Cleanliness and Safety

Porcelain Veneers – Agawam, MA

Create the Smile of Your Dreams

Closeup of beautiful smile

When you look at your smile in the mirror, are you happy with its appearance? If you’re like many other Americans, you may wish that certain imperfections in your teeth would disappear. At Lifetime Dental of Agawam, we offer a treatment that can do just that! Dr. Frank Michitti uses custom-made porcelain veneers to transform smiles and boost confidence. The best part is that we can use them to correct a variety of flaws in your smile all at once. Keep reading to learn more about receiving porcelain veneers from our expert cosmetic dentist.

What are Porcelain Veneers?

Illustration of porcelain veneer

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental porcelain that are designed to cover and conceal the front surfaces of your teeth. Dental porcelain mimics the way that your natural teeth reflect light for the most realistic looking smile. These thin shells are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth to correct numerous flaws all at once.

Typically, Dr. Michitti will remove a slight portion of your dental structure to accommodate your veneers. After taking special images and impressions of your smile, your custom-made veneers will be fabricated. You’ll come back into our dental office where Dr. Michitti will permanently place your porcelain veneers for a beautiful and confident smile.

The Benefits of Porcelain veneers

Couple smiling together

Porcelain veneers are one of our most popular cosmetic dentistry services because of these unique benefits:

Am I a Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Woman thinking

The best way of knowing whether or not porcelain veneers are right for you is to contact us for an appointment with Dr. Michitti. We routinely use porcelain veneers to correct these issues:

How Should I Care for My Porcelain Veneers?

An additional benefit of porcelain veneers is that they do not require any special care compared to your normal hygiene practices. That means that you should still brush, floss, and rinse with nonalcoholic mouthwash to extend the lifespan and beauty of your veneers. An additional step that you can take is to avoid foods and drinks that are rich in dark colors. While porcelain is stain resistant, it can still become discolored over time if you aren’t careful.

Does it sound like you could benefit from porcelain veneers? Contact our dental office today to take your first step towards a perfect set of teeth.

Understanding the Cost of Veneers

a woman thinking about the cost of veneers

Even if veneers can offer the comprehensive treatment you’re looking for to achieve your dream smile, knowing what to expect to pay can also factor into whether it’s the procedure for you. Furthermore, this cosmetic service isn’t the only one our team offers, so you’ll want to consider your other options before committing to one. Until you can visit us for a consultation, here’s what you should know about the cost of veneers, how it compares to other cosmetic treatments, and your financing options to help make your treatment manageable.

Cost vs. Cosmetic Dentistry: What’s Best for Me?

a patient checking their teeth after undergoing cosmetic dentistry

In many cases, patients are interested in upgrading the shape, size, and/or color of their pearly whites. Veneers are one of the most popular treatment options for doing this, but you can also choose other cosmetic procedures to improve your smile, each with its unique price point. These include:

  • Teeth whitening: Our practice offers both in-house and at-home professional teeth whitening, allowing patients to brighten their smiles in a couple of weeks or after a single visit! Although this option is the most affordable upfront, it won’t affect the size, shape, or spacing of your teeth like veneers can.
  • Dental bonding: Similar to veneers, dental bonding can change the entire look of your teeth while concealing various imperfections, such as chips, cracks, gaps, and stains. This method uses composite resin that is color-matched to your smile, and the results can be completed in one appointment. However, even with proper care, your results will only last about three to five before needing touchups, whereas veneers can go for 15 years or more.
  • Gum Recontouring: If your teeth appear short or stubby, or you have excessive gum tissue that hides most of your pearly whites, then gum recontouring may be ideal for you. Since your gums won’t regenerate on their own, you can expect permanent results. Still, this won’t affect the color of the teeth.
  • Veneers: This procedure typically comes at a higher cost, but the results make them a worthwhile investment. After just a couple of visits, you’ll be free to enjoy your dream smile for many years to come. You’ll simply need to clean your brand-new teeth every day and visit your dentist for checkups every six months to make the most of them.

How to Make Veneers Affordable

a patient undergoing the veneer process in Agawam

Dental insurance rarely covers the cost of veneers, as they aren’t considered essential for dental care. However, if the procedure is designed to repair minor damage to your teeth, then there may be exceptions. That’s why you’ll want to confirm the details of your policy just in case. You can also consult our team about our in-house membership plan, which offers discounts on services like veneers with one low annual fee. We also accept CareCredit, which can break up the price of your treatment into little-to-no-interest monthly installments to fit your budget!

Veneers FAQs

a man smiling with veneers in Agawam

Are you considering enhancing your pearly whites with veneers? With this treatment, you’ll be able to enjoy your dream smile after a comprehensive dental makeover. Since they’re a worthwhile investment, you’ll probably want to know as much as you can about them before starting any procedures. To make this process easier for you, our team at Lifetime Dental of Agawam has gathered and answered several commonly asked questions we get from our patients. Read along or reach out to us today if you don’t see the information you’re looking for about veneers in Agawam!

Is It Painful to Get Veneers?

Our team will first numb your mouth before preparing your teeth for your veneers. This way you can feel as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. Once we’ve cemented your veneers to your natural teeth, you may experience some mild discomfort or sensitivity for the first few days. Fortunately, this should go away on its own. You can also easily manage any sensations by taking over-the-counter pain medications as directed and rinsing your mouth with saltwater.

Are Veneers Permanent?

Your veneers will technically not be a permanent cosmetic treatment, as you’ll need to eventually replace them. They are considered irreversible, however, since you’ll have a small amount of your enamel removed, which will not naturally grow back. This means you’ll require veneers or crowns to protect your exposed tooth from bacteria and damage. While your treatment won’t be permanent, you can expect your results to last 20 years or more with proper dental care!

How Many Veneers Will I Need?

The main purpose of your veneers will be to conceal dental imperfections while also matching the rest of your visible smile. To achieve this, you’ll be given an appropriate number of porcelain layers to accomplish your desired results. Some patients may only require one veneer if they need to enhance a single troublesome tooth. Others can get anywhere from 6 to 8 for a more comprehensive smile makeover. Our team will assess your situation and dental goals during your initial consultation, that way we can determine the proper number of veneers you’ll need.

Can I Still Drink Coffee with Veneers?

Veneers are typically constructed out of porcelain, which is non-porous. This means they’ll be highly resistant to dark particles and stains, preventing the surface from being penetrated like natural tooth enamel. For this reason, you’ll be able to enjoy all your favorite foods and freely consume dark-colored beverages like tea, sodas, and coffee without worrying too much about discoloration. However, you should remember that your veneers won’t be stain-proof, and the natural teeth behind them can still become stained over time. To prevent this, it’s best to moderate how often you consume dark-colored foods and drinks so that you limit the negative effects on your pearly whites.

More to Explore

Preventive Dentistry Restorative Dentistry Dental Implants Periodontal Therapy TMJ/TMD Therapy Emergency Dentistry Advanced Technology See All Our Services

Request

Request An Appointment

Emergency

Call for an Emergency

Forms

Download Our Forms

Like Us

Like Us On Facebook

Reviews

Read Our Reviews

Yelp

Our Yelp Reviews
Request Download Our FormsLike Us Reviews Call Map