Oklahoma City Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin slices of porcelain that are bonded to the front of the tooth to create a smooth, white, uniform appearance. Veneers are extremely strong and can be custom crafted to give the patient a beautiful, unique and perfect smile. Veneers are ideal for repairing teeth that are dull or discolored (especially teeth that have dark tetracycline stains), as well as correcting uneven teeth, and teeth that are worn or chipped.
More than just porcelain
Although porcelain veneers are the most well known, in reality, cosmetic dental veneers can be made from a variety of high-quality ceramics, each of which has unique features that make it ideal for certain cases. When choosing a dentist to do porcelain veneers, it's important to find someone who has experience and skill working with a number of different materials and does not focus on a one-veneer-fits-all approach. Be particularly cautious about dentists who focus exclusively on one type of veneer (Lumineers, for example) to the exclusion of others. While that veneer may be good for many patients, it is not right for all of them.
Dr. Forth has years of experience doing porcelain veneers and has both advanced training in ceramic shade design and matching, as well as the principles of aesthetic smile design—studying how the shape of the teeth and the way they sit in the mouth affects overall perception and appearance.
He is the only dentist in Oklahoma accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a distinction that means his cases have been documented and approved by his peers. (Learn more about Dr. Forth's credentials.)
Getting porcelain veneers
Getting porcelain veneers involves several steps and muliple visits. At the initial consultation, Dr. Forth will discuss your specific goals and what kind of smile you want to have. You can expect to spend quite a bit of time examining photo samples and discussing how you would like your teeth to look.
Dr. Forth has studied the principles of aesthetic smile design, in addition to just the the techniques for designing and bonding the veneers. Some patients want a very striking, youthful-looking smile, while others want to have a more mature appeareance. Porcelain veneers can be used to alter both the color and shape of the teeth, so getting this step right is very important. Dr. Forth's goal is for you to leave his office with your own perfect smile—one that reflects your individual personality and lifestyle, not one that is just objectively whiter or evenly shaped from a dental perspective.
After the initial consultation, Dr. Forth will prepare a wax model of the veneers to show you how they will look. Changes will be made to this model to get the final look that you want. Then, he will send specific instructions to the laboratory for crafting the porcelain veneers for you, specifically. Once the veneers are finished, a final visit is scheduled. As the final step, Dr. Forth will temporarily place the veneers and give you a chance to see how they will look before they are permanently bonded to the teeth. They will not be bonded unless you are thrilled with how they look.
Prepless veneers
Some patients are concerned because they have heard that the tooth must be "shaved down" before a veneer is bonded to it. In fact, only a very minimal amount of tooth is shaved in order to prepare it to bond smoothly with the veneer. In the photo near the top of this page, you can see an example of a tooth right before a veneer is applied. Notice that it is difficult to tell the difference between the tooth prepared for the veneer and the adjacent unprepared teeth. However, newer, ultra-thin "prepless veneers" are available, though they have some limitations and might not be the best option for some patients. Dr. Forth can discuss whether these would be a good option for your individual case.
If you are unhappy with the way your smile looks and are considering porcelain veneers, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Compare Dr. Forth with other dental practices around the country.
Notice that Carmel dentist Dr. Julia Shalit, while a fine dentist, does not emphasize the complex restorative work the way we do.