Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain Veneers can be the solution to esthetic and structural problems in your smile. They can be used to close spaces or gaps, replace worn enamel, repair chipped or broken teeth, reshape crooked or misaligned teeth or cover permanently stained or discolored teeth. Here are some things to consider when deciding to have veneers placed.

Smile Design

  • By having a preliminary trial smile, we can confirm exactly how thick and long we should make the veneers in order for them to give each patient maximum facial support and enhance facial esthetics.

  • See Trial Smile section to further understand this procedure

  • Conservative with Tooth Structure

Porcelain Veneers can be as thin as a contact lens, consequently most cases lend themselves to very minimal preparation (removal of tooth structure)

Strength

  • The bond strength to enamel is twice as strong

  • By doing veneers, we can make the entire restoration stronger than full coverage crowns (require all the outer enamel surface to be taken away)

  • No need for metal sub-structure- no dark lines at gum

Esthetics

  • Porcelain Veneers do not stain and are as durable as a natural tooth when done properly

  • Achievement of natural and beautiful esthetics require more artistic skill on the part of both the dentist and laboratory technician (ceramist)

  • Each tooth is a small sculpture with individual line angles, translucency which reflects the natural light properly

  • Our porcelain veneers appear as natural teeth, totally invisible

Each porcelain case is unique and different. Some of Dr. Hollar’s porcelain cases can be see in our before and after gallery.




Prepless Veneers

Dr. Susan Hollar has always been at the forefront of dental innovations. Utilizing one of the few in-house dental laboratories in the country, Dr. Hollar has developed some of the most advanced dental restorations in the world today. The no-prep veneer allows Dr. Hollar to create incredibly thin veneers that require absolutely no tooth structure removal! Unlike a similar product, Dr. Hollar’s no-prep veneer is built with artistic layers and colors that mimic a real tooth, as opposed to the single colored product. The resulting restoration is very natural, lifelike, and incredibly strong.

prepless.jpg

Many patients are uneasy and apprehensive about enamel and tooth removal, especially when the tooth has healthy enamel remaining. No-prep veneers offer the conservatism of composite bonding while delivering the durability and beauty of Porcelain Veneers. The very thin veneer bonds directly to healthy tooth enamel with no tooth reduction and, in many cases, no anesthesia. This type of veneer is especially useful in cases where the teeth are too small because of advancing wear or genetics.

Visit our before and after gallery to see our unbelievable results. If you have questions about no-prep veneers, please contact The Art of Dentistry for more information.




Cosmetic Bonding

Cosmetic Bonding refers to restorations made from composite plastic material, and is used similarly to Porcelain Veneers and onlays. The cosmetic bonding requires no outside lab procedure, and is built directly onto the tooth structure, artfully crafted by Dr. Hollar. However, bonding is not as good a restorative material as porcelain is long-term.

  • Bonding is semi-durable, tissue compatible and is kind to the opposing teeth

  • This material is used most often to close spaces, replace worn enaamel, repair broken or chipped teeth and cover permanently stained or discolored teeth.

  • Bonding is a great material for transition to porcelain over time. It can be worn for years and changed to porcelain as is appropriate for each patient concerning age and cost.

  • Over time bonding will require maintenance of the material to correct minor chips and staining that can occur.

 

All Ceramic Crowns

Porcelain Crowns or “caps” are sometimes used in our practice today. Because the enamel has to be totally removed for a cap, the more conservative porcelain veneer is generally the treatment of choice. However, when teeth are badly broken or replacement crowns are needed, porcelain crowns are the recommended treatment. Dr. Hollar prefers to use all-porcelain crowns over crowns made of porcelain fused to metal.

The all-porcelain crowns are much more aesthetic, and do not have the ugly black line at the gumline. The all-porcelain crown can be made to match the light-transmitting properties of natural teeth and will not stain or change color. 

All Ceramic Crowns




Gum Lift

Healthy pink gum tissue complements and frames the teeth. Gum tissue that is red, swollen, or uneven detracts from teeth that are otherwise healthy. The first order of business for Dr. Hollar and her highly trained hygiene team is to restore the gums to a healthy state. Once the gum tissue is healthy and pink, we will cosmetically evaluate the gumline for the proper contours of tissue. Common problems include asymmetrical gum tissue, which makes the teeth appear to be of different lengths, and the “gummy” smile where too much pink gum shows. Dr. Hollar is often able to perform minimal contouring of the gum tissue to a more aesthetically balanced appearance. This procedure is called a Gum Lift. Generally, gum tissue heals quickly with little discomfort. The cosmetic gum lift is a remarkably simple procedure that can make a tremendous difference in one’s smile.

Gum LIft

To see if you are a candidate for a gum lift, please contact our office for more information.




Esthetic Tooth Contouring

One of the most common esthetic dental concerns is also one of the easiest and simplest treatments available. A chip in a front tooth, worn uneven edges, shallow pits or grooves in the tooth enamel are all minor issues, easily resolved with aesthetic tooth contouring.

Using a polishing instrument, Dr. Hollar is able to remove small amounts of tooth enamel to improve the shape and aesthetics of your teeth. This quick and painless procedure can make a big difference in your smile. Because it is relatively inexpensive and noninvasive, it is a good place to start changing your smile to the one that you have always wanted. Minor bite problems can also be resolved with contouring and reshaping. In this case Dr. Hollar placed Porcelain Veneers on the upper teeth and re-contoured the lower front teeth.

Tooth Countouring

An ideal candidate for aesthetic tooth contouring would have minor imperfections in their teeth such as small chips, slight unevenness, slight overlaps, shallowly pitted surfaces, or worn biting areas in their teeth. Other indications for the procedure are one or more teeth out of proportion in size to the rest of the set, such as large, pointy canine teeth. Reshaping can only occur on healthy teeth, so x-rays are often taken before the procedure is done to check for problems.

To find out if you are a candidate for aesthetic tooth contouring, please contact The Art of Dentistry for more information.




Teeth Whitening

Nothing freshens up your appearance like a whiter, brighter smile. The whitening toothpastes at the grocery store just can’t give you the whitest possible smile. Dr. Hollar has been bleaching teeth for over 25 years, and she now recommends the latest in-home whitening technology from Discus Dental called NightWhite and DayWhite. Both are liquid gels that safely and effectively whiten your teeth at night or during the day. The FDA has recognized the active ingredient in NightWhite and DayWhite, carbamide peroxide, for many years as an oral antiseptic. This technology is also helpful for removing stains caused by food, coffee, tobacco, aging, and other sources.

Whitening

Today’s bleaching methods are safe for the teeth and surrounding soft tissues, and you can have overnight results! They are fast and simple to use. Maximum results may require bleaching the teeth for two to four weeks. In cases of severe tetracycline staining, bleaching may need to occur for three to six months. The bleaching gel comes in a variety of carbamide peroxide concentrations ranging from 7.5% to 22% strengths.

 




Implant Supported Partials and Dentures

For our patients missing all or many of their teeth, implant supported partials and dentures offer a great deal of opportunity and hope. Working closely with our periodontist, Dr. Hollar is able to design and construct removable partials and dentures that attach directly to permanent implants.

Implant supported partials and dentures provide several advantages over conventional methods. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implant-supported partials and dentures are designed to be more comfortable and stable. This allows for better biting and chewing capacity. In addition, because implant-supported partials and dentures will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved. With conventional dentures, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth roots begins to resorb (deteriorate). Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.

In the long-term, implants can be more esthetic and easier to maintain than conventional dentures, and after a short time, you will experience restored confidence in your smile and your ability to chew and speak.

If you have questions about implant supported partials and dentures, please contact our office for more information.