaglia may recommend orthodontics.
What are some options to achieve a straighter smile?
The traditional method of straightening overlapped, gapped, or otherwise crooked teeth are with orthodontics, which slowly moves your teeth into the desired position. Depending on your unique oral health needs, it could take months to years to achieve straight teeth. Dr. Tenaglia offers traditional metal braces, although our Lansing cosmetic dentist explains that Invisalign clear aligner trays also straighten your teeth without wires and brackets that poke your mouth. Since the trays are clear, your treatment is discrete, so others don’t notice it.
Veneers in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Looking at your straight, bright white smile in the mirror during your morning routine could give you an extra boost of energy and confidence to help you get through your day. If you are unhappy with your smile, Dr. Tenaglia can address the situation and see how we can help you restore your smile and self-confidence. To learn more about porcelain veneers, or find out if veneers are the right treatment for you, feel free to call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 or schedule an appointment online now.