Dental veneers are one of the most versatile cosmetic dentistry services we offer at The Smile Center because of the wide variety of dental problems they can solve. Our Georgetown, SC dentists can use them to conceal:

  • Chips
  • Minor cracks
  • Discoloration
  • Misshapen teeth
  • Gaps in teeth
  • Teeth that are too short

Dental veneers are also a more conservative option than dental crowns for strengthening teeth. Unlike dental crowns, veneers do not cover your entire tooth.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin “shells” of either porcelain or composite resin that are custom made to fit snugly over your teeth. They cover imperfections and also help fortify your teeth. If they are well-matched to your other teeth, no one will even know you are wearing them!

Our Cosmetic Dentistry Expert

Dr. John Miller has had extensive training in cosmetic dental treatments. His teachers have included Dr. Jeff Morley, founding member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. So you know you are in good hands if Dr. Miller performs your dental veneers procedure! And he can advise you on all of the cosmetic dentistry options you have.

For a consultation with cosmetic dentist Dr. Miller, call The Smile Center at 843-492-5026 for (Murrells Inlet) or 843-491-5353 for (Georgetown) SC office.

Veneers For Teeth Whitening

Veneers can be an alternative to teeth whitening treatments. Whitening works well for extrinsic stains, like those you get from years of smoking or coffee consumption. But intrinsic stains, like those that can result from certain medications, are tougher to remove with whitening treatments.

So for intrinsic stains, dental veneers may be a better option.

Can I Get Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are a cosmetic dentistry treatment that works well for most people. But there are some exceptions.

Dental veneers may not be appropriate if:

  • Your teeth are in bad shape. If you have dental decay, for example, our Georgetown, SC dentists would need to treat it with a tooth filling before you can get a veneer.
  • Your teeth are too weak. If you’ve got a lot of tooth structure missing or you have large dental fillings, a dental crown may be a better choice.
  • You don’t have enough tooth enamel. It is tough to affix dental veneers to your teeth if you lack adequate enamel. Again, a dental crown may make more sense for you.
  • You have poorly aligned teeth. For teeth with alignment issues, our cosmetic dentists would recommend an orthodontic treatment like Invisalign before applying dental veneers.
  • You clench or grind your teeth. Habitually grinding or clenching your teeth can damage veneers. If you grind your teeth at night, we can make a custom night guard for you that will prevent dental damage.

Porcelain Dental Veneers vs. Composite Resin Veneers

We offer you a choice of veneers made from two different materials:

  • Porcelain
  • Composite resin

We’ve summarized some of the pros and cons for each material for you here. But a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists in Georgetown, SC or Murrells Inlet, SC is the best way to determine which is best for you.

Comparing the Dental Veneers Procedure

A key difference between porcelain and composite resin is the length of the veneers procedure.

It takes two visits to our Georgetown, SC dentist office to get porcelain dental veneers. On the first visit, our cosmetic dentist trims a tiny amount of enamel from your teeth, then takes dental impressions to create a model for your custom-made veneers.

We outsource actual production to a trusted outside lab. During a second visit, we carefully apply the porcelain dental veneers to your teeth. The final step is cleaning and polishing your teeth.

For composite resin veneers, our cosmetic dentist removes a bit of enamel and then applies the resin directly to your teeth. He shapes it to achieve the desired results and bonds it to your teeth using a special light. Finally, he cleans and polishes your teeth. So you can get your veneers in a single visit.

Porcelain Dental Veneers

Here are some pros and cons:

  • Appearance . Thanks to its natural translucence, porcelain dental veneers will look the most like your own teeth.
  • Durability . Porcelain is less susceptible to damage than composite resin. So porcelain dental veneers typically last longer.
  • Cost . Because the process to produce them is more involved and because the material is more durable, porcelain dental veneers cost more than their composite resin counterparts.

Composite Resin Veneers

Here are some pros and cons:

  • Flexibility . While composite resin is not as durable as porcelain, it is more flexible. So composite resin dental veneers can be repaired if they are damaged. If porcelain dental veneers are damaged, you’ll need new veneers.
  • Cost . Composite resin veneers are less expensive than porcelain dental veneers.
  • Appearance . Composite resin is not quite as natural looking as porcelain.

More Cosmetic Dentistry Services

We offer other cosmetic dentistry services at The Smile Center:

  • Invisalign. We straighten teeth with clear plastic aligner trays instead of metal and wires.
  • Teeth whitening treatments. We can whiten teeth in our Murrells Inlet, SC dentist office or Georgetown, SC dentist office. Or we’ll give you professional-strength treatments to use at home.
  • Tooth bonding. Our cosmetic dentists apply resin material to correct chips, minor cracks, and other flaws.
  • Tooth contouring. Our cosmetic dentists can reshape your teeth in a single visit.
  • Gum reshaping. We can use lasers to make your gumline more even or to remove excess gum tissue.

For more information on any of our cosmetic dentistry services, call 843-492-5026 for (Georgetown) or 843-491-5353 for (Murrells Inlet).