Veneers
A dental veneer is a thin, protective, and esthetically-pleasing layer of material placed over a tooth. The main purposes of veneers are to improve the esthetics of a patient’s smile, eliminate small gaps between teeth, and/or protect the tooth’s surface. Although a few different material options exist for veneers, the most common material is porcelain. Porcelain veneers can be fabricated to mimic the fine intricacies of our natural teeth and can provide an absolutely incredible improvement to a patient’s smile.
Before placing veneers, minimal tooth structure (usually limited to just the enamel) is removed to allow thickness of the material to fit onto the tooth. Once a dental impression is made and the veneer is fabricated, the dental veneer is bonded to the tooth. Like all restorations, it is very important that a smooth transition from tooth to restorative material is present so that dental hygiene is not hindered.
There are a number of esthetic benefits that dental veneers can provide:
- Close spaces between teeth
- Provide uniformity and symmetry in shape, color, and wear
- Give the appearance of straight teeth
- Increase the length of teeth
- Fill in “black triangle” spaces that are formed by gum recession
However, not everyone is best suited for dental veneers when seeking to improve esthetics. For a patient who has minor imperfections in their teeth, a more minimally-invasive and relatively inexpensive option of cosmetic dental contouring (cosmetic filling or shaping of tooth) may be recommended. This option does not take much time to complete and removes little tooth structure from the healthy teeth. If a patient has crooked front teeth, dental veneers are not a substitute for braces or orthodontic work. Although the appearance of minor “crookedness” can be eliminated through dental veneers, braces or orthodontic work should almost always be considered first. For a patient who is seeking dental veneers in order to have whiter teeth, teeth whitening procedures should be discussed beforehand. Teeth whitening can brighten the shade of the patient’s teeth inexpensively and requires no removal of tooth structure.
Give your Tulsa dentist at T-Town smiles a call at (918) 488-9770 to schedule an appointment.
Accepting New Patients
Looking for a full-service dentist in Tulsa?
At the office of Dr. Scott Street, we offer stress-free family care using modern technology and an old-fashioned personal approach. We provide a full selection of dental treatments, from routine cleanings to top-quality dental restorations. If you are looking for a full-service family dentist in Tulsa, OK, call us today at 918-481-4922 or use our online Appointment Request form.
Office Location
Suite 1107 (11th Floor)
Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: 918-481-4922
Fax: 918-481-4969
Office Hours
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Additional times are available.
Dr. Scott Street and the team at T-Town Smiles are proud to be the local Tulsa Dentist serving families in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Oakhurst, Bixby, Glenpool and surrounding Tulsa communities.