Veneers

Pucker Up With a Megawatt Smile

Veneers…The Secret In Cosmetic Dentistry For Lip Enhancement

New York, N.Y. — Veneers and crowns have long been used to dramatically and swiftly enhance and recreate the appearance of the teeth and lips. Since the late 1980’s and through the influence of innovative technology, porcelain veneers have been used as an alternative to crowns for front teeth that need a ‘face lift’. "Veneering" has become a very popular and less invasive means of making lips look noticeably fuller without any painful cosmetic procedure. According to renowned Manhattan cosmetic and restorative dentist, Dr. Clifford Williams, "dental lip enhancement procedures work on the same basic principal as many other cosmetic treatments. The structure underneath is enlarged in order to change the appearance of the surface. Teeth support the lips, so enlarging the teeth with veneers or crowns, make the lips appear fuller."

Restorative treatments, such as veneers and crowns, enable a skilled dentist to control the amount of enhancement that goes into each tooth to produce fuller, yet natural looking lips. Crowns are dental restorations that encase the entire tooth, thus producing an entirely new surface over the whole area. Veneers are custom-made shells that are affixed to the front of the teeth. "Veneers have enhanced the authenticity of natural looking teeth and are far less detrimental to their structure (than crowns), since only a small section of the tooth’s surface needs to be drilled for placement of the veneer," states Dr. Williams.

Since crowns go completely around the tooth, whereas veneers are fitted to the front of a tooth only, crowns require that more of the tooth be removed. Veneers often only require a few layers of enamel to be removed to make room for the laminate. For this reason, dentists often suggest getting veneers unless the tooth has severe decay or damage. In some cases, a combination of crowns and veneers are used to get the best result. "These enhancements give dentists a unique ability to build out a patient’s smile," says Dr. Williams. "Stretching the lips slightly around the new teeth makes the mouth look wider and the lips look fuller."

Both crowns and veneers can make crooked teeth look straight, restore stained teeth to their natural white color, and provide better support to your lips. "Veneers give a natural appearance to one’s smile with little to no discomfort. Since porcelain veneers are durable and stain resistant, they will last up to 10-15 years. Technology has come so far over the past 20 years that dentists are now capable of making the most accurately color-matched crown and veneer and the most satisfied patient," exclaims Dr. Williams.

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