Cosmetic Dentistry Blog - Dr. Tekin

Invisalign

2009-05-05T16:42:00.005-04:00

Art of the Smile is proud to offer our patients Invisalign !

Clear, removable braces for adults. Imagine changing the alignment of your teeth without anyone knowing ! These clear braces are practically undetectable. Most cases take about 11 - 13 months. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Tekin !

Why Are Tooth Colored Fillings Better Than the Ones I have?

2008-11-10T17:40:00.004-05:00

If you still have metal-colored fillings, you may be wondering why you should go to the trouble of having them replaced. Besides improving your appearance (even if you think you fillings don’t show, they do), tooth colored fillings can improve and preserve the health of your teeth.

The mercury in old, metal fillings causes them to expand and contact with changes in temperature. Eating and drinking cause temperature changes in your mouth cause this expansion and contraction.

When your fillings expand and contract they can damage your tooth, causing fractures and/or letting decay get in. They can also make your teeth pain sensitive to heat and cold, even when they don’t cause damage.

Tooth colored fillings actually strengthen your teeth. They do not cause temperature sensitivity and they look and feel just like your natural teeth.

What’s New in Dentures?

2008-10-08T16:31:00.001-04:00

If your experience with dentures is reminiscing about your grandmother’s false teeth, you’re in for a big surprise. Improvements are being made every day, and dentures have come a long way. In fact, you probably know someone who has dentures, but with today’s dentures you cannot even tell they are fake.

In the past, there were two primary problems with dentures – they looked bad and fit even worse. A bad fit means pain and difficulty chewing and speaking. Today’s technology allows us to craft dentures that not only fit precisely but are shaped to match your natural teeth.

The materials we use today look real and alive, matching your natural color and the translucency of real tooth enamel.

Best of all, neuromuscular dentistry has even further perfected the fit of dentures, taking into account the alignment of your bite, so the when you chew or bite down, your dentures meet up properly. Old dentures just didn’t work that way. If your dentures don’t line up perfectly, they can be pushed out of place, make it difficult to bite down properly, and generally create pain. They will wear out faster too.

New dentures are comfortable, beautiful, and long-lasting.

What’s Malocclusion and How Does it Affect My Health?

2008-09-25T15:29:00.001-04:00

Malocclusion is a misaligned bite. This includes the well-known overbite and underbite, but can manifest in other, less obvious ways, as well. If your teeth don’t fit together properly when you bite down, you have malocclusion.

Malocclusion can cause serious health problems over time, even if the misalignment isn’t visible or noticeably painful. TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), a neuromuscular problem of the jaw joint, is a very painful condition, and the symptoms are often seen far away from your mouth. The malocclusion causes tension in your jaw muscles first. These muscles work together with other facial muscles and your neck muscles, which work with your shoulder muscles, and so on. The result of tension in your jaw is tension that radiates throughout your body.

Among many possible pains and symptoms, malocclusion can lead to migraine headaches, neck pain, ringing ears, poor posture, and numbness in you hands. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed by doctors and go untreated leaving you in chronic pain.

Malocclusion can lead to chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, and restorations that fail. It can also make chewing difficult, sometimes difficult enough to cause malnutrition.

Neuromuscular dentistry can correct malocclusion, relieving the pain, restoring your health, and preserving your teeth.

To our new patients ...

2008-09-19T14:22:00.005-04:00

Some consider our office difficult to find. We are in West Buckhead. Don't let the Howell Mill Rd. address fool you into thinking we are in Midtown or Downtown !!! We are located at the northmost terminus of Howell Mill Rd. If you are coming off of I-75, take the West Paces Ferry Rd. exit (exit #255) not Howell Mill Road exit (exit #252) to be closest to our office.

Nearby "landmarks":

Ok Cafe

Joel restaurant

Goldberg's deli in Buckhead

PLEASE take the time to locate us using Google Maps - click on the "contact us" button of our web site !

Our new hygienist : Katie Poloche

2008-09-18T14:16:00.003-04:00

Katie Poloche is an experienced, caring and detail-oriented dental hygienist who has been caring for patients since 2000. Katie completed her studies at Kennesaw State University and West Central University, graduating as Salutatorian of her graduating class as well as earning the distinction of Thomas P. Hinman Scholar in 1999. Katie is certified in various fields including but not limited to: LVI, Radiology, Zoom, and Invisalign. Katie is a team member at Art of the Smile, a dental practice providing state-of-the-art dentistry in a uniquely nontraditional setting which yields a comfortable and non-intimidating environment. Along with Dr. Brock Tekin, Katie is part of a team that provides high-quality dentistry with outstanding chair-side professionalism. Visit Katie and Art of the Smile today !

Free Wi-Fi now available in office.

2008-09-09T15:28:00.005-04:00

I'm constantly on my iPhone. I love the idea of getting things done even when I'm away from my desk ! If you are a fellow multi-tasker, I'm happy to announce free wireless internet access in the office. So access the net at lightning speed, and stay productive !

Dr. Tekin

Cosmetic Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

2008-08-21T16:06:00.001-04:00

For anybody looking for the ideal Hollywood smile, there is no cosmetic dental procedure that surpasses porcelain veneers in providing the best possible results. Porcelain veneers are thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to the front of prepared teeth. When they are applied to the front of teeth, they can simultaneously:

Whiten teeth
Correct uneven teeth
Fill gaps in teeth
Cover chipped, cracked, or otherwise misshapen teeth
Make slightly crooked teeth straight

There are other cosmetic dental procedures that can fix these problems, but none of them provide the same quality of results as porcelain veneers.

Tooth whitening can make your teeth whiter, of course, but it suffers from a number of limitations. First, how whit your teeth can be depends on the whiteness and thickness of your enamel, whereas porcelain veneers can be as white as you would desire. Tooth whitening is also very temporary, whereas porcelain veneers retain their color for the lifetime of the veneers. This is particularly important if you are a smoker, since smoking often creates very noticeable isolated staining that can set in quite quickly following your whitening procedure.

Dental bonding can correct chipped or misshapen teeth, including filling gaps, by being shaped into the chips of voids of the teeth. However, since dental bonding is essentially a plastic whereas your teeth are ceramic, dental bonding restorations do not blend in as well as our hand-crafted feldspathic porcelain veneers. Dental bonding is ideal as a cavity filler, but for the front of your teeth, nothing surpasses porcelain veneers.

Slightly crooked teeth can be made straight using orthodontics, but straightening with porcelain veneers is not only known as "instant orthodontics" because of its speed, but for many people it is a better option. Our gums have a memory of where our teeth were, and when teeth are moved, the gums want to push them back, forcing you to use a retainer to keep your teeth straight. By maintaining root position and changing the shape of the tooth, porcelain veneers allow straightening without a retainer. When your teeth have been out of alignment for years, they wear down according to their position, and when teeth are moved back into alignment, they may look uneven and need to have their shape corrected using porcelain veneers anyway. Porcelain veneers can transform your slightly crooked smile into a straight, even one right away.

If you want to learn more about the cosmetic benefits of porcelain veneers, contact cosmetic dentist Dr. Brock Tekin at Art of the Smile today.

Your Smile Technique & Why It Matters

2008-08-18T16:02:00.000-04:00

How do you smile? Most of the time, your smile just happens without your consciously thinking about it, and if you do think about it, your smile often turns out looking fake or forced. Since smiling is a reflexive action, we don't generally have control over the shape of our smile, but if you are considering a smile makeover, Dr. Brock Tekin will take that shape into account in determining how best to go about achieving the ideal look for you.

Research into myofacial (muscles of the face) patterns has revealed that there are three main techniques that people use to smile.

The commissure smile or Mona Lisa smile is the most common technique, used by about 2/3 of people. In this smile, the stereotypically upward-turning smile, the corners of the mouth move first, up and outward. Then the levator muscles that control the upper lip pull to raise the upper lip, resulting in a show of primarily the maxillary (upper) teeth.

The cuspid smile is the next most common technique, practiced by about 31 % of the population. In this smile technique, the lip is lifted first, exposing the cuspid teeth, and only after the contraction are the corners of the mouth raised. Normally, people with this type of smile do not raise the corners of their lips as high, and tend to expose more gums than commissure smilers.

The complex smile is the rarest form of smile, showing up in only 2 % of the population. In this smile technique, the upper lips rise, the lower lips descend, and the corners of the mouth rise all at the same time, leading to a rapid display of all front teeth simultaneously.

Your smile technique has a big influence on your smile makeover. Commissure smilers will benefit greatly from porcelain veneers, and, depending on the degree of discoloration or other cosmetic defects, may only need veneers on the maxillary teeth. Cuspid smilers often require gum recontouring in addition to porcelain veneers. People with a complex smile often need not only porcelain veneers and gum recontouring, but may need treatment of more teeth to create the ideal Hollywood smile.

If you are interested in learning more about smile makeovers, porcelain veneers or any other cosmetic dentistry treatment, contact Art of the Smile today for a consultation.

Types of Porcelain Veneers

2008-08-15T15:46:00.001-04:00

All porcelain veneers are thin layers of ceramic that are bonded to the front part of the teeth. However, that is not the end of the story. There are still some very dramatic differences between different types of veneers. There are many different brands of veneers being marketed to dentists and consumers, but there are really only two main types of veneers: pressed veneers and layered veneers.

Pressed porcelain veneers are fabricated in an industrial-type process. The process begins with a mold of the prepared teeth. Wax is used to mock up the shape of the veneers. Then a new mold is made around the wax, which is then melted out. After the wax is removed, the space is filled with a leucite-based molten porcelain that is forced into it with a dental press. As the porcelain cools and hardens, it shrinks, but the press maintains constant pressure so that eventually the entire space is completely filled with solid porcelain.

Feldspathic porcelain veneers are fabricated in an artistic process. Once the model of your teeth is taken, and provisional veneers are accepted that give your teeth the ideal size and shape, the master ceramicist gets to work crafting your veneers by hand. A platinum foil, only 0.001 inch thick, is used as a base as layers of porcelain powder are painted into place. Each layer is custom-selected to give your veneers the appropriate balance of translucency and color to make them ideal restorations for your smile, and as each layer is fired the ceramicist checks the teeth to make sure they look just right.

There are some people for whom pressed porcelain veneers might be the right choice, but at Art of the Smile, we give our customers only the best possible restorations and that includes hand-crafted feldspathic porcelain veneers. If you want a true Hollywood smile, don't settle for press-molded veneers. Instead, get the veneers that are true works of art.

To learn more about the advantages of feldspathic porcelain veneers, contact Dr. Brock Tekin today for a consultation.

Functional Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

2008-08-13T15:37:00.000-04:00

Most people think of porcelain veneers as a cosmetic dentistry procedure. It's true that porcelain veneers can correct a number of cosmetic problems, including:

Discolored teeth
Cracked teeth
Chipped teeth
Gapped teeth
Uneven teeth
Small teeth

All of these problems can be corrected simultaneously using porcelain veneers. However, getting porcelain veneers will do more than make your smile beautiful, it will make it more functional as well.

Porcelain veneers are thin facades of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth. The combination of the bonding and the addition of the new sheet of porcelain lead to much stronger teeth. Just like modern tank armor, your teeth become a composite layering of ceramic and plastic, with the materials working together to provide mutual support. The support is most beneficial for cracked teeth, whose structural weaknesses threaten to fail under the forces of biting and chewing.

In addition to structural support, porcelain veneers protect your teeth. Cracked or chipped teeth are the ideal opportunity for bacteria, which can infiltrate the small spaces. Once inside, they are protected from brushing, and the acid they produce begins to decay teeth from within the small sanctuaries. Porcelain veneers cover those cracks and chips and provide a smooth, decay-resistant surface for your teeth.

And that smooth surface is also easier for you to clean. By using porcelain veneers to straighten your teeth in the process known as instant orthodontics, you can close the gaps and unevenness that can make it difficult for you to properly clean your teeth.

Finally, as we age, our teeth can be worn down as a result of constant use, becoming and making it harder for us to bite into some of the foods we used to enjoy. Porcelain veneers can give your teeth back the edge they used to have.

Porcelain veneers are the ideal treatment to give your smile both beauty and brawn. If your smile is lacking either aesthetically or functionally, contact Dr. Brock Tekin at Art of the Smile today for a consultation to learn what porcelain veneers can do for you.

What is TMD?

2008-08-01T15:19:00.002-04:00

TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), also called TMJ, is a neuromuscular condition that often eludes doctors and patients alike, resulting in a lifetime of debilitating pain, and progressive dental damage. When you suffer from TMD, your teeth, jaw joint, and jaw muscles do not work together in harmony the tension and pain can radiate throughout your body.

The symptoms of TMD can include migraine headaches, neck and back pain, ringing ears, and numbness in your hands. Tooth grinding is another common symptom, which can cause serious damage to your teeth, and you be grinding your teeth in your sleep without even knowing it.

When doctors are approached with these symptoms, they rarely consider an underlying dental problem. The condition typically goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and patients can spend years trying out ineffective treatments, without finding relief, sometimes leading to deep depression. TMD will get progressively worse over time, as the tension causes your jaw to be pulled further out of alignment. As your teeth are damaged, the pain can cause you to make adjustment in how you chew, making TMD even worse.

Neuromuscular dentists have the knowledge and equipment to diagnose and treat TMD effectively, relieving the pain and preventing future dental damage. The type of treatment you will need will depend on the source of the problem.

What Causes Bad Breath?

2008-07-11T17:34:00.001-04:00

Chronic bad breath is more common than you may think. Most of us respond to bad breath by brushing and flossing more regularly and more rigorously and often supplementing with mouthwash, breath mints, and chewing gum. The underlying cause is not addressed, and some of thee methods can actually make your breath worse.

Most bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria harbored in the grooves of your tongue and pockets of your gums. It can also be caused by tooth decay and gum disease. In a few cases, non-dental medical problems, such as chronic sinus infections, can be the source.

Mouthwash can make bad breath worse because it contains alcohol and dries out your mouth, making it an even more hospitable environment for anaerobic bacteria. Breath mints and gum can contribute to tooth decay, furthering your breath problems.

Treatments for bad breath can reach the bacteria that you can’t get to in your normal routine. Breath treatment can include tongue scraping, gum treatments, removing tooth decay, and special alcohol-free mouth rinses.

What Can Veneers Offer?

2008-06-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

Veneers can correct a multitude of dental defects. By making thin tooth covers and permanently affixing them to the front surfaces of your teeth, Dr. Tekin can give them a new surface, new shape, new size, and new relationship to their neighboring teeth. Veneers can correct:

Small gaps between teeth
Small chips or shallow cracks in the enamel
Slight mismatching in sizes
Slight crookedness or misalignment
Visible wear and tear
Discoloration that will not respond to a tooth whitening procedure

If your smile is marred by any such minor defects which don’t need orthodontic treatment or any entire tooth replacement, veneers are an excellent choice. The dental porcelain will so closely match your natural teeth that only Dr. Tekin will be able to detect its presence. Even if you have several of the above problems, they can all be taken care of together, in this one procedure.

If you have the problem of short teeth, which make your smile “gummy” or childlike in appearance, we can treat that with a different procedure. That would be gum recontouring. Teeth look short when there is too much gum tissue hiding part of the enamel. A laser can quickly, painlessly, and easily vaporize just enough gum tissue to reveal your full-sized teeth.

If any of this sounds like dentistry you would like to try, please feel free to call or email our office, and we can schedule a personal consultation for you.

Caring for Laminate Veneers

2008-06-24T18:19:00.000-04:00

Your porcelain veneers need no special care, but they do need the same care you would give your natural teeth. It’s potentially damaging to use your natural teeth for purposes like opening bottles of beer, and never a good idea to bite on hard things like ice or pens. That can potentially damage your veneers also. A veneer is bonded strongly to your tooth and is part of that tooth, and will remain so with normal use.

Daily hygiene
Good dental hygiene is the secret to lasting dental health, and that includes your veneers. Although the porcelain itself will never decay, the back surface that isn’t covered by the veneer can develop caries. So brush at least once a day to clean the exposed surfaces, and floss every night to be sure the side surfaces are cleaned, the areas between teeth.

Toothpaste type
Although the stores sell many lines of toothpaste that claim to be “whitening”, stay away from them. Look for a brand which does not claim to whiten your teeth. Those making that claim contain abrasive ingredients like baking soda, which might whiten your teeth a little in the short term, but in the long term will yellow them. That is because they will gradually remove your tooth enamel along with bacteria and food particles, allowing the yellow dentin layer to show through. They can also scratch the porcelain and dull its pearly shine. Dr. Tekin recommends the Rembrandt brand of toothpaste.

At Art of the Smile, we have dental hygienists who understand dental porcelain and know how to clean it in your regular visits for professional cleaning. Please contact us if you would like to have a personal consultation.

What is Dental Porcelain?

2008-06-20T18:15:00.000-04:00

You may be familiar with porcelain teacups or plates – they are very thin, exquisite ceramic objects. Dental porcelain is similar. By itself it is brittle, as are porcelain cups, but after it is bonded properly to your teeth, it is strong and durable. Dental porcelain can be used with a metal lining or with a porcelain lining. Dr. Tekin uses only layered feldspathic porcelain, which has a porcelain lining. That means that no dark line will appear at the gumline later on, as it will if you have porcelain restorations with metal linings.

Tooth enamel and dental porcelain share two important characteristics:

Whiteness
Teeth look white at first glance, but a second glance will show you that there are several shades of white in each tooth. Each person has an inborn limit on how white their teeth can become after a tooth whitening procedure. And we all eat and drink substances which gradually stain and yellow our teeth. But regardless of where you fall in those two continuums, your teeth have subtle variations in their whiteness.

Dental porcelain has the same feature, and the best porcelain in particular has this asset. This means that Dr. Tekin can choose a porcelain which most closely matches your individual tooth color, both in overall shade of white, and in the variations of white.

Semi-translucency
Both enamel and porcelain reflect some light off their surfaces and absorb some light. The absorbed light travels through to the layer beneath, and is reflected back to the viewer from there. In the case of tooth enamel, that is the dentin layer, a yellowish part of the tooth structure. In the case of porcelain veneers or crowns, it is the dental bonding substance used to attach them to the tooth. In both cases, the end result is a pearly sheen. A porcelain restoration cannot be distinguished from natural teeth except by your dentist.

An extra benefit of porcelain
Whereas tooth enamel gradually stains and yellows, porcelain is stain-resistant. It will not darken from coffee-drinking, love of blackberries or blueberries, and all the edible delights which leave their mark on our smile. Not even tobacco use or aging will dull the appealing whiteness of dental porcelain.

On the flip side, it does not respond to tooth whitening. So if you would like to whiten your teeth as well as have porcelain veneers or crowns, do the whitening first. Then Dr. Tekin can match the porcelain to your new bright white.

You are welcome to call or email us for more information, or to schedule a personal consultation. We hope to hear from you soon.

How Porcelain Veneers Are Done

2008-06-17T18:13:00.001-04:00

For you, the patient, porcelain veneers are a simple thing. Just come for two visits. For Dr. Tekin and his master ceramist, there is much meticulous and subtle work, only possible after many years of training.

In the first visit, Dr. Tekin removes a tiny amount of tooth enamel to create space for the veneers, which are about as thin as contact lenses. Then he takes impressions of the tooth or teeth (many veneers can be done at once). He sends these to his dental lab, along with other information and images so that his ceramist will be able to make superbly customized veneers for your particular mouth.

In between the first and second visits, you would not need any temporary veneers, although if you would like, Dr. Tekin could use some dental bonding to create a temporary cover for each tooth.

In the second visit, Dr. Tekin will clean and prepare your teeth and attach the new veneers with temporary cement at first. He’ll make any fine adjustments needed until both you and he are satisfied with how it feels and how your bite comes together. Then he will attach them with permanent cement. It isn’t “cement” in the usual sense - it’s a composite resin used in dentistry to make durable bonds between teeth and crowns or veneers.

Cosmetic dentistry is as much art as it is science. In designing your porcelain veneers, Dr. Tekin considers your whole facial shape and coloring, and how your mouth changes when you smile. If any teeth need subtle shape-changes, he will do that by slightly modifying one or more veneer shape. On the technological side, Dr. Tekin offers a very up-to-date amenity which is comfortable for you and makes work quicker and easier for him - the Isolite system. You can read more about it on our Technology page.

Please call or email us if you would like a personal consultation.

What can be done for my Chipped Teeth?

2008-06-11T18:06:00.002-04:00

There are many options for fixing chipped teeth. The best solution for you will depend on how much of your tooth is missing and your overall dental goals.

You options include:

Enamel recontouring and porcelain veneers are often a good choice if you want to correct the shape or appearance of several teeth. Recontouring can minimize teeth that are too large and build up missing areas. Porcelain veneers can cover many imperfections at once, including discoloration, crooked, and misshapen teeth.

Dental bonding can go further in building up a tooth than is appropriate for porcelain veneers. You can replace up to half of a tooth with bonding.

If you are missing a significant portion of your tooth you may want to think about replacing the entire tooth with a dental implant. A titanium rod is used to replace your root and fuses with your jawbone, so it is permanent and stable. A beautiful, porcelain false tooth is attached to the implant.

Sedation Dentistry

2008-05-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

Fear does not have to stand between you and good dental health. It is estimated that 30% to 50% of Americans avoid seeing a dentist because of fear. Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to remove that obstacle.

Putting off dental care not only means more serious dental problems and the need for more invasive procedures in the future, it can also contribute to life-threatening health problems such as heart disease.

Sedation dentistry involves taking a sedative pill, no IVs or needles are involved, and you will be breathing on your own. You will be semi-conscious, but you may find yourself napping through your procedure. Your body will be completely relaxed, and many patients have no memory of the experience whatsoever.

Sedation dentistry can also allow you to experience the benefits of dental care if you are intolerant to dental procedures due to resistance to numbing, a strong gag reflex, or difficulty swallowing. It can make long, complex procedures possible without the need for general anesthesia.

How Instant Are Instant Orthodontics?

2008-04-11T13:04:00.000-04:00

The term “instant orthodontics” may be a little confusing. When you hear the word orthodontics, it probably brings to mind memories of the long, grueling process that you, or someone you knew, went through in high school, involving braces and multiple appliances used to force teeth into alignment.

Instant orthodontics won’t actually move your teeth. It simply makes them appear straight, by covering them with porcelain veneers and/or using dental bonding techniques. Porcelain veneers are a thin shell of porcelain, bonded to the surface of your teeth, which look and feel like natural teeth. Your veneers are made in a lab, so they will actually require two office visits to complete.

Besides being quick and easy, your porcelain veneers can cover multiple imperfections in one procedure, eliminating the need for tooth whitening, and correcting the appearance of chips and misshapen teeth.

Of course, if you want to truly straighten your teeth, you have the option of choosing Invisalign, which takes six months to two years, depending on how much adjustment you need. Invisalign requires a longer commitment of time than instant orthodontics, but the clear aligners eliminate the need to wear unsightly and uncomfortable braces.

Fillings made easier

2008-03-25T09:54:00.002-04:00

At this year's Hinman dental convention, We acquired an innovative and proven product to improve dental procedures. The Isolite system does several things at once:

It props open the mouth, comfortably retracts the tongue, suctions and illuminates teeth all at once !

White fillings need to be placed in a clean, dry field to be successful.

Sealants do no good if contaminated with saliva.

Cementation of a crown on a wet tooth can cause problems.

Isolite addresses these situations and more. Its a perfect example of our ongoing commitment to staying on the cutting edge of dental technology.

The details are in the porcelain

2008-03-24T10:30:00.002-04:00

Trying to match dental porcelain with natural teeth can be a challenge. Examined closely, a real tooth has subtle amounts of color that vary in Value, Hue and Chroma. Other things to consider are texture, shape, and translucency. I work closely with my Master Ceramist to mimic and enhance a natural smile. I also use a color map ( pictured ) as another communication tool. Close up digital photographs are also key in any successful cosmetic case.

A word about antibiotics and birth control ...

2008-03-18T17:03:00.002-04:00

There have been no large, long-range studies proving antibiotics cause interference with the effectiveness of birth control pills (one exception is the antibiotic Rifampin, which Dr. Tekin does not prescribe).

Nonetheless, researchers can't rule out the possibility that a small percentage of women may experience decreased effectiveness with the use of antibiotics. Additionally, new versions of the birth control pill in low-dose form may be more prone to decreased effectiveness.

Therefore, Dr. Tekin prefers to err on the side of caution and recommends barrier protection during the duration of your antibiotic prescription. "Better safe than sorry!"

What are veneers ?

2008-03-17T15:24:00.002-04:00

Porcelain veneers (also called laminate veneers) are very thin porcelain shells that are placed on the fronts of teeth to improve one's smile. A good analogy are ladies "press on fingernails" - the real nail is still three, but it alters the appearance.

The portion of the tooth that faces inward is unaltered. The portion of the tooth that faces outward is porcelain.

A veneer differs from a crown in that a crown covers the entire tooth.

The Golden Proportion and veneers

2008-03-11T14:09:00.004-04:00

Technical explanation:

The Golden Proportion (or Golden Mean or Phi) is a mathematical ratio of 1:1.6.

The dimensions of the upper central incisors (front two teeth) should adhere to this ratio. Any gross violation of this ratio will result in the teeth looking unnatural. Beautiful teeth have symmetry, continuity, and respect the Golden Proportion, and dentistry (porcelain crowns or veneers) must do the same.

Easier explanation:

Dental work can look fake if the teeth are too long or too wide.

Bottom Line:

Good dentistry isn't always noticed. Bad dentistry is.