What stops you from smiling with confidence? Is it the gap between your two front teeth? As common as that smile defect is, for the person who has it, it’s just plain embarrassing.
Dr. Wayne Myles, your cosmetic dentist in Northern Virginia, understands. Through his training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, Dr. Myles has acquired the skills to change defective teeth and gums into winning smiles. Porcelain veneers are only one of the many aesthetic services he offers, but they just could be the treatment you need for the gap that mars your self-confidence.
HOW VENEERS CAN CLOSE THE GAPS
The bothersome gaps that typically occur between the two upper front teeth are called diastemas. They occur for a variety of reasons, but most commonly, they appear because of a mismatch in size between the teeth and the jaw. In other words, the individual has small teeth but a big jaw bone with lots of available space. While this spacing may not affect oral health or function, it certainly can spoil smile aesthetics.
As such, Dr. Myles may recommend porcelain veneers to disguise the gap. Far less invasive than orthodontics (to close the gap) or dental crowns (to increase the size of the teeth), veneers just cover the space with beautiful dental grade porcelain.
Just what are veneers? They are tooth-shaped ceramic shells, customized to fit over the front side of defective teeth. Permanently bonded in place, veneers dramatically improve appearance and even add a measure of durability to the teeth.
HOW ARE VENEERS PLACED?
First, the patient comes to Smiles by Myles for a consultation. Dr. Myles performs a complete oral exam, including X-rays to ensure the teeth and gums are healthy. Then, he outlines the patient’s treatment options. If veneer placement is feasible, he removes a thin portion of tooth enamel, takes oral impressions to send to the dental lab and places temporary veneers. “Temporaries” regularize the appearance of the prepared teeth and allow the patient to adjust to how laminates feel.
At the lab, a master ceramist takes Dr. Myles’ information and translates it into custom-fabricated porcelain veneers. Each laminate improves the color, size, shape and surface texture of the gapped teeth.
At the next dental visit, Dr. Myles removes the patient’s temporary veneers and bonds the new ones in place using a color-matched adhesive. A special curing light hardens the bond, and the doctor ensures that the top and bottom teeth bite together correctly.
And yes, veneers can successfully and beautifully close that gap or disguise any other defect! Patients are amazed at how dazzling their renewed smiles look.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE PERFECT SMILE?
Dr. Myles and his team would love to help you achieve the beautiful, complete smile you have wanted for years. Please contact Smiles by Myles to arrange a cosmetic dentistry consultation, and ask about porcelain veneers.
