Will Porcelain Veneers Look Natural? What Woodstock Patients Ask

You're thinking about porcelain veneers, and the first question on your mind is whether they'll look like your own teeth. With careful planning, they can. At Towne Lake Family Dentistry, Dr. Ray Morgan designs veneers around balance, your face and the smile you want, so the finished result looks natural. Here's how he approaches veneer design, what veneers involve, and how to decide whether they fit your goals.

Will porcelain veneers look natural?

Yes, porcelain veneers can look very natural when they're designed for your face and your smile. A porcelain veneer is a thin shell, custom-made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, and porcelain is strong and long-lasting, according to the American Dental Association's MouthHealthy guide to veneers.

The natural look comes from the craftsmanship. At our Woodstock dental office, each veneer is hand-crafted, made in the USA, and shaped to fit your face. You can see real patients' results, shared with their permission, in our before and after smile gallery, and read more about porcelain veneers at Towne Lake Family Dentistry.

How does Dr. Morgan design veneers that look like your own teeth?

He starts with balance. Dr. Morgan almost became an architect, and he brings that interest in design to his veneer work. Symmetry is something he pays close attention to.

He also leaves room for personality. Rather than a row of identical teeth, he aims for a little character. Sometimes he'll shape one tooth slightly differently, just enough to fool the eye.

The goal is a smile that looks symmetrical at a glance. As he puts it, "people look good when they're more balanced."

We start with a natural look, and your preferences guide the final result. One musician wanted teeth bright enough to glow under stage lights, and we made them that way.

Are veneers right for me, or would a simpler fix work?

Veneers are one option among several, and the right choice depends on your teeth and your long-term goals. Some smiles need brightening more than building. Our cosmetic options also include professional whitening, bonding with tooth-colored resin to repair chips and close small gaps, and cosmetic contouring, which gently reshapes edges that are uneven, chipped or slightly too long.

Dr. Morgan presents choices as "good, better, best," with the pros and cons of each. One of the first questions he asks is about your long-term goal: work that holds up for many years, or a quicker fix for now. For himself, he's said, "I want to do it once and be done with it." He knows not everybody works like that.

A patient who came in about one front tooth weighed bonding against veneers and chose bonding, and that was her decision to make. As Dr. Morgan told us, "we're not here to judge you."

What should I know before getting porcelain veneers?

Veneers are a long-term commitment, so it helps to know the basics before you start. To place a veneer, a small amount of tooth enamel is removed, so the treatment can't be reversed.

• Porcelain veneers are durable, and like natural teeth they can chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time. Regular checkups help us keep an eye on them.
• Whitening won't change the color of a veneer, according to the ADA's MouthHealthy guide to teeth whitening. If you'd like your natural teeth brighter too, bring it up at your consultation so the shade plan covers your whole smile.
• Coffee, tea and red wine can stain, so enjoy them with some care.

Before anything starts, we explain every recommendation with photos, x-rays and plain language, so you know what's going on in your mouth and why.

Why do Woodstock patients choose Towne Lake Family Dentistry for porcelain veneers?

Patients choose us for Dr. Morgan's design eye and for a consultation that starts with a conversation. Dr. Morgan opened Towne Lake Family Dentistry in 1988 as the first dentist in the Towne Lake community. He leads our cosmetic work personally, and he's been known to draw patients from several states away.

His cosmetic consultations start with you sitting upright in the chair, talking about what you'd like to change. When an exam is needed, our team takes photographs and shows them on a large screen, so you see your smile the way he does and can talk through each option together. Every veneer that follows is designed for balance, with a little character, and shaped for your face.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can porcelain veneers be reversed?

No. A small amount of tooth enamel is removed to place a veneer, so the treatment can't be reversed.

Can I whiten my veneers?

Whitening won't change the color of a veneer. If you'd like your natural teeth brighter too, bring it up at your consultation so the shade plan covers your whole smile.

Can I still drink coffee with veneers?

Yes, with some care. Coffee, tea and red wine can stain.

What are the alternatives to veneers?

Our cosmetic options also include professional whitening, bonding with tooth-colored resin, and cosmetic contouring.

Where are the veneers made?

Each veneer is hand-crafted and made in the USA.

If you've wondered whether veneers could look natural on you, we'd love to show you what's possible. Call us at 770-591-7929 or send us a message, and our team will reach back out within one business day.

Published by Towne Lake Family Dentistry.