Smiles under construction. Veneers valuable option to restore damaged teeth

Tracy Baker hurt more than her pride when she took a tumble a few years back.

She managed to chip her four front teeth and mangle the previous dental work, which had  eliminated a gap between the front two teeth.

“The fall was embarrassing,” said Baker. “I knew I was in for some major work. It couldn’t be avoided.”

Indeed, she needed a mouth reconstruction including veneers, a deep cleaning and whitening. The veneers would solve a myriad of issues, including closing the gap.

“I ended up with a great smile,” Baker said. “The process to fix everything was very smooth. I really like my veneers.”

Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or a composite material covering the front and edge of the teeth. They are bonded to the front of teeth, said Dr. Alexis LaRose, owner of Kootenai Family Dental.

“They are fantastic for improving the appearance of your teeth,” said Dr. LaRose. “We can fix so many different things with veneers, such as discoloration, spacing and irregular or chipped teeth.”

Crowns, on the other hand, cover the entire tooth and like veneers can require about three visits to complete the process, depending on the extent of changes required.

“We do veneers in a multi-stage process because people are able to wear the temporaries for awhile and provide feedback to us so we are able to make the final restorations more to their liking,” Dr. LaRose said. “Patients can tell us if the teeth are too square, too long, too small, too short and we can make adjustments to the final crowns/veneers easily.”

So who are good candidates for crown or veneers?

“People with either small front teeth, too short front teeth, people who have ground their front teeth down and they are flat or chipped,” Dr. LaRose said. “People with spacing on front teeth, including crooked or irregular front teeth. People with white spots or brown spots of discoloration. Or people with large composite restorations or large areas of decay that compromises the tooth.”

Discussing bad teeth can be uncomfortable, said Baker, who felt self conscious for having dental issues. But she’s far from alone. Many Americans face the reality that they’re judged by their smile and teeth.  

“Being able to smile confidently can affect many areas of people’s lives,” Dr. LaRose said. “It’s easier to get good jobs, have more confidence, be more comfortable in social situations. You don’t have to feel like you need to hide your teeth with your lips when you talk or smile.”

Just ask Michelle Keeley. She was self-conscious before having veneers placed on her four front teeth to repair enamel loss and chipping issues, but she’s not anymore.

“I have a big smile now,” Keeley said. “The veneers actually lengthened my teeth, which I really like.”

--Written by Marc Stewart, Director of Sponsored Content.

If you’re interested in learning more about sponsored content, contact Kari Packer,  Sales Manager at the Coeur d’Alene Press. She can be reached at (208) 664-0215 or at kpacker@cdapress.com