Cosmetic Dental Choices

Who wouldn't want "straighter, whiter teeth" done painlessly?
More and more people are calling their dentist asking about "no prep" porcelain veneers to enhance their smile. Although the concept is very exciting, expert dentist, Dr. Bard Levey advises that you ask some important questions when looking to find a painless dentist for lumineer veneers or invisalign.

Q: What is so intriguing about "no prep" lumineer veneers?
A: Honestly, most people don't even know what "no prep" means. Big dental companies are marketing the "no prep" concept as a means to painless cosmetic dentistry. Everyone wants their dentistry done painlessly. Fear of pain causes many people to avoid even necessary dentistry, and certainly elective cosmetic dentistry. The "no prep" concept promises to avoid pain by not needing to grind down teeth when planning to esthetically enhance your smile when bonding porcelain veneers over the front of your teeth. The "no prep" concept for lumineer porcelain veneers offers a longer lasting esthetic option to teeth whitening and a quicker alternative to invisalign braces. But better?

Q: What are some of the potential problems with lumineer veneers on teeth?
A: When used in the proper situation for the right patient, lumineer porcelain veneers can work very well. Lumineers simply are not a "one size fits all" solution to everyone's cosmetic dentistry problems. If you do not already have either small teeth, spaces between teeth, or significant chipping of your teeth you should not expect amazing results with painless lumineer porcelain veneers done by any dentist. The thinness of the lumineer porcelain veneer is both its advantage and disadvantage. Because a lumineer is so thin, it can be placed on the front of the tooth without requiring your tooth to be ground down at all. But also because of this thinness, a lumineer porcelain veneer is more susceptible to chipping, breaking, and popping off. The thinness of the lumineer also makes it slightly less esthetic than more substantial regular porcelain veneer. Lumineers can also feel "bulky" if your teeth are already in normal alignment.

Q: What cosmetic dental services can be done to painlessly and esthetically transform your smile?
A: Invisalign clear braces are an option for people whose teeth have minor crowding or gaps between their teeth, but who like the existing shape of their teeth. Teeth whitening is good when the main concern is the brightness of your teeth. One should not expect teeth whitening alone to get your teeth "super" white. Whitening will relapse over time, so teeth whitening does require upkeep to maintain the results. For the most dramatic, quickest cosmetic dentistry changes, choose "full prep" porcelain veneers. Done painlessly in Westchester by dentist Dr. Bard Levey, porcelain veneers offer the most exquisite, predictable, long lasting cosmetic dentistry results. Porcelain veneer, or "full prep" veneers are inherently thicker than lumineers, but they will not feel thick or bulky in your mouth because your teeth size is painlessly reduced prior to bonding the porcelain veneer. The thicker porcelain is then stronger, more highly esthetic (light can pass in and out of it just like your natural tooth), and can correct a much larger variety of cosmetic dental problems.

Q: What should someone look for when considering a dental smile makeover?
A: Whenever you are looking into any elective cosmetic dental procedure, be sure that you will end up with an improvement and not simply substituting one dental problem for another (ex. chipped teeth for bulky). Make sure that your dental cosmetic smile makeover will be painless, predictable, and highly esthetic. Do not shop by price. A dentist who charges much less than others for cosmetic dentistry often does not have significant cosmetic training or uses inferior materials, either will end up costing much more in time and aggravation in the long run. Ultimately, you want a smile that will look good, feel good, and last a long time.

Q: Where can I find a Westchester dentist offering veneers, lumineers, whitening, and invisalign braces?
A: The old saying goes "if you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail." Find a dentist in Scarsdale or Westchester County NY who has significant post graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, whose practice focuses on adult's dental needs and wants. You do not want a dentist jack of all trades, master of none either. Find a dentist who can offer you choices, explain the pros/cons of various options and to help you cut right through the marketing to help you find the best cosmetic option for your particular needs.