Veneers Specialist

If you drink coffee or tea, or smoke cigarettes, there’s a good chance you have stains on your teeth. It’s also common to lose enamel over time, from acidic foods, a mouth injury, or even brushing too hard. At Downtown Dentist SF in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco, experienced cosmetic dentist Stefka Petrova, DDS, places veneers to improve the appearance of stains, chips, and minor gaps and misalignments. To learn more about what veneers can do for your smile, call or use the online booking tool today.

Veneers Q & A

What are veneers?

Dental veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that Dr. Petrova permanently attaches to the front surfaces of your teeth. They’re customized to fit your teeth and look just like healthy enamel, but they’re far more resistant to stains than natural enamel, so the results last for years.

Veneers can improve your smile if your teeth have yellowed and bleaching hasn’t worked, or if you’d like a cosmetic fix that lasts longer than whitening. In addition to making your smile look brighter, veneers cover up gaps and crooked teeth. They also hide minor cosmetic imperfections, including chipped, broken, or irregularly shaped teeth.

Do veneers affect the function of my teeth?

Teeth with veneers not only look natural — they function just like your other teeth. Though veneers are primarily cosmetic, they can also make your teeth stronger. However, if you have significant tooth damage or misalignment, Dr. Petrova may recommend more involved restorative procedures, such as crowns or implants.

What should I expect from a veneer procedure?

Dr. Petrova determines if you’re a good candidate for veneers by reviewing your cosmetic goals, performing a dental exam, and taking X-rays of your mouth.

Veneers require multiple appointments to install. Dr. Petrova first needs to shave off a tiny piece of enamel so the veneers fit. You receive a local anesthetic to numb the area before this part of the procedure.

After preparing your teeth, Dr. Petrova takes impressions, which a dental lab uses to create your veneers. Veneers are customized to fit your teeth perfectly, and you can expect them to arrive two to four weeks after your original appointment.

While you wait for your permanent veneers, you wear temporary veneers. Temporary veneers are the same size and shape as your permanent veneers, so you get an idea of what to expect from the final results. They also protect your teeth.

Once your veneers arrive, you come in for another appointment, where Dr. Petrova bonds them to your teeth using dental cement. You then have a follow-up appointment a few weeks later so she can make sure they fit properly and you’re comfortable with them.

To learn more about dental veneers, schedule an appointment with Dr. Petrova online or over the phone.