Veneers or Porcelain Laminate Veneers are the strongest way to repair a broken portion of your tooth. Porcelain veneers are used to correct the same things as bonding does. Porcelain veneers can also cover up discoloration, repair a damaged tooth or change the shape or size of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are much stronger than bonding and will not pick up stain like bonding does. Porcelain veneers will also retain their luster, unlike bonding. Veneers will usually last 10 or more years.

       There are different types of porcelain veneers.  Some veneers are placed on the teeth with no preparation.  This works great if the teeth are small and you want to increase the size of the tooth.  Because a veneer has thickness, even extremely thin ones, the veneers will increase the size of the tooth. A peg lateral is a candidate for a no prep veneer. The minimal prep veneers, can be done if they is no filling in the tooth, the tooth size is to be increased slightly and there is no crowding of the teeth.  Standard preparation veneers are placed on teeth where you need to maintain or decrease the size of the tooth, there is crowding and you need to shift the tooth left or right or want to shorten the tooth.  Most veneers fall in the minimal prep or the stardard prep categories.  

First, Dr. Widen will listen to our guest and learn their desires.  When he understands what our guest is looking for he will co-design the case and determine the form, size, shape and color of the veneers.  We will discuss how many teeth are necessary to veneer to achieve the result the guest wants to accomplish.  The veneer case is then sent to the lab to have a wax-up of the final product made.  This way Dr. Widen and our guest can see what the final porcelain veneer shape will be before the case is even started. When the wax-up is received from the lab it is examined to see if it meets our desires.

       Once the wax up is approved, the fun can begin. This is a two appointment procedure. The first appointment is the preparation phase. A small amount of enamel is removed off the front of the tooth and sometimes in between the teeth.  We must remove any decay and any old fillings that would interfere with the longevity of the porcelain veneer case. Then an impression is made. The impression is sent to the lab and the lab makes a front of the tooth (veneer), much like a false fingernail, out of porcelain. At the next visit, Dr. Widen will try in the porcelain veneers to make sure our guest is happy with the final result.  When the guest approves the veneers he will bond, trim and polish the veneers. The seating is usually a time consuming appointment and can last for hours. But usually quite worth the wait. Compared to crowns, porcelain veneers are a more conservative method for restoring a moderately fractured tooth.
        Porcelain veneers not only restore your teeth but also helps to improve your appearance and self-confidence. People are sometimes hesitant to smile because of the way their front teeth look, after placing porcelain veneers you can smile freely again.

Onlays

Onlays are similar to crowns but they are more conservative.  They can be made from either gold or porcelain and either material will bring the tooth to proper function once again. They can cover up discoloration, repair a damaged tooth or change the shape or size of your teeth. Porcelain is the most aesthetic way to onlay a tooth.   They will usually last 5 or more years. Unlike a conventional dentist office we utilize CEREC a chairside restorative procedure which will allow us to fabricate and seat a porcelain onlay or crown in just one visit. Click here for a short video demo of CEREC. This is a one appointment procedure. First, any old filling is removed, as well as any decay and large fractures.  Then optical impressions are taken, like  pictures. Dr. Widen then designs your new restoration of a computer chairside and when finished, the design is sent to the milling machine. The porcelain is now being milled and within 15 minutes we are able to place a new porcelain crown, inlay or onlay on your tooth. Dr. Widen tries in, bonds, trims and polishes the restoration and you are finished.  No more temporaries falling out, no more second visit  and no more impression material to gag on.

Crowns

Crowns are like onlays but the tooth needs to be prepared 360 degrees around, which is not as conservative as an onlay.  They can be made from either gold or porcelain and either material will bring the tooth to proper function once again. They can repair a discolored, damaged or decayed tooth. Porcelain is the most aesthetic crown, because it looks more life-like and does not impart a dark line near the gum line like some other crowns. They are more translucent like natural teeth and wear like natural teeth.   They will usually last 5 or more years, are very strong and can be placed in one visit using CEREC. (see onlays above)

Inlays

Inlays are similar to fillings but they are used when the filling is too large to be restored with a composite resin, since we do not use silver-mercury fillings.  They can be made from either gold or porcelain and either material will bring the tooth to proper function once again. They can repair a damaged or decayed tooth. Porcelain is the most aesthetic inlay.   They will usually last 5 or more years, are very strong and can be placed in one visit using CEREC. (see onlays above)