Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers can permanently fix a number of cosmetic flaws. They can make your teeth brighter, whiter, and straighter as well as cover up chips, damaged enamel, ridges and other malformations, and even close the gaps created by widely spaced teeth.

At one time, veneers were thought of as an option only available to the very wealthy – and Hollywood celebrities. Advances in technology have made veneers a much more affordable option, making it possible for just about anyone to have the smile of their dreams.

What Are Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are thin-yet-durable shells made of translucent porcelain that are carefully fitted onto the front of your teeth. The translucency of the veneers allows the natural tooth behind the veneer to show through, which helps to make veneers one of the most natural-looking cosmetic options available.

At our office, we place two different types of veneers. One type requires that a small amount of your enamel is removed. Once this enamel is removed, your teeth will need to be covered with veneers permanently. We are also able to place “prepless” veneers that don’t require any enamel removal.

When you are ready to get veneers, we will take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab that creates your veneers. When your veneers are ready, we will place them onto your teeth.

After your veneers are placed, caring for them only requires regular brushing and flossing as directed by Dr. Grizzle and twice-yearly examinations and professional cleanings. It’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits because veneers are not intended to protect your teeth from cavities. Good habits will keep your veneers looking great longer and reduce the number of times you will need to replace them.

Are Veneers Right for Me?

The best way to determine whether veneers are the right choice for you is to call our office and schedule a consultation with Sugar Land dentist Dr. Reagan Grizzle. He will perform a thorough examination and discuss your goals with you, then give you his recommendation.

In general, if your teeth and gums are healthy and you have no dental concerns like teeth grinding and clenching, veneers are probably fine. Even if you are not currently a good candidate for veneers, treating your dental concerns may make you a candidate once again for veneers.

Once the veneers are placed, you will need to make a commitment to good oral hygiene. Habits like nail biting and chewing ice or pencils can damage your veneers, so it’s important to get those under control. While you can still enjoy foods and drinks that are known to stain such as curry, chocolate, coffee, and red wine, you should be aware that your veneers are not immune to staining. Rinsing your mouth and brushing your teeth soon after eating or drinking these will help to prevent stains from developing on your veneers. Smoking will quickly discolor your veneers and should be avoided (for a variety of reasons!).

Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic procedure and are not covered by dental insurance. We do have financing options available, and we are happy to discuss these with you. If you are ready to talk to Dr. Grizzle about improving the appearance of your smile with porcelain veneers, please call our office today!?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to place veneers?

It's not difficult, but it is a two-part process. At our office, we can place two different types of veneers. One common type of veneers requires the removal of a small amount of enamel from your teeth, and we will make sure that you are appropriately numbed before we do this so you won't feel a thing.

We are also able to place a second type of veneers that doesn’t require any tooth prep or enamel removal. We’ll discuss both of these options with you to help you determine which type of veneers is right for you.

We then take molds of your teeth to send to the lab that will be creating your veneers. If you are getting the veneers that require enamel removal, we may place temporary veneers on your teeth until your permanent veneers get back to prevent sensitivity.

When your permanent veneers are ready, you'll return to our office to have them bonded to your teeth. When everything is perfect, you'll be all set!

If dental veneers are something you are interested in learning more about, call our Sugar Land dental office and we will schedule a cosmetic dentistry evaluation with Dr. Reagan Grizzle to see if dental veneers would work well for you.

Can you fix my short teeth?

If you have short, chipped, or jagged teeth, you may have a problem with your bite. Once we determine the issue and address it, we have techniques we can use to lengthen and improve the appearance of your teeth. Typically, we use porcelain veneers to make such repairs.

Porcelain veneers are thin, shell-like covers that fit over the front and edge of your teeth. They can address such concerns as shortened teeth, chipped or jagged teeth, severely stained teeth, and even slightly crooked teeth.

When you have veneers, your tooth must be prepped which means that a small amount of enamel will be removed from your teeth to make room for the veneers. Once your veneers are bonded to your teeth, with proper care, they should last for years to come.

It is essential for you to take care of any dentistry with the utmost care in order to protect your investment. Regular cleanings and dental exams are essential in the long-term care of your teeth.

Porcelain veneers can dramatically improve your smile. How many veneers you have and the size and shape can be determined at an evaluation with Dr. Reagan Grizzle. He is an expert in designing smile improvements for his patients.

What if I break a dental veneer?

We fabricate your veneers from porcelain and not steel, so some caution is necessary when you have veneers. Porcelain helps us to achieve a natural tooth-like appearance for your dental veneers. We understand that accidents happen sometime and you may accidentally bite into something or knock something against your tooth, causing damage to your veneer.

If you break off a piece and you find it, please bring it with you. If you chipped your veneer, we may be able to make a minor, invisible repair depending on the location of the chip. Call us right away.

If your veneer feels loose, do not go to sleep with a loose veneer in your mouth, give us a call and we can schedule an emergency visit with you so you do not end up swallowing your dentistry. If your veneer is loose, but all in one piece, we can likely repair it for you and re-cement it.

Your veneers are not as strong as healthy natural teeth, so exercising caution by not biting into something incredibly hard, sticky, or crunchy with your veneers. You should also maintain outstanding home care when it comes to oral hygiene. Decay and infection may destroy all of your beautiful dentistry. Brush and floss twice daily and keep your regular dental appointments.

Are dental veneers permanent?

Getting dental veneers is not something you should take lightly. Before diving into the idea of having a beautiful new smile, make sure you are ready to make such a big change.

Once you are, you should know that dental veneers are not reversible. That means your dental veneers will be with you for the rest of your life. Most people look at this news as a good thing and feel ready to make the commitment. Obviously, you want to change your smile for a reason, probably to improve your appearance.

How many veneers you need depends on your smile. All of your front teeth should match properly so we want to place enough veneers to give you a natural look and have matching teeth all along the front of your mouth.

In order to place your dental veneers, we need to prep your tooth. That means that we need to remove a small amount of your tooth’s enamel in order to fit your veneer properly. This is the reason veneers are not a reversible procedure.

Once we remove a small amount of your enamel, we can permanently cement your veneers to your natural tooth structure. Utilizing veneers is the best way to make dramatic changes to the appearance of your smile.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr. Reagan Grizzle DDS

After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelors of Science in Biology, Dr. Reagan Grizzle went on to attend the University of Texas Dental School and graduated with honors in 1980.

Following graduation, Dr. Grizzle taught as a part-time assistant professor at his alma mater for five years. During this time, he also started his Sugar Land dental practice, opening his doors for the first time in 1982. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Texas ...