justinefollansbee
Jan 29
Discussion
We all have our own qualms about our looks. For me, my teeth have always been a pain point. I never had braces growing up (a suggestion never made by my dentist despite some minor crookedness), and their shape was small and a bit jagged. In any event, I found myself hiding my teeth with my lips when I laughed or giving a meek, close-mouthed smile to strangers. I stopped showing teeth in pictures altogether. So I decided to "shop" around for my new smile. Dental veneers are super-thin materials that are molded and bonded over the front of the teeth to improve their appearance. It’s a lot like gluing acrylic nails over real nails. When you get veneers, you’re essentially getting artificial enamel. Veneers can change how the teeth look in terms of size, length, shape, or color. You can get them done to close gaps and to fix chipped and worn down teeth like I did. Veneers can also help make teeth look more aligned. I visited a bunch of different dentists, one who even suggested we shave my teeth down to little pointed nubs and cover them with crowns, and finally made my way to Dr.Ofir Michael in Cambridge, MA, a serendipitous discovery if I've ever had one. Aside from finding a skilled dentist, it is also very important to find someone you can easily communicate with. In my case, Dr.Ofir Michael made sure I knew everything I needed to know. He answered all my questions, and we exchanged a lot of pictures to make sure we were on the same page on what I want done and what I should expect. After evaluating my teeth and listening to my own hopes and dreams for their future look, Dr.Ofir Michael explained he'd apply veneers on the top and bottom of my teeth (8 on the top and four on the bottom front). During the consult, Dr.Ofir Michael’s assistants took molds of my mouth to create the look of temporary veneers, which are sculpted using a liquid composite. Everything is taken into account when crafting your new smile, from the way you talk to the shape of your face so that it all works together seamlessly. At my next appointment, he applied the temporaries to my teeth. Then, I came back, and we discussed any changes I'd like to be made. More molds were taken, and then the final plan was sent to a ceramist to manufacture. The next appointment to Dr.Ofir Michael in Cambridge, MA was around one to two hours wherein the final veneers were bonded to my teeth. Finally, I came back once more for a bite check and final approval. In the days following my final veneers appointment, I found myself smiling much bigger and wider, being friendlier, and laughing bigger. They've completely changed my outlook more than I ever thought possible, and I couldn't be happier. “In good health, porcelain restorations can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years”, says Dr.Ofir Michael. Some people may keep them longer, but the trick is to change them before any cavities appear or wear begins occurring, which can destroy your natural teeth. Thankfully, Dr.Ofir Michael says you do not have to change your eating and drinking habits, so you can continue with red wine and coffee, just drink sparingly and remember to consistently floss, brush, and rinse with a fluoride rinse to avoid staining and cavities. NO MORE CLOSE-MOUTHED SMILE I would definitely recommend to go to talk with Dr.Michael Ofir first. Sometimes they do a free consultation about veneers.
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