By Arthur Kezian
Do you feel uncomfortable with your smile? Have you thought of way to change it? Whether you need it a little whiter and brighter or you want a big change, a cosmetic dentist can help you. Two treatments that can change your smile drastically are dental veneer procedures and dental crown procedures. Have you considered dental veneers or maybe you have a fractured porcelain crown? Although these two procedures are very different from each other, they both create a similar look for you and your smile. Cosmetic dentist, Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS, is experienced with dental crown and veneer procedures. Call his office today to get more information about the procedures!
Dental Crowns:
Porcelain crowns replace the outer portion of a tooth to maintain its original function. Crowns can be used in cases where decay has taken over a big portion of the tooth, when the tooth has experienced trauma, or after a root canal to give strength to the tooth. Crowns do not only replicate the function of your tooth but can also be made to look a lot like it, or even better than it looked before. Crowns can be made from a few different materials, all making the crown look very natural. One type of crown that many people opt for is the porcelain crown. This crown looks the best aesthetically because it is all porcelain and metal margins do not show. Consult with your dentist to see which crown is best for your case and your budget.
The crown procedure is split up into two procedures. The first part includes getting you numb, removing the enamel of your tooth to make room for the crown to slip on, and taking impressions of the shape of the tooth after it has been restructured. These impressions are sent off to a lab where the crown will be made. Depending on your dentist’s schedule and the lab, your crowns will be made somewhere between one to two weeks. Until they are delivered back to the office, temporary crowns will be placed on the teeth being worked on so you can still chew and smile normally.
When your crowns are delivered, you will go in to have them seated permanently. Your dentist will make sure the crown fits correctly and looks nice before using permanent cement. The cement needs to dry for a few minutes and then the access cement will be cleaned out. This is the final step of the procedure.
Dental Veneers
Veneers are very thin (usually porcelain) shells that cover the surface of your teeth. If you have problems with the size, shape, color, or alignment of your teeth, veneers could change that. The procedure for veneers is usually a two-appointment visit, the first being the preparation and the second being the seating of the veneers. Veneer procedures are a lot like crown procedures; the main difference is the amount of enamel that has to be removed. For veneers, only about half a millimeter of your tooth is removed; this is basically how thick the veneer is going to be. After your tooth is prepared, impressions are taken to be sent off to the lab. Just like crown cases, you would have to wait 1-2 weeks for the lab to send the veneers back to your dentist. Once the veneers are at the office, you are ready for the second stage of the procedure – the seating of the veneers.
Dental veneers and even a fractured porcelain crown can both be completed in as little as two visits. You can have a nicer, brighter smile in no time! If you’re interested in porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns, please call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian today! You can also log onto his website to find more information about crowns and veneers as well as before and after cases!
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777