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Aug
Do Dental Veneers Ruin My Teeth? VanderLaan Family Dentistry Explains
Are your teeth discolored, chipped, or unevenly gapped? Dental veneers in Byron Center, Michigan, can help you achieve a confident, beautiful smile. Expertly administered at VanderLaan Family Dentistry, dental veneers repair aesthetic flaws to help achieve results that look and feel incredibly natural. Whether you want to enhance a single tooth or an entire smile, trust Dr. Matthew VanderLaan and the team with high-quality services.
What can dental veneers do for my smile?
Dental veneers are custom-made laminates bonded to your teeth to enhance their shape, size, color, and texture. Think of veneers as contact lenses but for your teeth. Once placed on your teeth, veneers help achieve several transformations, including:Â Â
- Whiten teeth: Veneers cover severely stained teeth that teeth whitening cannot fix. Â
- Repair minor damage: They can help repair cracked, chipped, or worn-down edges.
- Cover unwanted spaces: Veneers can help close unwanted gaps between teeth to achieve an evenly balanced smile.
- Straighten teeth: They can help create an illusion of straighter teeth without the need for orthodontics.
- Resize or reshape teeth: Veneers can help correct misshapen teeth to achieve a naturally balanced smile.
Dental veneers create stunning smile transformations with surprisingly minimal hassle. In many cases, even a single veneer can make a noticeable difference in your appearance and confidence.
Can dental veneers damage my smile?
We completely understand where this fear comes from. Perhaps you have seen the alarming videos on social media, where individuals show off their teeth filed down to tiny pegs before getting dental work done. That should scare anyone, but as a cosmetic dental office, we are here to set the record straight.
To ensure your veneers look and fit naturally, we remove a small amount of enamel from the front surface of the tooth. Because enamel does not grow back, some people assume this means the tooth has been permanently damaged.
However, tooth preparation for veneers is carefully planned and intentionally conservative. After preparation, we apply a veneer, which restores your tooth to its natural strength and function. In fact, dental veneers make your teeth stronger than before, making them resistant to chips and cracks.
Real Patients, Real Results
Before and After Images of Patients
Veneers and Clear Braces (Clear Aligner Therapy)
This patient presented to our office for routine care several years ago. After 6-7 years of routine care, the patient admitted that he was not happy with his teeth and was concerned about the cracking in his front tooth. We generated a treatment plan for him that included clear aligner therapy (ClearCorrect), followed by 6 porcelain veneers. ClearCorrect was first used to correct the slight crowding of his lower teeth, create a more ideal relationship between his upper and lower front teeth, and address the underlying causes of his wear and cracking. The veneers were used to restore him to his intended appearance. The result was excellent, and the patient is thrilled to have his smile restored!
Why do people think veneers ruin teeth?
Many individuals assume that we grind down their teeth to nothing. This is generally a misconception. The aggressive filing you may have seen online is often for crown preparation, not veneers. Crowns encase the entire tooth like a cap, which necessitates removing a significant portion of your tooth. In contrast, veneers cover only the front part, so we remove only about 0.5mm of the front enamel. This is roughly the thickness of an eggshell.
Once we remove the enamel, the procedure is irreversible. However, this doesn’t mean that your tooth is permanently damaged. It means your tooth will need a restoration to keep functioning optimally.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (616) 288-2554 | Existing Patients: (616) 455-7310
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Are dental veneers worth it?
For many patients, yes. Here are the reasons:
- Porcelain veneers look and feel like natural teeth.
- They can last 10-15 years or longer.
- Quick, conservative procedure.
- Transform your smile within 2-3 appointments.
- They protect the tooth under the surface.
- Porcelain veneers resist stains from coffee, tea, and other common culprits.
- Maintaining dental veneers is convenient and hassle-free.
Dental veneers are an exciting step towards helping you achieve a confident smile. From strengthening your teeth to boosting your confidence, dental veneers are worth your investment.
Who offers quality dental veneers near me in Byron Center, MI?
The decision to get veneers is significant, but it doesn’t have to be based on fear. In the hands of an experienced cosmetic dentist, dental veneers are a safe, life-changing procedure. Instead of damaging your teeth, they enhance them. Ready to get started? Dial (616) 288-2554 and schedule an appointment with VanderLaan Family Dentistry.
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Dr. Matthew VanderLaan
Dr. Matthew VanderLaan is a highly skilled dentist with over 15 years of experience dedicated to personalized, patient-centered care. An alumnus of East Kentwood High School and the University of Michigan, he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Having spent three years as a public health dentist, he established VanderLaan Family Dentistry in 2012.
Dr. VanderLaan has pursued advanced training at the Pankey Institute, Kois Center, Dawson Academy, American Academy of Facial Esthetics, The Schuster Center, and is a Fellow of Implant Pathways. He is also trained in TMJ and pain management. As a member of the American and Michigan Dental Associations and West Michigan District Dental Society, he is committed to excellence and trustworthiness in dentistry.
Within his family practice, Dr. VanderLaan has been a civilian provider for disabled veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Since 2014, He has partnered with the local VA and has had the pleasure of caring for individuals who have sacrificed their personal well-being for our Nation’s safety. He considers it one of his greatest honors of being a dentist.
Outside of his dental practice, Dr. VanderLaan is an avid family man. He enjoys his time with his wife of 17 years, Dana, as well as his four children (Brooke, 16, Jenna 15, AJ 11, and Nora 11). As a family they enjoy the kid’s sports, music, involvement in their Church and Christian Faith community, and Michigan Football. They also enjoy traveling and exploring the world together.
Dana VanderLaan
Dana VanderLaan founded VanderLaan Family Dentistry with her husband, Dr. VanderLaan, in April of 2012. She is versed in all administrative tasks and acts as the office manager. Before her over 12 years of experience in the dental field, Dana graduated with a BSW from Saginaw Valley State University and an MSW from the University of Michigan, School of Social Work. Dana is a self starter, and was trained in dentistry completely on the job, and continues to learn new things about running an efficient, patient-centered dental office.
Along with her work at VFD, she is mom to her children (Brooke 16, Jenna 15, AJ 11 and Nora 11), and works tirelessly to make sure all of their needs are met, and devotes her time to being their #1 supporter. She enjoys her family time, rooting on her kid’s at their various athletic events, school and church activities, traveling, walking and working out, gardening, and spending time at home.