When you have porcelain veneers made, Dr. Rothwell uses her artistic skills to design the smile that is appropriate for you.
Smile design is the area where you will most notice the difference between an expert cosmetic dentist like Dr. Rothwell and a general dentist. Dr. Rothwell will not give you a new smile until you have seen exactly what it is going to look like and you approve.
Here’s how they do that:
During your consultation for your porcelain veneers, they will explore with you the smile design that you want. With their artistic expertise, they will have definite suggestions for the smile design that will look best with your face and your personality, but ultimately the decision has to be yours. As part of this consultation, they will show you a smile design book with photographs of models who have various teeth shapes and arrangements, to see what appeals to you.
In some cases, a wax mock-up will be done to show you what a particular smile design will look like.
When you come in for your preparation appointment for your new smile, Dr. Rothwell will put on provisional or temporary crowns or veneers that will be in the shape and arrangement that you have agreed upon. This is the best way for you to tell if the smile design will work for you. You will actually be able to wear it on a temporary basis.
Once the design has been finalized and you approve, a model will be made of that design, and photographs will be taken. These will be sent to the laboratory along with the color prescription and other instructions to ensure that the laboratory technician creates the smile that you want.
Finally, you will have a try-in of the actual veneers or crowns. You will be able to see the shape and color, and once you approve this final version, they will be bonded onto your teeth.
It’s important that all these smile design decisions be made and finalized, because once the porcelain veneers or crowns are bonded on, the color can’t be changed. Minor changes in the shape can be made, but they can’t be lengthened to even the smallest degree or have any major changes made.
