Dental Veneers Can Revitalize Your Smile

Oral health means something different to every patient that comes into our Salem, Oregon dentistry. One person may have a goal of simply keeping their teeth cavity free with little regard for how they look, while others place a high emphasis on the esthetics of their smile.

At Willis Dental, we let each patient’s own personal goals guide their treatment.

For patients that would like to improve the appearance of their smiles, dental veneers may offer an ideal solution.

What are dental veneers? They are very thin porcelain shells that cover the visible portion of a patient’s teeth.

Dental veneers are typically used to improve appearance, close gaps, or correct minor misalignment.

The process of placing dental veneers includes removing a very thin layer from the front of the tooth and replacing it with a white porcelain covering. Dr. Willis will work with a dental laboratory to create customized veneers he can use to craft a smile that patients will love.

Deciding Whether Dental Veneers Are Right for You?

There are a few questions patients should ask if considering whether veneers might be a good treatment option.

Do you find yourself covering your mouth when you smile? Do you avoid smiling or laughing in public? Are you unhappy with the appearance of your smile?

If these questions resonate with you then getting a consultation may be worthwhile.

We understand that changing your smile may be an exciting, if not overwhelming, thought.

Fortunately, at our Salem, Oregon dentistry, Drs. Willis and Nelson can often perform a trial appointment where they use a temporary plastic material that allows the patient and doctor to visualize what the final appearance of teeth may look like with veneers.

This appointment does not require any adjustment on the patient’s natural tooth structure, but does provide a strong visual that can enable patients to quickly make up their minds.

David’s Story

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David is a patient who spent the last few decades unhappy with the appearance of his smile and who had a strong desire to improve the appearance of his teeth. However, like many patients uncertain about how to improve their smiles, he continued to delay getting treatment. 

It was a high school class reunion later that year that motivated him to make a change. His front teeth were chipped and stained, but otherwise healthy. He was unsure what he wanted to do, but knew that he would like to improve his smile. Several options were discussed and it was decided that he would get veneers on his front 6 teeth, we also did a thorough cleaning to remove the staining from his lower teeth.

On the day of the procedure, we prepared his teeth by removing a thin layer from the front surface and sent him home wearing plastic temporary veneers. The temporary veneers are an important step because they allow the patient to “test drive” their new teeth.

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We encourage patients to show friends and family members the teeth and ask the patient to be critical of their appearance. During this time the shape and appearance can be adjusted, after the final porcelain veneers are cemented only very minor adjustments are possible.

After the first month, David’s veneers were cemented into position. During a follow up appointment a few weeks later, David returned with his whole appearance brightened. 

He said he was amazed at how his life had changed now that he could smile confidently. Even after all of these years, he hadn’t realized the negative impact his chipped and discolored teeth were having on his self-esteem.

Dental veneers may not be possible for every patient, however there are other options available to improve the appearance of your smile. We are happy to discuss all of the options available so you can finally get the smile you deserve.

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