- (281) 888-0921
- 9655 Katy Fwy Ste 160, Houston, TX 77024
When we smile, our teeth take center stage. If your teeth are discolored, misaligned, pitted, or chipped, your smile may not be as welcoming or memorable as you’d like. That’s why so many people turn to porcelain veneers to correct problems and improve the beauty of their smiles.
Veneers are thin caps or shells, usually made of custom porcelain material, which is permanently bonded to the front surface of the teeth to cover and correct imperfections. They are cosmetic dental procedures and do not alter the function of your teeth.
We create each porcelain veneer to fit the individual teeth precisely and blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth for a flawless, natural appearance. Designing and placing the veneers requires both artistry and technical skill. At LeBlanc General Dentistry and Aesthetics, we routinely place porcelain veneers with outstanding results.
There are many imperfections that veneers can correct, including:
Some stains just won't lift, no matter how much you whiten; think tetracycline marks, fluorosis, or a tooth that darkened after a root canal, and veneers cover those for good.
A small gap between the front teeth closes up nicely with veneers, no braces needed. Wider spacing is a longer conversation, and we'll walk you through what makes sense for it.
Slightly crooked or rotated teeth can read as straight once the veneers go on. It's more of a cosmetic illusion than true alignment, so a more severe bite problem might still warrant orthodontics first.
When your teeth are uneven in width or slightly misaligned, veneers even out the proportions; the whole smile then reads as balanced, even though nothing underneath has really moved.
Pointy laterals, pegged teeth, one that's noticeably smaller than its neighbor- these are the odd ones veneers pull back into line. Everything ends up matching what sits around it.
Years of grinding wear the edges flat and take the shine off. Veneers rebuild the length and shape, and the smile looks a good deal younger for it.
One catch: veneers need healthy teeth and gums underneath. Decay, gum disease, or a heavy grinding habit get sorted first. Otherwise you’re bonding porcelain onto a shaky foundation, and that’s exactly what the consultation is for.
Most cases take two visits, with a planning stage before either one. Start to finish:
We check your teeth and gums, take photos and digital images, and design the new smile with you: shape, length, and shade, so you know the plan before any enamel is touched.
We remove a thin layer of enamel from the front of each tooth, just enough for the veneer to sit flush rather than be bulky. Then we take impressions and send them to the lab that hand-builds your veneers.
You won't leave with shaved-down teeth. Temporary veneers go on so you can eat, talk, and smile as usual, and test-drive the look. If the shape needs tweaking, now's the time to speak up.
A few weeks later, the finished veneers come back. We check the fit and color against your face, bond each one with a curing cement, and polish the edges smooth. You walk out with the smile you designed.
Dr. Kulic is a recognized leader in cosmetic dentistry and has placed thousands of porcelain veneers for satisfied patients. Her attention to detail and artistic flair allow her to design veneers that emphasize her patients’ natural beauty and create a harmonious balance that enhances their overall appearance. She uses only the finest biocompatible materials and puts patient comfort and safety first.
Veneers aren’t always the answer, and we’ll tell you when they’re not. Here’s the quick, honest version of how they stack up against the two options people usually weigh them against.
Dental bonding is tooth-colored resin shaped straight onto the tooth in a single visit. It’s cheaper, needs little to no enamel removed, and works well for a single chip or a small gap. The trade-off is that resin stains over time and won’t last as long as porcelain. For one minor fix on a budget, dental bonding is often the smarter pick.
A crown covers the whole tooth, not just the front. That’s what a cracked, heavily filled, or post-root-canal tooth needs, where a veneer would only be hiding a structural problem instead of solving it. When a tooth needs strength, not just a new face, a dental crown is the right tool.
Veneers land in between. Tougher and more stain-proof than bonding, less invasive than a crown, and hard to beat for reshaping several front teeth at once. At your consultation, we’ll say plainly which of the three suits your teeth and your goals.
Inlays and onlays are made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin and are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a dental filling, is placed inside the cusp tips of the tooth.
Traditionally, gold has been the material of choice for inlays and onlays. However, in recent years, porcelain has become increasingly popular due to its strength and color, which has the potential of matching the natural color of your teeth.
Two appointments are required for the completion of inlays and onlays.
During the first visit, the damaged or decaying area of the tooth (or the filling that is being replaced) is removed, and the tooth is prepared for the inlay or onlay. To ensure proper fit and bite, we make an impression of the tooth and send it to a lab for fabrication. Drs. Kulic or Ruiz then applies a temporary sealant on the tooth and schedules the next appointment.
At the second appointment, the temporary sealant is removed. Next, Drs. Kulic or Ruiz make sure that the inlay or onlay fits correctly. If the fit is satisfactory, the inlay or onlay is bonded to the tooth with a strong resin and polished to a smooth finish.
Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. Alternatively, inlays and onlays, which are bonded directly onto the tooth, using special high-strength resins, actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent. As a result, they typically last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire dental crown, onlays provide a very good alternative.
For more information regarding our inlays and onlays, call (281) 888-0921 our office today!
We use high-grade dental porcelain because it handles light the way natural enamel does and shrugs off stains from coffee, tea, and red wine. Done right, veneers read as your own teeth. You can see that on real patients in our smile gallery.
With sensible care, porcelain veneers last well over a decade, often longer. Looking after them isn’t complicated. Brush and floss as you would with natural teeth, since the tooth and gum underneath still need to stay healthy. Grind at night? Wear a nightguard. Clenching chips veneers faster than almost anything else. Don’t use your teeth as scissors or a bottle opener. And keep up your regular checkups so that we can catch a lifting edge early.
If a single veneer ever chips or comes loose, it can usually be replaced on its own, without disturbing the ones next to it.
There’s no flat sticker price for veneers, and anyone quoting one sight-unseen is guessing. What you’ll pay depends on how many teeth you’re treating, their condition, and whether anything needs to be addressed first. So we keep it straight: come in, we take a look, and you get an exact quote built around your real plan, with nothing hidden later.
Want to spread the cost out? We offer third-party financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Cherry. No dental insurance? Ask about the Smile Membership, a flat yearly rate that covers your care here, without the deductibles, annual caps, and waiting periods insurance tends to bring.
At Le Blanc we offer a number of dental and anti-aging treatments that can keep your skin glowing and your smile beautiful. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper care, your porcelain veneers should last well over a decade. If one is damaged or comes off, it can usually be replaced without disturbing adjacent veneers.
No! Porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains from coffee, tea, red wine, sauces, and other foods and drinks that commonly stain teeth.
If you are interested in porcelain veneers and would like to discuss your options in a free consultation with Dr. Kulic, please contact LeBlanc General Dentistry and Aesthetics at LE BLANC General Dentistry and Aesthetics Phone Number(281) 888-0921.
They don’t harm the tooth, but they do commit it. Fitting a traditional veneer means removing a thin layer of enamel, and enamel doesn’t grow back. From then on, the tooth needs a veneer or a similar covering. We’ll walk through exactly what’s involved for your teeth before you decide anything.
Less than most people expect. The enamel we remove is minimal, and we numb the area if you’d like. Some mild sensitivity to hot and cold for a few days after each visit is normal, and it settles on its own.