Everywhere you look these days you see the beautiful smiles of women and men, seemingly born with such perfect teeth. Perhaps you've wondered why it is that you were not so lucky. Maybe you've imagined that they were blessed, unlike you, with parents having perfect teeth genes. Most likely this is not the case.

Porcelain veneers have become the standard in aesthetic dental care. Reasonably priced, with a nearly painless dental procedure, and usually taking only a few visits to the dentist, dental veneers have made the perfect smile easy to achieve. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, is known for his superior and flawless porcelain veneer work.

Employed to improve the appearance of a tooth or protect a damaged tooth surface, veneers are the contemporary solution to unsightly or imperfect smiles. The word veneer is French in origin and in dentistry means to apply a thin layer of restorative material to the teeth. Veneers are best made from porcelain.

Dental Veneers: Porcelain Veneers vs. Composite Veneers

There are two types of dental veneers, porcelain veneers and composite veneers. Both porcelain and composite veneers are created in the laboratory by a specialist technician.

Porcelain veneers are the veneer of choice for several reasons. They have the benefit of correcting flawed teeth, such as making them thicker and straighter, with or without the use of orthodontics. Porcelain veneers? advertised advantage is that they are less likely to stain, more durable when bonded to tooth structure and will not fracture like composite veneers.

Color, shape, form, and alignment are all possible with porcelain veneers. But most notably porcelain veneers are the cosmetic dentist's veneer of choice because they create a very life-like appearance due to their luster and translucency, which is unachievable with composites.

Veneers have the advantage of very good aesthetics with minimal tooth preparation. It is also easy to correct teeth that are incorrectly positioned with veneers, rather than correcting with braces, or even in conjunction with braces. Expert dentistry is required to place veneers so as to enhance one's appearance. Done right, patients report that their friends ask if they have had a face lift, as in this actual testimonial:

It's more than I expected and better than I hoped for. I thought my teeth would be big and not normal and Hollywood-style instead of perfectly shaped for my face. The color and shape is perfect for me.

?Let me explain. This is the second time I have had veneers. The first was not the product I hoped for so I came to see Dr. Maddahi. When he anesthetized I felt no pain what so ever ? not even a prick. I felt nothing afterwards and the numbness lasted exactly the right amount of time and wore off perfectly to where I was use to it right away and could eat a normal meal. Any sensitivity went away in two days like normal every-day-dentistry should be. In the past, when I got crowns at a dental office it took months for the sensitivity to abate. No heavy painkillers this time! The whole experience was non- painful, comfortable, and reassuring ? the kindness from everyone here kept my mind off of any pre-conceived consideration I had.

?Why veneers? As a woman it helps the structure of your face and when your teeth are whiter it makes your skin tone and eyes look better in contrast. Instead of my smile being distracting it is bright and youthful and took years off me. People love it ? they say it's the best they have every seen. They complement my skin because it glows and is more youthful looking. I have no pain, no trouble brushing or flossing ? nothing! In fact, it's easier to floss and brush now.

?It's not like going to the dentist! If given the choice between going to Dr. Maddahi and a hair salon I'd get my teeth done! My advice is ?Don't go to plastic surgery. Get your teeth done. You'll look 10 years younger.? Even the temporaries looked better and felt better than the permanents my former dentist put on! I followed directions and didn't eat anything hard and had not one bit of trouble with them. Even if you have to borrow money ? do it! -- CB

As a leading Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 21 years. Contact him today to schedule your dental evaluation and get on your path to a new beautiful, natural smile!