Are You a Good Candidate for Porcelain Veneers in New Haven, CT?

If you're thinking about porcelain veneers, you probably already know what bothers you about your smile: a chipped edge, a stain, a gap, or teeth that look uneven next to each other. The bigger question is whether veneers are the right fix for your teeth. This guide walks through who tends to be a good candidate, what can rule veneers out or put them on hold, and how we help you decide on porcelain veneers in New Haven, CT, before you commit to anything.

Who is a good candidate for porcelain veneers?

You may be a good candidate for porcelain veneers if your teeth and gums are healthy and you want to change how your teeth look. The American Dental Association lists several problems veneers can improve:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Stained teeth
• Crooked or misshapen teeth
• Gaps between teeth

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom shells bonded to the front of your teeth. To place them, some tooth enamel is removed, so the ADA describes veneer treatment as not reversible. A good candidate is someone who's comfortable with that and wants a long-lasting change to the look of their smile.

What disqualifies you for veneers?

Untreated decay, gum disease, and grinding or clenching are the most common reasons veneers may not be the right choice, at least not yet. The ADA notes that your dentist must first treat dental issues like decay or gum disease before placing veneers.

• Tooth decay. Cavities need to be treated first, so the veneers go on healthy teeth.
• Gum disease. Gum disease is an infection that inflames the tissue holding your teeth in place, and it needs treatment from a dentist or dental hygienist.
• Grinding, clenching or a deep overbite. The ADA says veneers may not be a good choice for people who grind or clench their teeth or have a deep overbite.
• Wanting a change you can undo. Because enamel is removed, veneer treatment can't be undone, so it's worth being sure.

Once decay or gum disease is treated, veneers can come back into the conversation.

Can I get veneers if I grind my teeth?

If you grind or clench, veneers may not be a good choice for you, and it's something we'll look at closely before recommending them. Grinding can chip and crack natural teeth, and the ADA notes that veneers can also chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time.

Tell us at your consultation if you grind at night or wake up with a sore jaw. A dentist may suggest a night guard, and the ADA says a custom night guard gives the closest, most comfortable fit. If veneers aren't the best fit for your bite, our smile design menu also includes cosmetic bonding, cosmetic contouring, teeth whitening and clear aligners, and we'll walk you through which one suits what you want to change.

How do you find out if veneers are right for you?

You find out at a smile design consultation, where we listen to what you want and look at your teeth before anyone recommends treatment. Your visit starts with a real conversation about what's been bothering you and what you want your smile to feel like.

From there, you spend one-on-one time with our cosmetic dental assistant, our treatment coordinator and Dr. Summer Lerch. We call it co-discovery: mapping out what's possible so you understand every choice in front of you. There's a mirror in every room, so you see what we're talking about as we talk about it.

Where possible, you go home with a concrete treatment plan and pricing you can take your time with. Cosmetic dentistry isn't covered by dental insurance, so our treatment coordinator walks you through financing options, including CareCredit, Alphaeon and Cherry. As Dr. Lerch puts it, "The consultation is just a conversation, it is not a commitment."

Why do New Haven patients choose Center for Esthetic Dentistry for veneers?

Patients choose us for veneers because of Dr. Summer Lerch's decades of focus on natural-looking smiles. She has spent more than 40 years in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, and she was the fourth woman ever Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. She also served for many years as an examiner, reviewing the work of other dentists seeking accreditation.

That experience shows up in the details. We make teeth that look like teeth, matching color, shape and proportion so your veneers blend with your face. Gabby, a graduating law student, wanted a smile that would help her feel confident speaking in courtrooms and meeting clients. Dr. Lerch designed a custom treatment plan with veneers that gave her a polished, professional look while preserving her natural beauty. You can see more cases like hers in our veneers smile gallery.

When your smile design is complete, we mark it with a smile styling visit, photos and a little celebration at our New Haven dental office. In Dr. Lerch's words, "What I've learned in 42 years is this, that people who do it never ever say they did it too soon." You can read more about how we plan porcelain veneers at Center for Esthetic Dentistry.

Curious whether veneers are right for your smile? Call us at (203) 624-5256 or request your smile design consultation. We're at 375 Orange St in downtown New Haven, with free patient parking right behind the building.

Published by Center for Esthetic Dentistry (Dr. Summer Lerch).