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Porcelain Veneers for Mesquite, TX

Woman with gorgeous smileIf you’re suffering from multiple dental imperfections, you probably wish you could have a smile do-over -- and with porcelain veneers, you can! These thin shells completely cover the surface of damaged teeth, creating the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed of. Keep reading to find out more about this transformative treatment offered by Dr. McKnight.

All About Porcelain Veneers

Animation of porcelain veneer placement

One of the most popular cosmetic treatments available today, porcelain veneers provide big smile improvements with just one procedure. Thin coverings made of beautiful porcelain, the veneers are bonded directly onto the front of the teeth, instantly improving their shape, size, and color. Porcelain veneers can be used to correct a number of imperfections affecting the front teeth, including:

  • Chips or cracks
  • Slight misalignments
  • Permanent discolorations
  • Small gaps

Patients who are in decent oral and overall health, free of tooth decay and gum infections, are usually good candidates for porcelain veneers.

The Porcelain Veneer Procedure

Closeup of flawless healthy smile

Your porcelain veneer treatment will be completed over the course of two visits to our Mesquite office. With the first, Dr. McKnight will evaluate your smile and facial structures to determine the veneer color, size, and shape that would benefit you most. You’ll have the opportunity to thoroughly discuss your goals and desires to ensure that you get just the look you want (it can help to bring in photos of what you do and don’t want during the initial appointment).

Once Dr. McKnight has put together your treatment plan, he’ll prepare your teeth to receive the veneers. This involves slightly buffing off a bit of tooth enamel to make room for the new coverings. Temporary veneers are then placed, and your information is sent off to our trusted lab where your veneers will be expertly crafted.

After about two weeks, your veneers will come back from the lab and be ready for placement. You’ll return to our office where Dr. McKnight will check them one last time -- and you’ll give the final approval before they’re securely bonded on. After that, you’ll leave our office the proud owner of a new, beautiful smile!

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Woman with beautiful smile

Patients who have their smiles transformed with porcelain veneers enjoy numerous benefits offered by this fantastic treatment. Some of its advantages include:

  • Increased self-confidence as a result of a beautiful smile
  • Caring for porcelain veneers is no different from caring for the rest of your teeth
  • Porcelain is highly resistant to stains, meaning they’ll stay the same sparkling white shade for years and years

Understanding the Cost of Veneers

Patient using calculator to determine cost at desk

Are you interested in getting an estimate of the cost of veneers? Good news: it’s as easy as scheduling an appointment with our Mesquite cosmetic dentist! If you aren’t quite ready to take that step yet because you want to learn more about the price, that’s okay too. In that case, you can read on for some important information to consider when researching the cost of veneers.

Which Cosmetic Dental Service Is Right For Me?

Couple smiling while talking to dentist in their office

Although veneers are one of the most popular smile-enhancing services, they certainly aren’t the only one. For example, if you want to eliminate stubborn surface stains, professional teeth whitening and direct bonding may be an option! Ultimately, the answer to which treatment is best for you depends on several factors, including your aesthetic goals, your budget, and how long you want the results to last. One of the reasons veneers are widely loved is because they can fix several dental flaws at once and the results can last for upwards of 20 years!

How to Make Veneers Affordable

Dental assistant smiling while handing patient form

It’s very rare for dental insurance providers to cover the cost (or even a portion of the cost) of veneers. The good news is that we welcome another financial solution: third-party financing with CareCredit. As a result, you don’t have to pay for your veneers in one big installment. Instead, you can choose a payment plan that works with your budget, spacing out the cost into manageable, monthly chunks in the process. Of course, you also have the option to use a credit card. We are proud to welcome Discover, Visa, and MasterCard.


Veneers FAQs

Does Getting Veneers Hurt?

The veneers process involves taking off a little bit of tooth enamel. If this sounds like it could be painful, don’t worry. Before we get started, we’ll give you a local anesthetic, numbing the area. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort. When the anesthetic wears off and your temporary veneers are on, you may have some sensitivity, but keep in mind that you won’t have them for long. Your custom-made veneers should fit so precisely that you shouldn’t have much trouble after they are bonded in place. Any sensitivity should fade within a day or two.

Why Do I Have to Wear Temporary Veneers?

Preparing your teeth entails removing about 0.5 mm of enamel from your teeth. That may seem like a small sliver, but it’s still a noticeable amount. As a result, temporary veneers are attached to not draw unwanted attention to your smile. In addition, thinner enamel often comes with tooth sensitivity. Although temporary veneers won’t fit perfectly, they should allow you to bite and chew without too much discomfort. Remember you’ll only have them for about two weeks, so try to be patient for your perfect smile!

How Long Do Veneers Last?

Overall, veneers are very durable and stain resistant. They typically last about 15 years or even longer with the right maintenance. Daily care—brushing and flossing your teeth—needs to happen in order to keep your veneers clean and in excellent condition. Also, you must continue coming in for checkups and cleanings on a regular basis. Our team will keep a close eye on your perfect smile and help you maintain it for as long as possible.

Am I a Good Candidate for Veneers?

Other than having flawed teeth in your smile, you’ll need to meet a couple criteria. We must inspect your teeth and gums prior to starting the procedure. To qualify for veneers treatment, you need to have a healthy mouth, meaning you can’t have any cavities or oral infections. If you do, our team will need to treat the problem first, and then we can consider veneers. You also need to be willing to make a permanent, but worthwhile, change to your teeth to make room for the veneers. During your consultation, we can discuss your eligibility and answer any additional questions you may have!

What Happens to the Teeth Under Veneers?

Receiving veneers will not harm your teeth, as only a tiny amount of enamel is removed from them and the bonding agent used to cement the veneers in place is completely safe. Since your veneers will be covering the treated enamel, receiving them will not increase your risk of getting cavities. However, you will still need to practice proper oral hygiene to prevent the treated teeth from becoming infected. You can keep your teeth in good shape by brushing twice a day, flossing, using antibacterial mouthwash, limiting your sugar intake, and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups.

Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Veneers?

You will have to wear temporary veneers as your permanent ones are being manufactured. During this time, avoid sticky foods like taffy and gum as well as hard and crunchy foods like ice, raw fruits and veggies, and hard candy, as they can damage these restorations. Since temporary veneers are easier to stain, be careful about heavily pigmented foods and beverages.

Once your permanent veneers have been placed, you can enjoy almost any type of food you like. However, you should take care to avoid extremely hard or crunchy foods such as hard candy and dark beverages like red wine that can cause stains. You can expect your teeth to be sensitive for a little while after receiving veneers, so avoid anything too hot or cold if it gives you discomfort. Enjoy alcohol sparingly, as the acids it contains can weaken the bonding agent holding your restorations in place.

Will I Still Be Able to Drink Coffee with Veneers?

Veneers are made from stain-resistant materials such as porcelain, which is nonporous, making it difficult for dyes and pigments to bond with it. While you can drink coffee without worrying about staining your appliances, excessive consumption will eventually leave its mark. Since coffee can more easily stain natural teeth than porcelain, it can even lead to your teeth appearing to have different shades. Enjoy coffee in moderation and consider drinking it through a straw to minimize how much it makes contact with your teeth.

Can You Whiten Veneers?

Whitening treatments cannot effectively lift stains from veneers, meaning that you’ll have to have them replaced or shaded if they become discolored. However, these treatments can still affect your natural teeth, which can result in an uneven and unsightly whitening effect around your veneers. If you’d like a brighter smile while wearing veneers, it’s best to whiten your teeth before replacing them so they can be matched to your smile’s new shade, making it consistently white.


Schedule Your Consultation Today

Are you interested in showing off your best smile thanks to this transformative solution? If so, don’t wait to contact us today to get started with cosmetic dentistry today!