Dr. Joel L. Schaffer Blog

I have been thinking of getting my front teeth fixed for years. Finally I decided to do it and I couldn't be happier! Joel, Brian and the whole staff at Dr. Schaffer's office were the best. They explained everything to me and before I knew it I had a new smile. My new teeth feel and look great and I can't stop showing them off. If you have ever thought about improving your smile, take it from me, go see Joel and let him work his magic and you won't be disappointed! Thank you so much everyone!

Marcel

Porcelain veneers are thin tooth covers custom-made for your individual teeth. The dental porcelain used looks and functions very much like tooth enamel. It absorbs some light and reflects some, like enamel, and has a similar pearly sheen. That means that your porcelain veneers will not be detectable as being veneers. They will just look like your natural teeth.

Dental Defects Corrected by Porcelain Veneers
Since a veneer is a tooth cover, affixed to the front surface of the tooth, it covers whatever defects are on the tooth. That may be:

• Discoloration that will not respond to teeth whitening
• Cracks and chips
• Misalignment
• Mismatched sizes
• Crookedness
• Gaps between teeth

You can have veneers done for all your front teeth that are visible when you smile, or you can have just one if there is a single problem tooth, or just the top two or four teeth. It is entirely up to you and Dr. Schaffer as to exactly how many veneers would best correct your smile.

To correct gaps, two veneers are designed, each a little wider than the tooth it covers. They meet nicely to give a more complete smile with no visible gap. To correct mismatched sizes, one veneer would have a slightly different size, so as to match the other tooth. To correct crookedness, a veneer would be made slightly thicker on the tooth’s receding side and thinner on its protruding side.

Veneers are known as indirect restorations, as they are not applied directly to your teeth like cosmetic bonding or the old amalgam fillings. They are first custom-made in a dental laboratory according to your dentist's specifications. Then they are bonded permanently to the teeth.

Porcelain neither stains nor whitens, so if your teeth need whitening, do that before you have your veneers. Then Dr. Schaffer can match them to your newly-brightened tooth color.

Porcelain veneers do not require any special care beyond your daily brushing and flossing and regular professional cleanings.

Please contact our cosmetic dentistry office to learn more about porcelain veneers and to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Schaffer. We serve both Denver and Boulder in Colorado and we hope to meet with you soon.

There is art as well as science in good cosmetic dentistry, and a typical general dentist does not necessarily have an artistic eye. Nor does he have the experience and knowledge to work with cosmetic dental materials and to perform a good smile makeover.

To begin your search, you can collect names from a Google search for “cosmetic dentist in XXX”, with “XXX” being your location. You might also ask family and friends for some names, and check the local phone book.

When you get the Google results, look at the websites and go to the dentist’s biography page. Check that the dentist has some professional affiliations and memberships, such as the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Membership in such organizations keeps a dentist up to speed with technology and ideas, and in touch with his peers.

Arrange Some Consultations
Choose a short list of possible cosmetic dentists and schedule a consultation with each one. Take a list of questions and don’t be bashful about asking them. If you do not understand the answers, ask for clarification. You would want a dentist who gives clear answers and who is happy to take time with you. The best cosmetic dentists place a high value on patient education.

Choose a cosmetic dentist with whom you feel comfortable and confident. When you have a cosmetic dental procedure, you will want to understand what it is and what to expect from it, and a good cosmetic dentist will not proceed until he or she is sure that you are clear on those things. To learn more about cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers and tooth whitening, ask to see some Before and After photos or read some testimonials of previous patients.

At each consultation, glance around the office and note how the team members interact with each other. Are they content to be working there? Do they seem organized and confident? Is the office calm and efficient? Many cosmetic dentists offer sedation dentistry for anxious patients. Choose a dentist who has your comfort and safety in mind.

Once you have chosen your cosmetic dentist, follow his recommendations and instructions for each procedure and for your overall dental health. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Schaffer, please call or email our cosmetic dental office today.