Patients interested in porcelain veneers often wonder how white the veneers should be.
Teeth are not monochromatic, so using a variety of shades yields a natural look, said Dr. Anthony Mobasser, a Los Angeles dentist who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry.
Some Background
First let’s address the obvious question and define porcelain veneers.
A porcelain veneer is a thin sheet of porcelain that can be affixed to the surface of a tooth to improve smiles by covering chipped, broken, stained or misshaped teeth. Porcelain is usually thought of as a delicate material, but when bonded to a tooth, it is incredibly strong and durable.
Selecting a Veneer Shade
Mobasser recommends patients undergo a teeth whitening treatment to whiten their natural teeth prior to placing porcelain veneers. Because veneers are extremely thin, a tooth that is dark or deeply stained could provide a shading effect once the veneers are affixed that causes the finished product to be darker than desired.
Why not choose a thicker porcelain veneer?
“The translucency of porcelain veneers gives them the ability to mimic natural tooth enamel and creates a natural appearance,” Mobasser said.
Using more than one color in making the veneers also provides variation and avoids teeth looking fake or artificial. Eye teeth tend to be darker than the others, while front teeth typically are the whitest. Molars most often are a shade between the two.
Another important factor to consider is the surface texture of porcelain veneers, Mobasser said. Adequate texture helps to break up light reflections and make the veneer look more natural.
There is no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color, according to www.aboutcosmeticdentistry.com The most often heard about, however, is the Vita shade guide. This guide divides tooth color into four basic shade ranges:
A (reddish brown)
B (reddish yellow)
C (gray)
D (reddish gray)
In the A range there are five levels of darkness. Ranges B, C and D each have four levels.
© 2007 Sinai Marketing and Dr. Anthony Mobasser. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
Dr. Mobasser is regarded as the authority in aesthetic dentistry in Los Angeles. In addition to having a large clientele from Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, patients travel from around the world to be treated by Dr. Mobasser. He is a pioneer of modern cosmetic dentistry and is one of the most experienced and qualified dentists in the world. His refined techniques have set a standard for cosmetic dentists. Dr. Mobasser holds degrees in mathematics and engineering from Cerritos College. He earned a biochemistry degree from University of California Los Angeles and completed his DMD degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tags: Beverly Hills, dentist, Los Angeles, porcelain veneers, Santa Monica
