Dental Veneers in Chicago, IL

What dental veneer treatment at AAP Dental includes

Dental veneer treatment at AAP Dental includes a consultation with photographs and X-rays, a shade and shape plan, preparation of the enamel, temporary veneers, and bonding of the final porcelain veneers over 2 to 3 visits.

• Consultation: the dentist confirms that the teeth and gums are healthy, because veneers bond only to sound enamel.
• Shade and design: you choose the shade with the dentist, and the lab matches the shape to your face and neighboring teeth.
• Preparation: about 0.5 millimeters of enamel is removed from the front of each tooth under local anesthetic, and an impression or digital scan is taken.
• Temporaries: temporary veneers protect the teeth for the 1 to 2 weeks the lab needs.
• Bonding: each veneer is tried in, adjusted, and bonded with a light-cured resin cement.

Dental veneer options: porcelain vs composite

AAP Dental offers 2 types of dental veneers: porcelain veneers made by a dental lab, and composite veneers sculpted directly on the tooth in 1 visit, and porcelain costs more because it lasts about twice as long and resists stain.

Dental veneer cost and payment

Dental veneer cost is quoted per tooth, and porcelain costs more per tooth than composite because a lab fabricates it. Most patients treat 4 to 8 upper front teeth, which are the teeth visible when smiling. Insurance plans rarely cover veneers placed for appearance alone.

AAP Dental accepts most traditional dental insurance plans and does not participate in HMO plans. Payment options include CareCredit financing, flexible payment plans, cash, checks, and credit cards. A written quote is provided after the consultation at the Harlem Avenue office.

What dental veneers treat and the results to expect

Dental veneers treat deep discoloration that whitening cannot lift, chipped or worn edges, small gaps, slightly crooked front teeth, and uneven tooth length, and the result is visible the day the veneers are bonded. Porcelain keeps its shade for 10 to 15 years because the glazed ceramic surface does not absorb stain the way enamel does.

• Tetracycline stains and fluorosis are covered because the veneer masks the underlying color.
• Worn or chipped edges are rebuilt to a chosen length.
• Gaps up to about 2 millimeters close without orthodontics.
• Minor crowding is visually straightened, while larger crowding is corrected first with SureSmile aligners.

Who dental veneers are for

Dental veneers suit adults with healthy gums, enough enamel, and a stable bite. Veneers are not recommended for patients with active decay, gum disease, severe grinding without a night guard, or teeth with large fillings, because a tooth with little enamel left needs a dental crown instead.

A single chipped tooth is often better served by dental bonding, and healthy but yellow teeth by take-home whitening. The dentist explains the lower-cost option when it fits.

Before, during, and after dental veneers

Veneers at AAP Dental follows 3 stages: preparation, the visit itself, and aftercare, and each stage has its own instructions below.

Before dental veneers

A cleaning and examination comes first, and whitening is done before veneers when neighboring teeth will be lightened, because the veneer shade is matched to the final color of the other teeth.

During dental veneers

1. Visit 1: enamel preparation under local anesthetic, impressions or a digital scan, and temporary veneers. About 60 to 90 minutes for 4 to 8 teeth.
2. Lab fabrication: 1 to 2 weeks.
3. Visit 2: try-in, shade check, and bonding. About 60 to 90 minutes.
4. Visit 3 when needed: bite check and polish 1 to 2 weeks later.

After dental veneers

Sensitivity to cold fades within 1 to 2 weeks. Brush and floss normally, avoid biting ice or hard objects, wear a night guard if you grind, and keep cleanings every 6 months, because the tooth under the veneer can still decay at the margin.

Dental veneers vs crowns

Dental veneers differ from crowns by coverage: a veneer covers only the front surface and removes about 0.5 millimeters of enamel, while a crown covers the whole tooth and removes 1 to 2 millimeters all around. Choose veneers for cosmetic change on a structurally sound tooth and a crown for a tooth weakened by a large filling, a crack, or a root canal.

Why choose AAP Dental for dental veneers in Chicago

• Dr. Myung Jin Nam, DDS completed a 3 year prosthodontics residency, the dental specialty that designs veneers, crowns, and replacement teeth, and is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists.
• Dr. Eduard Vernovsky, DDS has offered veneers as part of general and cosmetic dentistry since graduating from Northwestern University Dental School in 1993.
• Shade selection, preparation, and bonding happen at one Harlem Avenue office with Saturday hours until 4:00 PM.
• CareCredit and flexible payment plans are available for veneer treatment.

Dental veneers near Harlem Avenue: location and hours

AAP Dental Group sits at 5037 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60656, at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Foster Avenue on the Northwest Side. Patients come from Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Edison Park, and Park Ridge, all within 15 minutes of the office. Weekday hours at AAP Dental run Monday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Saturday hours run 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and the office closes on Sunday.

Veneers questions

Veneers patients at AAP Dental Group ask these 5 questions most often, and each answer below is the dentist’s short reply.