Veneers are a cosmetic decision you live with for years, so the useful questions come before the first appointment, not after. Shield Dental Care, Dr. Pejman Ghorbani's practice, is in Burke, about three miles beyond West Springfield High School. Springfield residents come to us for porcelain veneers when chips, worn edges, gaps or stubborn discoloration on their front teeth have stopped responding to simpler fixes. This page focuses on deciding well and on planning the visits from Springfield. For the rest of what we offer nearby families, see our dentist near Springfield page.
What veneers change, and what they cannot
A porcelain veneer is a thin shell bonded to the front of a tooth. It can change the color, shape and length of a tooth and close small gaps, which is why it is often used across several front teeth at once. Our full guide to porcelain veneers covers candidacy, benefits and the comparison with Lumineers.
The trade-off is permanence. To place a porcelain veneer, the dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the front and sides of the tooth, and the ADA states plainly that the treatment is not reversible for that reason (ADA MouthHealthy: Veneers). The same source notes that a veneer may chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time and need to be re-bonded, repaired or replaced. That is not a reason to avoid veneers, but it is a reason to be sure.
Five questions to settle before committing
- Would whitening alone get you there? If color is the only complaint, professional whitening may be enough and removes no enamel. Our teeth whitening page for Springfield patients explains the options.
- Are the teeth crooked or just look crooked? Veneers can disguise mild irregularity, but genuinely crowded teeth sometimes need aligning first so the veneers do not have to be thick. Clear aligners for Springfield patients are sometimes the first step.
- Do you clench or grind? Night-time grinding is one of the main ways porcelain chips. If you wake with sore jaw muscles, plan on a protective guard; see our night guard and teeth grinding page for Springfield.
- How many teeth show when you smile? Treating only two front teeth can leave a visible color step to the untreated teeth beside them. Count what shows in a wide smile, not in a mirror at rest.
- Are your gums and the teeth underneath healthy? Decay and gum disease have to be treated first. Veneers are bonded to healthy tooth, not placed over problems.
Whitening comes first, not after
Porcelain keeps the shade it was made in. The ADA notes that whitening does not work on veneers, crowns or fillings, so if you want your untreated teeth lighter too, whiten them before the veneer shade is chosen. Doing it in the other order leaves veneers that look too white next to your own teeth, or own teeth that can never catch up.
Trying out the shape before it is permanent
One part of the process is especially useful for people who spend their days talking: in meetings, in classrooms, on calls. After your teeth are prepared, temporary veneers modeled on your smile design are placed while the ceramist makes the final set. The practice describes this as a trial period for checking how the new shape looks and feels in everyday life, with changes made based on your feedback before the permanent veneers are bonded.
Use that stretch deliberately. Read aloud and listen for any lisp on "s" and "f" sounds. Take photos in daylight, not just under the bathroom light. Ask someone honest whether the teeth look too long, too square or too uniform. Changes are simple at this stage and much harder once the porcelain is bonded.
Planning the visits from Springfield
Our veneer page describes the treatment in two main visits: a consultation and smile design first, then preparation with the temporaries placed, followed by bonding of the final veneers. Allow for a few weeks between preparation and bonding while the lab work is done. If whitening, gum treatment or aligners come first, those add time at the front end.
A Friday or Saturday morning can be a practical time for the preparation appointment (the office is open 8 AM to 2 PM both days), since the mouth will be numb for a while afterward and the temporaries take a day or two to get used to. Patients who live near the Old Keene Mill shops are about 2 miles, or 5 minutes in light traffic, from our door. If an event is driving the timing, such as a wedding, a promotion board or a reunion, tell us the date at the consultation so the schedule can be worked backward from it with a margin for adjustments.
The cost conversation
Veneers are priced per tooth, and the total depends on how many teeth are treated and what preparatory work is needed. Because they are cosmetic, dental plans usually treat them as an elective service with little or no coverage, and IRS Publication 502 says cosmetic procedures aimed at improving appearance, rather than function or disease, generally do not qualify (IRS Publication 502), which matters if you were planning to use an FSA. The consultation gives you an itemized estimate, and the office offers in-house payment plans. Before comparing quotes from several offices, read our questions to ask when choosing a Springfield dentist, and add one of your own: what happens if a veneer chips in year three.
To book a veneer consultation, request a time online or call (703) 250-5072. Bring a photo of a smile you like, and a note of any event date you are working toward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get veneers on just one chipped front tooth?+
Sometimes, but matching a single veneer to the natural tooth beside it is one of the harder jobs in cosmetic dentistry, because porcelain and enamel reflect light differently. Bonding is often considered for a single small chip. Dr. Ghorbani will show you both options on the intraoral camera images.
Will my coworkers be able to tell I have temporaries?+
Temporary veneers are shaped to match the planned smile, so most people will not notice in conversation. They are less strong than porcelain, so avoid biting into hard foods with the front teeth and skip sticky snacks until the final veneers are bonded.
I already had a crown on one front tooth. Can veneers be matched to it?+
Yes, though the plan depends on the crown's shade and age. Sometimes the veneers are matched to the crown; sometimes it makes more sense to replace the crown at the same time so all the front teeth are made together.
How soon after veneers can I go back to coffee?+
Porcelain itself resists staining well, so coffee is fine once the veneers are bonded. The bonding edges and your natural teeth can still pick up stain, so regular cleanings and rinsing with water after dark drinks still help.
Do I need to stop playing pickup basketball or hockey?+
No, but wear a mouthguard. A blow to the mouth can crack porcelain just as it can crack natural enamel. A custom guard can be made to fit over your new veneers.