Dr. Raj Upadya of the Metropolitan Center for Complete Dentistry is a highly trained cosmetic dentist. He specializes in improving the appearance of patient’s teeth by using porcelain veneers in his Summit, NJ, area dentist’s office. Porcelain veneers can make subtle or dramatic changes to your smile.
They will give you a new smile that blends with your natural teeth and makes you feel comfortable. When addressing teeth imperfections, dental veneers can also improve long-term dental health for many patients. Porcelain veneers are used in cosmetic dentistry to improve the shape, size, and shade of teeth.
What Can Veneers Treat?
With porcelain veneers, we can:
- Close spaces between teeth
- Repair chipped or broken teeth
- Cover stained or discolored teeth
- Repair crooked teeth
We recommend veneers if you are in good oral health but want to change the look of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are best for fixing minor problems like stained, chipped, or slightly crooked teeth. They are not a replacement for braces or other major treatments.
You must also be committed to wearing your veneers. The tooth preparation process ensures the veneers last for many years.
Traditional Veneers vs. Minimal No Prep Veneers
Veneers come in two main camps: traditional veneers that require preparation and minimal to no-prep veneers. Traditional veneers typically use porcelain materials. Porcelain veneers match the shape and sheen of natural teeth. We also remove a portion of the tooth enamel before we bond the veneers to your teeth. Preparation ensures the veneers don’t look or feel bulky or unnatural.
Because we prepare the teeth before we place the veneers, you must always cover your teeth with veneers or another restoration. Tooth preparation is not reversible. However, if you want to permanently change the look of your teeth, porcelain veneers may be right for you. With the right care, these veneers can last 10 to 15 or more years.
Minimal or no-prep veneers are thin shells that cover the front of teeth. They require little to no enamel removal and are often made from porcelain or composite material.
These veneers might not be suitable for all cases, especially if you have severe tooth misalignment or other dental issues. They may also not be as durable as traditional veneers and might need to be replaced sooner. Minimal-prep veneers and no-prep veneers often last 5 to 10 years.
Advanced Dental Technology
Metropolitan Center for Complete Dentistry uses advanced technology to create dental veneers in a single office visit. Dr. Upadya utilizes E4D technology in most veneer cases. This technology allows him to design and fabricate high-end porcelain veneers in the comfort and convenience of his Summit, NJ, dental office.
This advanced system uses 3-D digital imaging and CAD/CAM software to create precision fit restorations that are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Porcelain Veneers: What To Expect
The porcelain veneer process begins with a comprehensive evaluation in our Summit, NJ, cosmetic dentistry office. This will include a physical examination of your teeth, gums, jaw joints, and other support structures.
During this exam, Dr. Upadya carefully examines signs of stress, decay, or instability, which are often the underlying causes of cosmetic dental concerns.
Dental veneers will fix the root of the problem rather than simply covering the teeth. With a clear picture of your condition, Dr. Upadya will design a personalized treatment plan. This plan includes the number of veneers and where Dr. Upadya will place them in your mouth. He can place as few as one veneer and as many as eight veneers to cover teeth in your smile line.
At your next visit, we will clean your teeth. Then, Dr. Upadya will prepare the teeth by removing a minimal amount of tooth surface structure. He must remove them for optimal, comfortable placement of the porcelain veneers.
Then, he takes a digital impression of the teeth to create the porcelain veneers. Those images are sent to a computer to create plans for veneers that will cover your teeth.
The veneers are made in minutes using E4D milling technology. Dr. Upadya will try the dental veneers on for fit and color, make any minor adjustments, and then permanently cemented to the teeth.
How to Care For Veneers
Porcelain veneers require special care. Dr. Upadya will review the instructions with you and show you how to floss and brush the dental veneers. Routine dental care, such as brushing and flossing, ensures long-term health and proper fit.
You can clean your veneers just like your natural teeth. Floss between each tooth, including teeth with veneers, before you brush. Then, brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste for two minutes twice a day.
While veneers are strong, you can still damage or dislodge them. Avoid bad habits like nail biting, chewing on ice, or using your teeth as tools to protect your veneers. These bad habits can chip, break, or loosen your veneers.
You must also continue visiting our office every six months for routine oral health checkups. During these visits, Dr. Upadya will be able to monitor the stability of your veneers closely.
Can You Whiten Veneers?
You can’t whiten veneers like you would with your natural teeth. Veneers are made from materials like porcelain, which don’t change color with whitening treatments. Our office also recommends veneers if you have deep stains that do not react to teeth whitening treatment. Veneers can cover intrinsic stains or stains within your tooth. Certain medications, dental trauma, or age can cause these stains.
If your veneers look dull or discolored, the best option is to talk to our dentist. We might suggest replacing the veneers or using a special polish to make them look brighter. To keep your veneers looking their best, practice good oral hygiene and avoid things that can stain them, like coffee or tobacco.
Schedule a Dental Exam and Consultation
If you want porcelain veneers in the Florham Park, NJ, and Summit, NJ, area, schedule an appointment with Dr. Upadya. You can also call (973) 287-3153. He will discuss your cosmetic goals and budget concerns to see if veneers suit you.