A Step-By-Step Guide to Veneers and Dental Crowns

Thinking about enhancing your smile with veneers and crowns? Explore our detailed process and embark on the exciting adventure to your picture-perfect smile.

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If you are considering getting veneers or crowns, you may be wondering what the steps are and what you can expect during the process.

But first, let's cover the differences between the two cosmetic treatments. Even though both alter the appearance of the teeth, porcelain veneers act as a shell to cover the entire visible surface of the tooth. They conceal cracks, chips, discoloration and other imperfections, and they serve as a great way to cosmetically enhance the aesthetics of a smile. While a veneer covers the front surface of the tooth, a dental crown covers the entire surface of the tooth. Patients who have decay or trauma may need dental crowns to aid in strengthening and repairing the teeth.

It's important to note that your dentist may recommend a different cosmetic treatment than veneers or crowns, such as dental bonding, teeth whitening or Invisalign. In our Scottsdale office, Dr. Alpers always starts with a consultation to ensure you're getting a holistic view of your unique smile and situation prior to going down a treatment path. A consultation is the most valuable step in determining the right treatment for your smile.

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What's the process for getting dental veneers and crowns?

If you and your dentist have determined that veneers and/or crowns are right for your unique needs and goals, then here’s what you can expect the process to look like:

Step 1: Consultation Appointment

At your consultation, you will discuss your unique smile needs and your desired outcomes with your dentist. This appointment is a great time to bring examples of smiles you like, as well as examples and descriptions of smiles you don’t like. In fact, sometimes knowing what you don’t like can be just as helpful as knowing what you do like! At your consultation, you will have the opportunity to ask the dentist questions and see examples of similar cases they’ve done. At Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Alpers is ready to show you examples from our smile database, which includes cases from our smile gallery, so that you can pinpoint specifically what you like and don't like.

At this appointment, you’ll also have high quality photos taken, along with a digital assessment, which at our Scottsdale clinic includes a 3D digital scan. All of this ensures the dental team can properly plan your treatment.

Once you leave this appointment, you’ll get follow-up information that will provide you with more information to consider so that you can continue to let the dentist and dental team know your unique goals and preferences. This sets the stage for customizing your treatment plan, and you’ll come back two weeks later for your prep appointment.

Step 2: Prep Appointment

By the time you’ve reached your prep appointment, you’ve already been in communication with the dentist, and both of you have an initial idea of what you’d like your smile to look like. We always ask our patients to come to their prep appointment ready to talk about shade, translucency and size/length. This allows you and the dentist to continue to dial in the specifics of what you’re looking for and ensure you get the best outcome possible.

At your prep appointment, the dentist will prepare your teeth for the veneers and/or crowns. If you're a patient at Alpers Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Alpers fabricates the temporaries during your visit so that you walk out of our office with your temporaries in place. The temporaries serve as a “test drive,” so that you can further evaluate the different aspects of what you want your final smile to be like.

If your procedure is on more than one tooth, your temporaries will have several “teeth” stuck together as a single unit. Whereas, your finals will be individual units, just like natural teeth. Because your temporaries will be a single piece, they will not look exactly like the finals will.

At this appointment, you can expect to be numb during the procedure and to have high quality photos taken.

Step 3: Re-Eval Appointment

About 24 to 48 hours after your prep appointment, you’ll come back in for a re-evaluation. At this appointment, you’ll go over your thoughts on your temporaries with your dentist and finalize details on shade, translucency and size/length for your finals. You can expect to take additional high quality photos (since you won’t be numb!) and review those photos with the dentist. Once you agree on your treatment plan, the dentist will send your detailed order to the lab. Our Scottsdale dental office works with one of the most prestigious, high-quality dental labs in the Valley, so you can rest assured that your smile will be of the highest quality. You can expect to be in your temporaries for four or more weeks.

Step 4: Seat Appointment

This is the exciting appointment you’ve been waiting for! Your final veneers and/or crowns will be bonded and cemented on your teeth. You can expect to be numb and get additional high quality photos taken.

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Step 5: Final Re-Eval Appointment

Our patients are usually smiling ear to ear at this appointment! This is the opportunity to have any minor adjustments made, such as tweaks to your bite, the shape, or edges of the teeth. You’ll also have final photos taken.

You'll receive maintenance instructions from your dentist, which will include tips such as coming in for routine dental appointments, brushing and flossing to avoid cavities, and avoiding whitening toothpaste and other abrasive materials that remove the shine.

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More Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the entire process for veneers and crowns?

From consultation to final delivery, you can expect the process to take about 4-6 weeks. This amount of time includes partnering with a high-quality lab, as well as the dentist taking the appropriate amount of time and attention to detail to get it right. Rest assured, it’s worth the wait!

How do I know if I need veneers or crowns?

To know whether or not you need veneers or crowns, or both, there are three key signs to look for in your smile:

Sign #1 - Discolored or Stained Teeth

If teeth whitening isn’t quite producing the brightness you’re looking for, or if you still aren’t getting that shiny, clean look that you desire, it may be time to ask your dentist about dental veneers and crowns.

Sign #2 - Crooked Teeth (Or Teeth With Gaps In Between)

If you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks because of crooked teeth and/or gaps, a conversation with your dentist will help clarify if veneers are the right solution – or there may potentially be a different solution, like Invisalign.

Sign #3 - Damaged Teeth

If you have teeth that are cracked, chipped or decayed, your dentist may recommend getting dental crowns or veneers. The best way to be certain if you need veneers or crowns is to schedule a consultation appointment.

What happens to my teeth under the veneers and crowns?

Patients are sometimes concerned about what happens to the natural teeth underneath the veneers or crowns. Rest assured that the dentist never touches the nerve or root of the tooth; you will have your same natural tooth underneath with just a little less enamel on it. And, your natural tooth will be just as strong as it was before the procedure - it will just have a shiny new “cover” on the outside!

How do I know how many veneers or crowns I need?

Your dental team will assess your unique needs, goals and desired outcomes. Read more about how to determine how many veneers or crowns you need here. At our Scottsdale dental office, Dr. Alpers always walks through the various options with our patients so that they can be confident in their decision with how many veneers or crowns to proceed with.

Is it painful to get veneers and crowns?

No, it is not painful to get veneers or crowns. Most patients experience minimal soreness.

What is the recovery time for veneers and crowns?

The recovery time is a couple of days at the most. Your gums may be sore, but most patients can return to normal activities immediately.

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Call us for your consultation appointment today!

We would love to assist you with getting more information and finding out if veneers or crowns are right for you. Call our office at 480-998-3355, or learn more about veneers here.

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