Dental Veneers Highlands Ranch

Porcelain Dental Veneers Highlands Ranch Dentistry, Denver Dentist

Smile make-over's with Dental Veneers

Before veneer Dental Veneer after photograph

For patients who need more that simple tooth bleaching, our Highlands Ranch Dentist- serving Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Centennial, Englewood and the Greater Denver area, offer "porcelain" or "ceramic" veneers. Dental veneers are one of many options for the patient who wants to change the appearance of their smile Our Highlands Ranch Dentists have found that . dental veneers may "correct" uneven, crowded or discolored teeth or all porcelain crowns used in conjunction with veneers can replace missing teeth and fill in gaps in your smile.

Click the following to view our dental practice video Highlands Ranch Dentist

Why do dental patient choose to do dental porcelain or ceramic dental veneers.

There are so many reasons why patients choose to have porcelain veneers placed that to list all the reasons would be an unmanageable number. Truly, everyone is different but as you are aware, the smile is the gateway to the soul. If your teeth are crooked,, crowded stained, or chipped you are less likely to smile and others perception of you can be affected. Some of the reasons our Highlands Ranch Dentists have seen includes:

I hate the color of my teeth.
My teeth are getting shorter as I am getting older.
My teeth are stained from antibiotics or minerals in the water.
My teeth make me look old. I am going to a class reunion or... wedding (bride... groom...mother/father of the bride groom).
I have contact with the public and my teeth give a poor
impression of me.
So many other reasons... each is individualized.

What are Dental Veneers... please read more...

Highlands Ranch Dentist dental veneers

Ceramic or porcelain veneers are thin tooth-colored strips of porcelain or similar ceramic material that are bonded onto the existing teeth. For our dental patients in the Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree and Castle Pines and Denver area, dental veneers can enhance the shape of your smile.

The advantages of ceramic dental veneers or tooth bonding are numerous and include:
The color of the materials is very similar to the color of the teeth, which can create a more esthetic appearance than did traditional bonding.
Porcelain or ceramic dental veneers maintain their white color because they tend to resist staining. This means your smile will last longer than traditional composite bonded veneers.
Every year we have found that technology improves and the strength of veneers increase making them more durable and life-like.
Rapid smile enhancement is possible with dental veneers. One day for the temporaries and approximately 3 weeks to a month later for the permanent porcelain dental veneers.
Occasionally, we use several techniques to design your smile. This may include orthodontic (traditional braces or Invisalign). Very complex esthetics may be addressed in this manner and are rarely solved by only one technique for your best results.

We use "artistic" Dental Laboratories

Las Vegas Dental Esthetics, (a dental laboratory) is well known for its superior products, manufactures the porcelain or ceramic dental veneers that we use at Cottonwood Dental Group. Our Highlands Ranch Dentists also treat dental patients from Lone Tree and Castle Pines and Denver area. This dental laboratory prides itself on offering dental veneers that are functional as well as beautiful. We want our dental patients to walk away with custom crafted smiles as well as functional healthy smiles.

Complimentary Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation Highlands Ranch Dentistry

A complimentary cosmetic dental consultation provides the following:

It provides a no-cost visit to see if you are a candidate for dental veneers or any other cosmetic dental procedure (dental veneers, whitening, and/or Invisalign orthodontics).
It allows you to have your questions answered ahead of time and to decide if our office is the right fit for you.
It gives the Dr' James DeLapp and Candace DeLapp Highlands Ranch dentists the opportunity to evaluate the level of complexity of your case. A few esthetic dental veneer makeovers are complex and the Dr. Candace DeLapp and James DeLapp cosmetic and family dentists can at least give you at least an "idea" of how complex your case will be and their recommendations for your best result.
We can image your smile and use digital dental "artwork" to give you a visual image that can give you "an idea" of what "might" be possible. While not being a perfect example of what can be done, it does give you an idea that can help you make a decision if cosmetic dentistry from a Highlands Ranch dentist is right for you.
Is our office convenient to you? Many of our Highlands Ranch dental patients join dental patients from Lone Tree, Castle Pine, Centennial area as well as the Englewood, and Arapahoe County area of the South Denver Metro Area.

Costs of Dental Veneers Highlands Ranch circa 2010

What dental patients present with is considerably variable and to state one fee would be misleading at best. Obviously, there are routine cases, moderate cases and complex cases and each has it own level of complexity and corresponding costs. At Cottonwood Dental Group P.C. we customize your care and the above "complementary dental cosmetic consultation" gives you at least and "idea" of where to start. As a guide only, in 2009 eight (8) dental veneers on a "routine case runs "around" twelve thousand dollars. Certainly your case could run more to... substantially more... there is just no way to predict without seeing where you are at without an evaluation and customized treatment plan. Care Credit and Capital One are financing companies that we work with. Depending upon your credit you could finance the twelve thousand dollars. eight (8) veneer case for as little as $250 - $350 (e.g. but can vary) per month for Capital One and similar with Care Credit.

No Drill or Prep-less Veneers... sounds too good to be true.... it "may" be!

There have been a great influx of information on veneers that can be placed on your teeth simply with no reduction of tooth structure. This technique is a resurfacing of a technique from the 1980's that has gained popularity in advertising. The question is... how useful is it?

Indications for using the no drill prep-less veneers include:

The shade/color of the natural teeth must be close to the desired shade. These dental veneers are so thin that the underlying dark color may show through.
The "profile" (the lateral view... from the side) of the teeth must be ideal. This means that the teeth cannot be flared out and should be tilted inwards for this technique to work.
The arch form must be in perfect alignment, i.e. one or more teeth cannot stick out further than the rest of the teeth in the arch.
Simple closing of spaces between your teeth combined with the above indications.
In our opinion, less than 10% fall into this category.

Contra-indications with no-drill prep-less veneers

As discussed above, modifying dark colors of teeth is difficult at best possible... can be impossible.

This technique makes your teeth feel "thicker" and the Mister "Ed" look possibly.
This technique may flair your teeth and they may look bulky.
One or more teeth cannot stick out further than the rest of the teeth in the arch.
Most dental veneer cases in our office do not meet the above indications.
Overhanging margins... glue stains... gum problems can occur with this technique.
In our opinion, 90% of patients do not fit into the no-prep category.

What is the process for dental veneers if I wish to proceed?

The steps for dental veneers depend upon the complexity of your case. Getting the most optimum outcome is our goal and we" never" recommend starting a veneer case without the following homework to customize your case.

A traditional dental examination This is where everything begins, the foundation.
Diagnostic Radiographs-.This allows us to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums to see if you are eligible to have dental veneers placed.
Extra-oral Digital Photographs. These photographs of your teeth and smile evaluation gives us very important information. It shows the following information:

How much tooth exposure you show at rest (repose).
Your smile line and how much gum do you show.
The shape of your existing teeth... straight... oval... rounded.
The width to length ratio. Do your teeth look too long and narrow or short and squatty? This has a number of descriptions... the "Golden Proportions"... the "Platinum Proportions" many names that look at the height and width and its relationship to nature and beauty.\
Spacing and/or rotations between your teeth.
Color differences between you teeth. Is one darker than the others... are they splotchy with many colors... are they translucent...etc
Intra-oral Photographs. Close-up views of the above information.
Impressions to make a model of your teeth. We want to be able to evaluate your current shape of your teeth, spacing, and just about everything mentioned above and more. It gives us a better way to determine "if" we can meet your goals.
Determine what "style" of teeth you would like- Teeth have different shapes and edges that give very distinctly different appearances. Some styles are flat... others slightly rounded... and others oval. There are many to choose from. We make a "style" selection (e.g. "youthful" "mature"... "Hollywood") and the dental laboratory will wax your style over your existing teeth to see if this is the change you desire. It gives us a preview or what is and what is not possible.
Fabricate a diagnostic wax-up from your model for your review and approval. Using the style you have chosen the dental laboratory fabricates the shape and style of your new veneers. You and the doctors can review the changes and determine if you want to proceed with treatment. If you decide to proceed, we use this wax- up to fabricate your temporaries that you wear while the dental veneers are being fabricated. In a sense you get to have a trial run on the veneers! After you have worn the temporaries for a week or so and have approved the style... your veneers are finished to this form so there are no major surprises.

Why so many steps?

Dr's James and Candace DeLapp Highlands Ranch cosmetic and family dentists are trying to address as many variables as possible to try to make your veneers to your satisfaction. Simply starting your dental veneers on one day without this entire preplanning make this process difficult at best possible. It is best to take you time when doing anything esthetic.

Bonding your final dental veneers.

After the dental laboratory has fabricated your dental veneers one appointment (occasionally more) is needed to bond on your final veneers. Meticulous home care must be attainted while your dental veneers are being fabricated. Essentially we need to assure there is no inflammation or bleeding (or very much reduced) to assure success. Patients who have not been as attentive in this regard may be rescheduled as this may complicate any bonding procedure. To keep the area as healthy as possible we have our patients use a Sonic toothbrush... occasionally a water-pick or some other oral irrigating device. Puffy gums are simply difficult to work with.

Protecting your Investment

We want you to protect your investment in ceramic or porcelain dental veneers. While dental veneers are strong they certainly are not indestructible. You should never use your teeth as a tool... or... gnaw on things... or... crunch on ice etc. I don't recommend you do that with your real teeth either! For our large cases we provide an occlusal guard for you to wear at night. This helps "reduce" the effect of clenching and grinding on your dental veneers and your "real" teeth! As a general rule of thumb for a single or a few veneers this fee is separate and we strongly recommend an occlusal guards purchase and use.

Call our Denver area dentist today!

Feel free to make an initial no-charge evaluation appointment with out office at (303) 694-9740 to see if porcelain (ceramic) dental veneers are for you. Our Highlands Ranch Colorado cosmetic dentist also see dental patients living and working in Parker, Lone Tree, Centenniral, Castle Pines and the Greater Denver area.

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