Porcelain Veneers in Bethesda & Chevy Chase, MD

28 Services ( View All )

Overview

Do you want to enjoy the confidence that a beautiful smile can bring? While teeth whitening, Invisalign®, and crowns can be a great help in improving the look of your teeth, these methods may sometimes prove inaccessible for any number of reasons.

Fortunately, there’s more than one way to achieve a stunning smile. In cases like these, our resident dentist, Dr. Markogianakis can offer her many years of experience and still give you the stunning smile you’ve been wanting with beautiful porcelain veneers.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped, porcelain shells. These shells are customized to fit the look you want and then bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth to enhance the appearance of your smile. With porcelain veneers, your dentist can help you overcome the obstacles that stand between you and the smile you deserve.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

Your dentist can use porcelain veneers to enhance your smile by hiding various flaws in your teeth such as:

  • Gaps between teeth
  • Discoloration
  • Misalignment
  • Chipping & damage

Beyond enhancing your smile, porcelain veneers offer additional benefits including:

  • Durability
  • Stain resistance
  • Protection against temperature sensitivity
  • Comparably faster treatment
  • Long-lasting treatment
  • No surgery or drawn-out healing required for installation
  • Predictable results
  • Can replace missing enamel

The Porcelain Veneers Process

Initial Consultation

Before receiving your porcelain veneers, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Markogiannakis where she’ll review your medical history and evaluate your current level of oral health. The information your dentist gathers will allow her to decide if porcelain veneers are a good option for you.

She’ll also ask about your smile goals and offer our sedation options: nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. These sedation methods can be helpful if you experience dental anxiety and need help relaxing during your procedure.

Designing Your Porcelain Veneers

Once you and your dentist have agreed on moving forward with veneers, we’ll show you options for the porcelain that will be used to create your custom restorations. We can either match your veneers to your natural tooth color or choose a whiter shade for a brightened appearance.

Then, we’ll take impressions and pictures of your teeth. These will be sent to an offsite laboratory and serve as the blueprints for your custom-made veneers. You’ll then return to our Chevy Chase office and have your veneers installed once they’re ready.

Preparation

Preparing your teeth for veneers is a simple and virtually painless process. We’ll clean your teeth, then your dentist will remove a minimal amount of enamel from the tooth’s surface. The amount of enamel she’ll remove is no more than the width of a fingernail. This process provides a surface that your veneers will be able to adhere to more easily and creates a more natural appearance once your veneers have been applied.

Applying Your Porcelain Veneers

Before bonding your veneers to your teeth, your dentist will check with you to make sure you’re satisfied with their appearance. If you feel good about the way your veneers look, Dr. Markogiannakis will bond them to the surface of your teeth with a special dental adhesive. Once your veneers are bonded, your dentist may make minor adjustments so your veneers fit comfortably. Afterward, you’ll be free to enjoy your gorgeous new smile.


Frequently Asked Questions

How long do porcelain veneers last?

Porcelain veneers are made to last for 15 years. However, they can last upwards of 30 years with proper oral hygiene and regular dental exams with Dr. Markogiannakis at Smiles of Chevy Chase. Dr. Markogiannakis will let you know if your veneers need to be repaired or replaced. Visit Smiles of Chevy Chase at least once every six months so your dentist can help you maintain your veneers as well as your oral health.

Do porcelain veneers hurt?

Since your enamel doesn’t contain nerves, there shouldn’t be any pain. You may experience some sensitivity to hot and cold food for a few days after, but this should subside in less than a few weeks. If you find that your sensitivity isn’t stopping after the estimated time frame, please call Smiles of Chevy Chase by dialing 301-652-0656 and we’ll do what we can to resolve any issues you may be having.

How do I maintain my porcelain veneers?

The best part about porcelain veneers is that you can treat them just like your natural teeth. Dr. Markogiannakis recommends the following:

  • Attend regular dental exams with your dentist
  • Practice daily brushing and flossing
  • Avoid staining foods and drinks
  • Don’t chew on hard objects, such as ice or your fingernails

Who qualifies for porcelain veneers?

While porcelain veneers are a great restorative option for patients, it’s important to know whether you’re a candidate for the procedure. The best candidates for porcelain veneers usually don’t:

  • Show signs of gum disease
  • Habitually clench their jaw or grind their teeth (bruxism)
  • Have severely misaligned teeth that veneers can’t cover up

During your initial consultation with Dr. Markogiannakis, she’ll be able to determine whether porcelain veneers are the right option for you.

Enjoy a Better Smile In Less Time With Porcelain Veneers

With porcelain veneers, your dentist can help you feel more confident and beautiful by giving you the kind of smile you want. Best of all, porcelain veneers can help you overcome many of the obstacles to your dream smile, such as healing times, teeth that can’t be whitened, and cost.

If you’re interested in improving the look of your teeth for many years to come, call Smiles of Chevy Chase by dialing 301-652-0656. You can also request an appointment online and we’ll get back to you shortly. Leading Washington dentist, Dr. Markgoiannakis, and the team at Smiles of Chevy Chase proudly offer our services to patients near our location and in surrounding areas such as Bethesda, Somerset, and Forest Hills.

Related Procedures

*Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Images may contain models.