Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
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Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
If you’re self-conscious about your smile in Lenoir City due to teeth stains, chips, misshapen teeth, gaps between your teeth or because of any other cosmetic issues, Lakeside Dental can help. Dr. Blalock is an expert cosmetic dentist, and specializes in porcelain veneers in Lenoir City. Learn more below or contact us now for a consultation. We proudly serve patients in Lenoir City, Tellico Village, and Loudon.
Porcelain veneers, usually just called “veneers” for short, are thin, shell-like pieces of porcelain that are designed to look just like natural teeth, and to fit over and cover up the front surfaces of your teeth.
These veneers are built by a dental lab to look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. By using a set of multiple veneers, you can quickly improve your smile and correct just about any cosmetic issue. Your smile will feel amazing, look bright and beautiful, and last for years to come.
After Dr. Blalock approves you for veneers, it will usually take two appointments over a period of a few weeks to get them. At your first appointment, your teeth will be trimmed and measured for veneers.
You’ll be sent home with a set of temporary veneers, and your information will be sent to a lab where your veneers will be made. Then, you’ll come back in a few weeks when your permanent veneers arrive at Lakeside Dental. Your temporaries will be removed, and then your porcelain veneers will be bonded into place permanently.
Veneers can be used to fix a wide variety of cosmetic dental issues. They are often used to treat stained teeth, particularly if the stains are internal or too severe to be removed by whitening.
Veneers are also used to create a more even smile by filling gaps between teeth, covering up misshapen teeth, and restoring uneven teeth. They can even be used to cover up minor chips on the surface of the teeth.
However, veneers are not a restorative treatment. They must be applied to healthy teeth, and are not intended to treat damaged or decayed teeth. You cannot get veneers unless you have good overall oral health.
The most obvious benefit of veneers is that they can completely change how your smile looks, boosting your self-confidence. Stained, discolored, and unappealing teeth can really damage your self-esteem, so veneers are a great way to feel proud of your smile once again.
Compared to other cosmetic treatments, veneers are also one of the most versatile options. They can be used to treat almost any problem with the appearance of your teeth, and since they're made of non-porous porcelain, your veneers will never be stained and will look bright for years to come. You also don’t need to do anything special to care for your smile after you get veneers. You can simply brush and floss normally. That’s it!
Veneers usually last between 10-20 years. The length of time your veneers will last depends on the quality of the veneers, how well you care for your mouth, and a few other factors.
To prolong the lifespan of your veneers, we recommend taking steps to keep your veneers healthy such as avoiding chewing hard foods (almonds, popcorn kernels) with your front teeth, never chewing non-food objects like fingernails and pens, and wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth when you sleep.
If your mouth is healthy but you’re not happy with how your teeth look, dental veneers may be a great choice for you. Veneers can be used to treat a wide variety of cosmetic dental issues, including gaps between teeth, misshapen teeth, uneven teeth, severe stains, and much more. With a set of veneers, you can completely transform your teeth.
However, veneers must be applied to healthy teeth. If you have any oral health issues like cavities, damaged teeth, infected teeth, or even gum disease that has not been treated, you will not be a good candidate for veneers. You must work with a dentist like Dr. Joseph Blalock to restore your oral health before you can get cosmetic treatments like veneers.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’re a good candidate for dental veneers in Lenoir City, the best way to find out is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph Blalock. He can examine your teeth, discuss your smile goals with you, and determine if veneers are the right choice for enhancing your teeth and your self-confidence.
No. Unlike your teeth, which have tiny “pores” that stains can collect in, veneers are made from completely non porous ceramic materials. This means that they are completely stain-resistant, and will never be discolored over time. Your new smile will look bright and beautiful for as long as you keep your veneers.
However, this also means that veneers cannot be whitened by teeth whitening products. They do not respond to the chemicals that are used to remove stains from your natural enamel. Because of this, Dr. Blalock often recommends that patients get teeth whitening before they get veneers.
This way, you can brighten your natural teeth, and then your new set of veneers can be matched to your brilliant new smile. Then, in the future, if your natural teeth ever darken or become stained, you can get teeth whitening to restore their color, match your veneers, and enjoy a beautiful, even smile once again.
Veneers require minimal special care. Most importantly, you’ll need to continue brushing twice a day and flossing once per day. Good oral hygiene prevents cavities and gum disease, and can also help prevent discoloration and staining of teeth that haven’t been treated with veneers.
You should also watch what you eat. It’s a good idea to avoid biting into extremely hard or crunchy foods with your veneers. Don’t use your front teeth to bite into hard pretzels, crusty bread, or ice. Don’t chew non-food objects, and don’t use your teeth as “tools” to open packages, rip tape, or for other such tasks.
Other than that, all you really have to do is see Dr. Blalock for a teeth cleaning and oral exam every six months. During your preventive checkup in Lenoir City, Dr. Blalock and our team will check on your veneers and your natural teeth and make sure your smile is healthy and strong.
That the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends kids see a dentist at the age of 1, or whenever their first tooth erupts? It’s never too early to see the dentist.
Laughing gas helps you feel much calmer about your dental appointment, and prevents feelings of anxiety and panic in the dentist’s chair.
Along with numbing, laughing gas sedation at Lakeside Dental will ensure you do not feel any pain or discomfort during treatments like fillings, dental crown preparation, tooth extraction, and more.
Even if you’re not afraid of the dentist, you may not like numbing needles. Laughing gas sedation can help with this. It also helps inhibit the gag reflex, which can be very helpful if you have a strong, overactive gag reflex and your rear teeth need dental treatment.
