Why hasn't my dentist recommended veneers for teeth in the past?
Porcelain veneers are a recent introduction in the toolbox of cosmetic dentistry. These cutting edge (no pun intended) products have been available and have seen tremendous improvements in the past few years. Porcelain Veneers are now regularly featured on the hit TV show "Extreme Makeover" as the method of choice in improving the facial beauty of the participants.

What makes Porcelain Veneers so unique?
The uniqueness of veneers is their ability to produce the most natural white teeth appearance possible. This "natural teeth" appearance is a result of the inherent translucency of the veneer material. In most previous approaches, the light reflected of the surface of the restoration resulting a clean but "flat" look to the restored tooth. Porcelain veneers allow light to penetrate the wafer shell and reflect only from the inside surface of the tooth structure. This penetration of light produces a translucency which is very natural looking and attractive.

How long would porcelain veneers last and will they stain over a period of time?
Porcelain veneers will last for a long time provided routine care is taken to maintain good oral health, say up to 10 years or more. Porcelain Veneers may need replacement if they are damaged or chipped or indicate loss of bonding with the underlying tooth structure.

The following are a few suggestions to maximize the life of veneers

• Practice good oral home care. Decay in the underlying tooth structure may result if regular oral hygiene is not maintained.
• Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth ("Bruxism") since these actions put tremendous forces on the teeth and can break or move the veneer.
• Avoid biting on hard things, such as bottle caps, fingernails, ice cubes etc.

When can veneers be used?
Porcelain veneers can be an effective method to make cosmetic changes in teeth which are chipped, stained, crooked, or worn out. The decision on whether or not porcelain veneers are a good choice is only possible after a thorough cosmetic evaluation and examination by a dentist. In general, veneers are good candidates for cases when:

• Teeth are crooked or badly stained
• For covering old discolored fillings
• Minor orthodontic improvements to straighten appearance of the teeth
• Teeth which have darkened due to root canal treatment or trauma.
• For closing unsightly gaps in the front teeth of the mouth.

How much do porcelain veneers cost?
The cost of the veneers can be determined only after a complete evaluation by a dentist. However a rough estimate of what a porcelain veneer for a single tooth may cost is between $ 900.00 - $ 1400.00. Click here for details. We use several types of dental veneers including Lumineers Cerinate Porcelain Veneers by Rembrandt.

Dr Lokhandwala has treated more then 18,000 patients in her dental practice and performs a wide range of dental procedures. Porcelain Veneer placement has been a wonderful tool at StarBrite Dental to significantly enhance the smile and looks of our patients. If you are evaluating the possibility of enhancing your smile and would like to have an cosmetic evaluation we would be very pleased to help you. We have advanced dental imaging software, which will allow us to build a visualization to show you how porcelain veneers will look after they have been placed in your mouth. Call us to make an appointment at 510-795-7786, and ask to speak with Alka.

We are easily accessible from Fremont, Hayward, Union City San Jose Milpitas, Newark , San Leandro and Oakland.