Ceramic Takes on Metal in Creating Beautiful Smiles

    DALLAS, TX, September 28, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Traditional orthodontics such as metal braces, retainers and head gear can produce wonderful, straight smiles for many people. However, sometimes even after enduring years of orthodontic work, some patients are still not satisfied with the outcome. Whether you are a person who has undergone traditional orthodontics with less than satisfactory results or you find the idea of moving your teeth the "metal" way highly unpleasant, porcelain veneers may be the ideal solution.

What are porcelain veneers and how are they applied?

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of tooth-colored ceramic that is permanently bonded to the front of teeth. These shells are custom designed to create a natural-looking, white smile. The entire process can take as little as one month...much less time and much more stunning results than traditional orthodontics.

Porcelain veneers can be applied to one tooth or an entire mouthful of teeth. Cosmetic dentists refer to the term instant orthodontics when a patient wishes to have porcelain veneers applied to an entire row of upper and/or lower teeth.

Once a cosmetic dentist has determined that a patient is a candidate for porcelain veneers, he will first lightly buff and reshape the teeth to allow for the shells to be properly applied. An impression is made of the current smile and the mold is sent to a dental technician to create custom veneers. The dentist may apply temporary veneers on the patient until the permanent shells arrive. The permanent veneers are then cemented to the teeth using a state-of-the-art light.

After the dentist has polished the teeth and made the finishing touches, the patient leaves the office sporting a beautiful, white smile.

A follow-up visit to the dentist is necessary to ensure that the procedure was successful.

What types of orthodontic issues can porcelain veneers hide?

While traditional orthodontics will generally only correct crooked and crowded teeth and those with gaps, porcelain veneers can correct those problems as well as crossbites, overbites and teeth that are:
• Cracked
• Misshaped
• Broken
• Discolored
• Short
• Narrow
• Worn down

Why are porcelain veneers so popular?

There is a myriad of reasons why more and more patients are choosing porcelain veneers over traditional orthodontics.
• Quick: a gorgeous smile is created in approximately one month
• Convenient: all work is done in the dentist's office in just a few visits
• Pain-free: typically only local anesthetics are required
• Durable: the bonding process creates a strong tooth shell
• Dazzling: the ceramic shells are a stain-resistance natural-looking white for a sparkling smile
• Shapely: the shells are custom-created to fit your mouth and look aesthetically pleasing
• Comfortable: the shells feel like natural teeth without sensitivity

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of porcelain veneers and instant orthodontics, please visit the website of Dr. Gary E. Alhadef, D.D.S. Located in Dallas, Texas, cosmetic dentist Dr. Alhadef has been creating beautiful smiles for more than 20 years.

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