Cosmetic · Since 1987
Veneers in Wilmington, NC
A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain bonded to the front of a tooth. It changes shape, shade and alignment in one step without moving the tooth.
About veneers
Veneers solve the problems whitening cannot: a tooth that is worn short, one that sits slightly behind its neighbor, a gap that orthodontics would take a year to close.
They are also the procedure most often done badly. Too thick and they bulk out the lip. Too white and they read as artificial in every photograph. The design stage is where the result is decided.
How it works
- Photography and designWe measure tooth proportion against your lip line and face, then design to that.
- Mock-upA trial shape goes over your teeth so you can see it before we prepare anything.
- PreparationMinimal enamel reduction. Some cases need almost none.
- TemporariesYou live in the shape for a couple of weeks and report back.
- BondingFinal porcelain is bonded and polished.
Recovery and aftercare
Treat them like teeth. Brush, floss, do not open packaging with them. If you grind at night, wear the guard we make you, because that is the single most common reason a veneer fails early.
Cost and coverage
Veneers are priced per tooth, and most cases involve six to ten. Cost varies with the porcelain system and how much correction the case needs. You get a written plan with the exact tooth count before we begin.
You may be a candidate if
- Front teeth that are chipped, worn or uneven in length
- Stains that whitening has not touched, including tetracycline banding
- Small gaps between the front teeth
- Teeth that are slightly rotated where full orthodontics feels excessive
- Healthy gums and no untreated decay
Veneers by town
We see patients from across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties.
In their own words
Hear from Dr. Carter Lee
Dr. Lee on fixing only what needs fixing, and what it is like to hand a patient the mirror after a smile transformation.
Questions we get asked
How long do veneers last?
Ten to fifteen years is a fair expectation with good hygiene and a night guard. Some go considerably longer.
Do you have to file down my teeth?
Some enamel reduction is usual, though it is measured in fractions of a millimeter. Certain cases can be done with almost no preparation at all.
Can I have just one veneer?
Yes, and matching a single veneer to neighboring natural teeth is the hardest thing in cosmetic dentistry. We do it, and we take the extra records to get the shade right.
Will they stain from coffee or red wine?
Porcelain resists staining better than enamel. The bonding line at the gum can pick up color over many years, which is why hygiene visits matter.
Veneers or Invisalign?
If the teeth are the right shape and in the wrong place, orthodontics. If they are in the right place and the wrong shape, veneers. Plenty of cases use both.
Veneers
See the result before it is permanent.
Every cosmetic case is mocked up and worn in temporary form before anything final is made. You approve the shape and the shade.
- Cosmetic dentistry is the practice's stated specialty
- Digital design and trial smile before preparation
- Shade-matched lab work with in-person verification
- 50,000+ patients treated since 1987
Afraid of the overdone look? So are we. The brief on nearly every case here is to look like yourself, rested.
Request an appointment
We reply the next business day.
Please do not include Protected Health Information. For anything urgent, call (910) 762-0958.
