It is always fun to participate in a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. Closing spaces between teeth, called a diastema, can be a challenge if not planned right.
This is an example of a case that went very well, as our patient did a great job with their home care to ensure that everything well perfectly.
If you would like a free smile evaluation call 206-241-5533 today!
Dr Timmerman is asked often to simply do 6 anterior veneers, or do a little at a time (2 this year, 2 next year, etc). Depending on the goal, this is usually NOT a good idea. After hundreds of smiles, there has NEVER been a case where a person only shows 6 teeth. When doing veneers, people usually want a whiter smile. As shown in the photo, this is a bad idea.
Porcelain veneers are hand crafted, custom made restorations unique to each case. Even if the same lab is told to create the veneers from the same material, the shades will not match if done “a little at a time”. This is similar to buying carpet for a small area years after the initial install. While the brand is the same, it won’t match. Bolts of fabric are the same. If close counts or is “good enough” then sequenced treatment would work, but most people want the best result for this level of investment.
Experienced dentists that do a lot of cosmetics know that 6 is the magic number. The number NOT to do. Dentists that say otherwise are revealing that they don’t do smile makeovers very often or have no training in veneers.
It all comes down to goals. If you are trying to make your smile the best, then doing 6 and doing a few at a time will NOT do the trick.
If you would like to know what can be done for YOUR smile, call 206-241-5533!
Many people have seen the marketing efforts of companies that make “No Prep” porcelain veneers, or in many cases minimal prep. These CAN be done very well and look nice, but many clinicians use this material or technique in ways that it was not designed.
When choosing a dentist, be sure to ask for examples of THEIR work and not that of the company. All too often, Dr Timmerman is replacing OTHER dentists attempts at a cosmetic upgrade.
Be sure THIS doesn’t happen to you!
Call 206-241-5533 to see what can be done for YOU!
It may seem odd that your dentist offers Botox, until you really think about it. There are many advantages to consider:
While the therapeutic use is the main reason for the administration, there often is a side benefit. Using Botox for TMJ pain has helped many people and an unintended benefit is realized. Eliminate the pain, look younger.
What more could you want?
There are many products out on the market to get white teeth. Some are done at home, some in the dental office. Zoom! is a product for the dental office. It does a nice job, but does have some challenges.
In Dr Timmerman’s office, this style of whitening is a mid level approach. His other methods are either cheaper (simple take home gels) or more effective (Deep Bleaching®).
To find out what would work best for you, call 206-241-5533! Be sure to ask about current whitening specials!
Dr Timmerman doesn’t make bold statements often, so when he does, there is a reason.
There are two factors to consider:
The messy goop for impressions is never perfect. Moisture from the mouth affects the setting of the goop, the goop runs down your throat making you gag and perhaps remove the material too soon, the material distorts (and the list goes on). With this distorted impression, plaster is poured inside to make a replica of the teeth. The plaster expands or shrinks during the setting, hopefully in the opposite direction of the messy goop (goop expanded? lets hope the plaster shrinks, but not TOO much…). With this, the lab technician creates the restoration.
iTero by Cadent eliminates these issues. “No goop” means “no gag”. Moisture is not an issue with a picture. The image resolution is accurate to an error of 10 microns. That’s MICRONS. Now when the lab technician creates their artwork, things just plain FIT.
Convenience? The information is sent electronically to the lab while the patient is still IN THE CHAIR. Normally after the patient has their temporary crown created, they are dismissed and the impressions are disinfected and shipped to the lab. This is done by a courier to a local lab or delivery service (UPS or FedEx, etc) to an out of state lab (or China. You should ask where…). This takes time.
iTero restorations theoretically could be created on the same day as the preparation appointment (this would depend on how busy the lab is, pre arranged priority service, etc). The iTero restoration COULD be done in a matter of days and not weeks.
Is it the same day? No. But would you prefer one appointment for 2-2.5 hours, or 2 appointments, the first only 30 minutes long and the second 15-20 minutes?
What kind of service and treatment do YOU want? Most would prefer what professionals would request. Ask a dentist (that has done their homework) which method would they seek for themselves. A strong majority would prefer iTero (nothing is ever 100%, especially in dentistry).
Dr Timmerman is always trying to serve his patients better. As technology improves, he is always looking to add to his services. Rarely is the decision based on making HIS job easier, but always if the technology benefits the patient.
One such advancement is iTero by Cadent. This machine can take an impression of teeth WITHOUT the gooey stuff that runs down your throat!
The data is sent electronically to a lab and models are created. These models are sent to another lab for fabrication of the crown or bridge.
The benefit is super accuracy… The images produce models that are many times more accurate than impression materials (I could quote a stat, but it would be made up…!). Routinely, the restorations simply drop in place with virtually ZERO adjustments. With impression materials, it is common to adjust the contacts and the bite when cementing the final crown. Never say never, but it is RARE to adjust a crown when iTero is used.
If you would like a restoration that is strong, beautiful and built to last, call 206-241-5533 to learn more!
The internet is allowing consumers to not only learn HOW to restore their smiles, but with what MATERIALS too! Quite often by brand.
Ivoclar Vivadent has a crown material called eMax. It comes in two flavors, e.MAx and e.Max HT for more translucency. Of these, there is CAD, ZirCAD, press and ZirPress. Each variation has its advantages, so Dr Timmerman decides what is best for each case.
Rest assured, if you are seeking the latest in dental materials, Dr Timmerman offers it!
In years past, crowns and fillings were made entirely from metal (gold or a mercury alloy) or porcelain fused to a metal core. They were useful in their time, as non metal alternatives were prone to fracture. Technology has changed everything, and crowns and fillings no longer need to have metal in them AT ALL.
By bonding porcelain or composite resins to teeth, Dr Timmerman can be more conservative and fabricate restorations that are more biocompatible. With the absence of mercury, common side effects can be avoided as well as teeth are less prone to fracture.
If you would like dental restorations that do not contain any metal, call today!
People want a new smile, but they don’t want to wait or don’t want others to know their plans. Products like Invisalign allow clandestine improvements and well planned porcelain veneers can improve your smile in the very first visit. Sometimes this veneer process is called “instant orthodontics”.
Dr Timmerman doesn’t use the phrase “instant orthodontics” often, because it can be misleading. Orthodontics is a term used to describe moving teeth, either with brackets and wires, with retainers or with Invisalign. “Instant orthodontics” is in quotes, because while the results are instant, the teeth are not actually moving.
By placing porcelain veneers, teeth can appear straight when in fact they didn’t move at all. Veneers allow the illusion of alignment as well as gaining proper shapes and desired color. If done right, the first visit can be so drastic that it looks like an instant change.
Porcelain veneer smile makeovers can be completed in as few as two visits, so if you would like to know more, call 206-241-5533 today!
