Cosmetic Dentist West Haven and Orange Connecticut, Joe Tartagni, DMD, Denise French, DDS

Porcelain Veneers - Dentistry Library

~Giving you a new reason to smile

Porcelain veneers can change chipped, stained, discolored, unevenly spaced, and even slightly crooked front teeth into to a natural, pleasing smile. The three-step procedure simply involves bonding thin, shell-like coverings to the problem teeth, thereby creating a more attractive color, shape or size. And in many cases, veneers can provide a long-lasting, stain-resistant alternative to crowns.

Evaluation & Consultation

Dr. Tartagni will carefully evaluate your specific situation, listening to you explain the exact changes you have in mind. He'll do several things to help you visualize your end result. First, you'll look at photos of similar case outcomes. He'll also obtain an impression of your mouth and make a "diagnostic wax up", giving you a three-dimensional representation of the results. Finally, he may also use a computer enhancement program to provide you with several options prior to performing the actual procedure.

Preparation & Customization

Once a specific course of action has been determined, Dr. Tartagni will gently prepare your teeth for the veneers by buffing or filing approximately one half of a millimeter from the surface of each recipient tooth. Occasionally, this step requires a local anesthetic. He'll then take a mold or impression of your teeth and send it to a special professional dental laboratory. There, your veneers will be carefully produced for a custom-fit.

Application & Protection

Once the veneers have been designed, Dr. Tartagni will carefully test their fit and color by applying them temporarily with water or glycerine. Once you're both completely happy with their compatibility, look, feel, and fit, he'll use a special dental cement to permanently affix them to your teeth. A visible light beam will then be applied to activate the cement's hardening agent, creating a finished product.

Of course, your new smile will need daily cleaning and flossing, plus regular dental visits for professional care and maintenance. As a protection of this new investment, you may also want to consider a night-guard to prevent any accidental gritting or grinding pressure while you sleep.

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At Shoreline Dental Care in West Haven and Orange Connecticut, our experienced dentists and trained dental staff are dedicated to your oral health, safety and comfort. We offer services such as tooth-colored fillings, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, bonding, all porcelain crowns, onlays and inlays, bridges, dentures, dental implants, and many more
cosemetic dentistry services.