Northern Smiles Dentistry Cosmetic
Porcelain Veneers in North Phoenix, AZ
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One Treatment, Several Problems
Veneers address chips, permanent staining, small gaps and uneven or worn edges at the same time. For patients weighing several separate treatments, it is often the shorter route to the result they actually want.
Shaped Around Your Face
Shade, length and shape are chosen with you before anything is made, so the result suits your face rather than looking uniformly white. You see and approve the plan before we proceed.
Clear Costs, Written Up Front
Veneers are usually a cosmetic treatment, so most insurance plans do not contribute. We quote the full case in writing before you commit, and CareCredit financing can spread it across monthly payments.
The Basics
What is a porcelain veneer?
A veneer is a thin shell of dental porcelain bonded to the front of a tooth. It covers the visible surface, so the color and shape you see afterwards belong to the porcelain rather than to the tooth underneath.
Because a veneer only faces the tooth, it is a more conservative option than a crown, which covers the tooth completely. That makes veneers a common choice for front teeth, where appearance matters most and the tooth itself is still sound.
Most cases involve the teeth that show when you smile — often six to eight, sometimes only one or two if you are correcting a single chipped or discolored tooth.
Is This The Right Treatment
When veneers are the right answer, and when they are not
Veneers work well for staining that whitening cannot shift, chipped or worn edges, small gaps and teeth that are slightly out of line. They are a cosmetic solution to a cosmetic problem.
They are not a fix for decay, gum disease or a cracked tooth — those need treating first, and treating properly. They are also not a substitute for orthodontics. If teeth are significantly crowded or the bite is off, moving them with clear aligners is usually the better and more durable answer, and it keeps more of your natural tooth.
If you grind your teeth, that has to be managed before veneers go on, or the porcelain will chip the way your enamel has been chipping. A night guard is part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Good candidates
healthy teeth and gums, cosmetic concerns on teeth that show when you smile
Treat first
decay, gum disease, cracked teeth, active grinding
Consider instead
whitening for staining alone, aligners for crowding, a crown for a heavily damaged tooth
Longevity
How long veneers last, and what shortens their life
Well-made porcelain veneers commonly last a decade or more. What ends them early is almost always mechanical: grinding, biting nails or pens, opening packaging with your teeth, or a knock to the face.
Porcelain does not stain the way enamel does, so veneers hold their color. That cuts both ways — your natural teeth can drift in shade around them over the years, which is one reason whitening, if you want it, is done before the veneers are made rather than after.
Gums recede over time in everyone. Where that happens around a veneer it can eventually show at the margin, which is one of the more common reasons for replacement later on.
The Process
What getting veneers actually involves
Veneers are planned before they are made. Nothing is irreversible until you have agreed to the design.
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Consultation and planning
We look at the teeth, talk through what you want to change, and agree the shade, shape and how many teeth to treat.
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Preparation
A very thin layer of enamel is removed so the veneer sits flush rather than bulky. This is the step that cannot be undone, which is why the planning comes first.
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Impressions and temporaries
We take impressions for the lab and fit temporary veneers so you leave with teeth that look and function normally.
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Fitting
At the second visit we try the veneers in, check the fit and the shade in your own mouth, adjust if needed, then bond them permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do veneers cost in Phoenix? +
Cost depends on how many teeth are involved and whether anything needs treating first, so we quote the full case in writing after seeing you rather than giving a per-tooth figure that changes later. Veneers are usually classed as cosmetic, so most dental plans do not contribute. CareCredit financing is available and is a common way patients spread the cost across monthly payments.
Do veneers ruin your natural teeth? +
A thin layer of enamel is removed so the veneer sits flush against the tooth, and that step is permanent — the tooth will always need a veneer or crown on it afterwards. The tooth underneath stays alive and healthy, but it is a commitment, which is why we plan the case fully before preparing anything.
Are veneers better than whitening? +
They solve different problems. If your teeth are healthy and well-aligned and you only dislike the color, whitening is cheaper, quicker and does not alter the tooth. Veneers make sense when whitening cannot fix it — staining that does not respond, chips, gaps or worn edges — or when you want to change shape as well as shade.
Can you get just one veneer? +
Yes, and it is common after a single tooth is chipped or has darkened. Matching one veneer to the teeth beside it is more technically demanding than doing several, because the shade and translucency have to blend rather than simply match each other, so shade selection takes longer at the planning visit.
What happens if a veneer chips or comes off? +
Call us. A veneer that has come off cleanly can often be re-bonded; a chipped one usually needs replacing. Keep the piece if you have it and avoid chewing on that side until we have seen you. If it happened during an injury, treat it as a dental emergency and call the same day.
Related reading
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Troy Stansberry, D.D.S.
Dr. Troy Stansberry grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Creighton University for his bachelors, and Creighton School of Dentistry for his D.D.S. degree.
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Opening Hours
- Monday 07:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 08:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Thursday 07:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- Friday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday Closed
