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Veneers and Whitening

Veneers

Teeth that are badly stained, shaped or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or are chipped, discolored, oddly shaped, unevenly spaced or crooked. Little or no anesthesia is needed. Veneers have a longer life expectancy and color stability than bonding, and highly resist permanent staining from coffee, tea, or even cigarette smoking.

Veneers are usually made by a dental lab technician working from a model provided by your dentist. Veneers are usually irreversible because it`s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

Porcelain veneers can mask undesirable defects, such as teeth stained by tetracycline, by an injury, or as a result of a root-canal procedure, and are ideal for masking discolored fillings in front teeth. Patients with gaps between their front teeth or teeth that are chipped or worn may consider porcelain veneers.

Typically, veneers entail at least three appointments: diagnosis and treatment planning, preparation, and bonding.

During the tooth preparation visit, usually lasting one to two hours, the teeth are lightly buffed to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Usually, about a half a millimeter of the tooth is removed, which may require a local anesthetic. During the same visit, a mold is taken of the teeth, and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the veneers.

During the final "bonding" visit, also about one or two hours, the veneers are placed on the tooth surface with water or glycerine on the teeth to check their fit and get a sense of the shade or color. While the veneers are resting on your teeth, they can be adjusted with various shades of cement to match the color of your teeth. To apply the veneer, the tooth is cleansed with specific chemicals to achieve a bond. Once a special cement is sandwiched between the veneer and tooth, a visible light beam, or laser, causes a catalyst to be released, hardening the cement.

During a two-week period of adjustment that follows, you may notice the change of size and shape in your teeth. It is important to brush and floss daily. After one or two weeks, you`ll return for a follow-up appointment. Porcelain veneers are reasonable facsimiles of natural teeth, not perfect replacements. It`s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of porcelain veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth.

For certain patients no preparation of the teeth may be necessary. Please see our specialties page for more information.

Whitening

Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with stained, dull, or discolored teeth.

The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine and tobacco.

Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of stain-caused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosis-actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing don't help. Another type of stain-one that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsing-is caused by external factors such as foods.

More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.

Some commercially available "whitening toothpastes" can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's enamel.

Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).

Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.

   


Patient Reviews:

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01/10/2023

Dr. Jerry Johnson is amazing!   Love him. I have delta dental PPO and switched to him when I moved to the area. Highly recommend!

 X. Horwitz

3/27/2023

I'm so glad that I found this dentist! He and his staff are the nicest, kindest, and professional people! The main reasons are that they are honest and fair. I feel like I'm going to see family when I go there. Dr. Johnson and his team always treat you with care. They are very gentle, because I'm sure that they are cognizant of the fact that most people are very frightened to see a dentist and get their teeth cleaned or treated. Great people-highly recommended! 

Richard P.

Ric

January 25, 2023

Dr. Johnson and his staff worked with me when I had a recent dental emergency. He was able to work me into his schedule and diagnose my cracked tooth and provide temporary relief from the pain. I am extremely happy with my new crown and feel that Dr. Johnson did an amazing job. 


6/22/2018

I wouldn't go anywhere else! I have a phobia of dentists and had stayed away from any for 5-6 years until I found Doctor Johnson. He worked with me and seemed to understand my fear. With a genetic tendency for gum problems, he has done everything to help encourage me to improve my dental health. Even when I went to grad school and had access to the low-cost university dentist, I chose to have Dr Johnson do my dental work. 5 stars all the way.  

 Michele Y.


12/04/20194


Dr. Johnson is a high-quality dentist who takes the time to explain any procedure you need to have done, which greatly puts you at ease. I recently broke off a piece of one of my back molars while eating at a restaurant. I called his office and Dr. Johnson was able to see me right away and fit me in to his schedule. I ended up needing a crown and couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you, Dr. Johnson!     




I have been going to Dr. Johnson's office for a number of years and I cannot recommend them enough.  The staff is knowledgeable, courteous and always friendly - there is a caring, personal touch here that you do not find with all Dental Offices.  


From the moment you arrive you are greeted with a smile and a warm demeanor by Mary at the front desk, and that feeling continues through the rest of your visit.  Dr. Johnson always takes the time to explain any necessary procedures and offers advice & tips on ways that I can improve my teeth in advance of the next visit.  

Patrick F.

Sep 20, 2010 

I know that often people don't usually enjoy going to the dentist, which is why I have told referred so many people to Dr. Johnson - here you really feel like you are part of the family.
Robert - 


Best Dentist In the World!!!!!! 

My wife has been going to Dr. Johnson for quite some time now and she introduced me to him about 12 years ago. I have never felt so comfortable with a dentist as I have with Dr. Johnson. I have had a lot of work done by Dr. Johnson and have never felt any pain... AT ALL! If you are afraid of going to the dentist because of the pain, you need not fear Dr. Johnson. He is easy going and patient and does not try to sell you anything you don't need. Another thing that makes his office great is, he is prompt. If your appointment is at 2, then you are in your chair and being worked on at 2. He doesn't over book, which speaks volumes about his care for his patients.     

 

m vanier - Oct 8, 2009

best.dentist.ever.

 Jerry Johnson is the best dentist I've ever been to. I used to go to Dental Plus in Pasadena, and although their dentists were very competent, they were always trying to get me to do what I thought were unnecessary procedures (like veneers I didn't want or need). Jerry is the exact opposite of this. He's very laid-back, knowledgeable, and never tries to rip you off. His staff are friendly, polite, and intelligent. I think he already has plenty of patients, but I'd strongly recommend him if you're looking for a dentist in the Pasadena area. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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