Hi everyone!

According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Beautiful SmileDentistry (AACD), nearly 99 percent of Americans believe a beautiful smile is socially advantageous and can boost self-confidence.  The survey also reported that 50 percent of all participants reported being “unhappy” with their present smiles.   That seems almost tragic when you consider that the technology and techniques available to dentists today to whiten teeth and place porcelain veneers have never been better or more predictable.

At our office in Southdale, MI, we are seeing more and more patients who want porcelain veneers to augment the beauty of their natural smile.  It is significant to note that with veneers, many people can also achieve fuller features and lips, a reduction in wrinkles around the mouth, and a generally more youthful appearance reflected back at them in the mirror.

Who’s the Best Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are the best material to use when a patient wishes to make changes in tooth position, shape, size or color of their smile.  Porcelain veneers are individually custom crafted and sculpted to fit the natural contours of a person’s face, mouth and teeth.  They have unprecedented vitality and realism; it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a porcelain veneer and a natural tooth.   Veneers are a laboratory fabricated ceramic glass so they resist staining and allow patients to drink tea, wine or coffee without worry.   Another major benefit is that the tooth preparation for veneers is conservative with minimal alterations, unlike what is required for full crowns.  Veneers are highly recommended for discolored, chipped, worn or crooked teeth.  Feel free to visit the before/after gallery at my website at  https://lakeviewdentist.com/gallery/before-after.html  to see examples of the beautiful work we have done at our office.

When we place veneers we bond a very thin wafer of custom fabricated and shaded porcelain to the front of your teeth using a composite bonding agent forming an extremely strong and durable restoration.  Although veneers can be as thin as 0.3 mm, many times we will purposely use the thickness of a veneer to naturally push out the contours of the lips to create a curved, rounded shape or widen the smile so you show more teeth when you smile (think: Julia Roberts).   So many times patients receive all the benefits of a beautiful smile with a little something extra – plumper, fuller lips or a fuller smile without dermal fillers or plastic surgery.   Patients also report that many times we have also removed small wrinkles around the corners of the mouth.

Your Consultation

Porcelain veneers are not for everyone.  In some cases, alternative dental cosmetic procedures may be more appropriate.  Depending upon the type and amount of dental cosmetic improvements required to achieve the appearance you want, more often a combination of procedures is often necessary.  At Mark W Langberg, DDS, MAGD, I typically will first informally meet and just talk with patients who desire cosmetic enhancement, usually at no charge.  If we both decide that we would like to learn more about what is possible, we will usually take necessary x-rays, digital photographs, diagnostic models or casts of your teeth and perform a very thorough examination.  Often we end up sending these models and photos to a cosmetic dental lab for a smile analysis and a diagnostic wax “mock-up” of expected results.  Often 3D imaging is also used to give our patients a “visual” of what their future smile can look like.

Overall, achieving the smile of your dreams has never been easier.  I have received advanced training at LVI (Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies),  David Hornbrook Clinical Excellence Through Education and a multitude of other post grad training courses and have had decades of experience with cosmetic procedures on literally hundreds of patients.   Whether you are just seeking teeth whitening or a custom-designed smile enhancement, I am always available to provide expert advice and guidance to help you achieve the confidence and poise only the smile of your dreams can give.  Call me at 248-356-8790 and schedule a consultation soon!

That’s all for now,

Mark W Langberg, DDS, MAGD
26206 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 303
Southfield, MI 48034
Tel: (248) 356-8790