You probably noticed a few months back a subtle difference in my appearance. After many months of thinking it over I decided to begin the process of getting porcelain veneers on my top teeth.
A little bit of background – I have had braces twice. Once when I was in middle school and a second time in high school when I noticed my teeth had shifted. Due to my TMJ, both rounds of braces didn’t completely correct my smile. It always bothered me that after all the orthodontics I still was insecure about my smile.
My goals with veneers were to strengthen and elongate my teeth, brighten and widen my smile and center my two front teeth with my mid-line (in alignment with my nose and cupid’s bow). Timing-wise, I also wanted my teeth done before my wedding so that my smile was how I wanted it in my wedding photos/videos.
What surprised me the most is a lot of people noticed something was different but couldn’t put their finger on what it was. I attest this to my dentist because my #1 request was to ensure I still looked like myself. I look at pictures and in the mirror still and see a huge difference. I am sure this is because we are used to looking at ourselves on a daily basis. We are definitely our toughest critics.
Check out my before and after photo below!
The Process
The first step in the process was to have a phone consult conversation with my dentist. We talked about the process opportunities to enhance my smile. My dentist listened to my concerns and then made a recommendation on how many veneers I should get and the cosmetic changes she would make.
The actual process of getting veneers required two in-person appointments. The first was the prep appointment and the second was to bond the veneers to my teeth.
The First Appointment
At the first appointment, they took 3-D impressions and I picked out my desired shade for my new teeth. My dentist did this by holding up swatches to my natural teeth. I picked a shade of white that was brighter than my bottom teeth, but not too much whiter so it didn’t look unnatural.
Before prepping my teeth, my dentist created an example mold of what my temporaries would look like. She had me give her feedback about what I liked/disliked so she could great the perfect smile.
Next came the prep which took about an hour. This part of the process was probably the most uncomfortable. I added 10 veneers to my top teeth which required numbing all across my top gums. After the numbing, you can’t feel the next part which involves shaving down part of the natural tooth so the veneer can be permanently bonded. I also had some gum contouring on several teeth to eliminate my slightly “gummy” smile.
Once my temporaries were placed, they took more 3-D impressions to send off to the lab so they could great the porcelain. I wore my temporaries for approximately 3 weeks and was able to give feedback after test driving my smile before the permanent teeth arrived.
The Second Appointment
The second appointment was much quicker! Unfortunately, I had to be numbed again but not as much as the first appointment. During this visit, my dentist removed my temporaries and permanently fit and bonded my veneers to my teeth. Because the lab has all of your before and temporary scans, the real porcelain is 100x better than the temporaries. They ensure everything in the appearance and bite is perfect. I walked out that day feeling like a new version of myself!
One of the most common questions I get is what was the overall cost. This is really dependant upon your area and the dentist. If you go to a general dentist, the price will be significantly cheaper. However, I highly recommended seeking out a dentist that specializes in cosmetics. They will have years of experience perfecting their craft and will partner with only the best labs to create your veneers. I have found in the Midwest, each tooth will be approximately $1200-$1500.
I also am asked a lot would you recommend it? 100% YES! I would do it over and over again if I had the choice. While it is a huge financial commitment, it has increased my confidence beyond words. To me, that is priceless.
