Porcelain veneers have gained popularity in Raleigh, NC. In fact, dental veneers are the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedure, largely because veneers look and feel like your own natural teeth. While veneers are rather straightforward – they are simply wafer-thin, porcelain shells affixed to the outside of your teeth – there are endless options when it comes to veneers. Having a skilled cosmetic dentist makes the process easier; selecting the right veneer is just as important as choosing the right cosmetic dentist.
Steps for Choosing the Best Veneers For Your Face
Choose Veneers by Tooth Color
Teeth come in a wide range of shades, from very white to light brown. Cosmetic dentists use standardized color charts to determine the perfect shade for each patient’s veneers. A common standardized color chart features 44 shades, grouped into four categories:
- A (reddish brown)
- B (reddish yellow)
- C (gray)
- D (reddish gray)
Each category contains 11 shades with different levels of darkness to create a chart that is sure to include your specific tooth shade.
Choose Veneers by Tooth Shape
Every tooth has a slightly different shape and the shape of your teeth contributes to the overall appeal of your smile, so choosing the right shape for your veneers is essential. To make the job a little easier, cosmetic dentists often turn to the Las Vegas Institute Smile Catalog, which is one of the most common indexes for tooth shape reference.
The Smile Catalog Contains 12 Different Styles of Teeth:
Aggressive – Usually preferred by men, the “aggressive” style features square-shaped, uniform teeth
Mature – Square-shaped teeth with slightly rounded canines, which are the four relatively long, pointed teeth in between your front teeth and your molars
Vigorous – Square shaped teeth, along with prominent, sharp canines
Dominant – These teeth have a square with prominent front teeth, known as incisors, and rounded canines
Focused – Slightly rounded teeth with square central incisors, which are the two centermost front teeth
Enhanced – Slightly rounded teeth
Softened – Rounded teeth that feature a subtle curve
Hollywood – The front teeth have a square shape; the lateral incisors, which are the two teeth just inside the canines, are slightly shorter than the central incisors
Functional – Teeth in this category have slightly rounded teeth with pointed canines
Natural – Has the same slightly rounded shape as Functional, but with very distinctly pointed canines
Youthful – Teeth have a round shape with slightly longer canines
Oval – Round shape with rounded incisors and canines
Choose Veneers by Face Shape
When choosing veneers, it is important to consider the shape of your face. Faces fall into four general categories in regards to shape: heart, oval, round, and square. Each category has an optimal tooth size and shape that help balance your features and optimize your overall appearance.
While everyone’s face is slightly different, some basic rules for choosing veneers apply:
- Heart-shaped faces work better with rounded and shorter veneers
- Oval-shaped tend to look better with square teeth, which add fullness and help widen the face
- Round-shaped faces look better with veneers that are longer and more pronounced
- Square-shaped faces look better with rounded teeth, as rounded teeth soften the defined jaw lines and other features of the face
Choose Experience
Finding the right cosmetic dentist is an important step in choosing the best veneers for your face. An experienced cosmetic dentist can help you choose the best veneer color and shape depending on the shape of your face and the color of the rest of your teeth. Experience is also important when it comes to cementing the veneers onto the front surface of your teeth. The best cosmetic dentist in Raleigh, NC, has the training and experience you need when picking veneers. New patients are always welcome!
Triangle Dentistry, located in Raleigh, NC, provides a state-of-the-art facility that offers exceptional general dental and specialty services guided by empathy of a patient’s needs and desires. Services range from dental crowns to veneers and whitening procedures. For further information, questions, or to schedule an appointment, contact the office at (919) 847-6000