As a cosmetic dentist in the Greater Kansas City area, and one who genuinely believes in the transformative nature of the practice, I often speak to patients about veneers as a solution to teeth that are discolored, misaligned, chipped, or misshapen. Veneers have a long and storied history in cosmetic dentistry, one that I thought I’d share a little bit about here at the Gordon Dental blog.

Veneers (often called porcelain veneers) have been a mainstay in cosmetic dentistry for longer than most would believe. It’s a fascinating history. What we now know as the modern porcelain veneer has been employed by practitioners of cosmetic dentistry since the 1980s, but the history of veneers dates all the way back to the 1930s when California dentist Dr. Charles Pincus (aka the “Dentist to the Stars”) began applying veneers to the teeth of actors and actresses to improve their smile. It was the launch of a great idea, but, unfortunately, Dr. Pincus bonded the early veneers with little more than a weak denture adhesive. The result was attractive but very temporary and entirely unreliable. Veneers had a start, but it wasn’t until many decades later that improvements in the process allowed the technology to become an effective cosmetic enhancement.

In the 1980s, the Journal of Dental Research published an article that explained how bonding could be improved through an etching process and the employment of a composite resin. What we now know as the modern porcelain veneer – with its beauty, durability, and an incredible 10 to 30 year lifespan – was subsequently born.

At present, the porcelain veneers we apply at Gordon Dental are made of thin, translucent sheaths of porcelain that are layered and bonded to the fronts of teeth to create a uniform, natural-looking smile. Over the years, we’ve found that porcelain veneers can be used to correct any number of aesthetic problems – including misshapen teeth, severely crowded teeth, worn teeth, spaces or gaps between teeth, discolorations, chips or cracks, and even to change the appearance of teeth that are too large or too small. All in all Dr. Pincus had the right idea, but it took a number of years to refine and perfect the process so that veneers could truly become the most popular cosmetic dentistry solution for aesthetic issues.

Of course, an article about veneers wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Lumineers, which are a minimal-prep, ultra-thin alternative to traditional porcelain veneers. Here at Gordon Dental, we receive a lot of questions about Lumineers. From a professional standpoint, I believe that our patients receive a better result when a cosmetic solution is thoroughly thought out and custom designed. As such, our office crafts our own version of “Lumineers” and we’re exceptionally pleased with the dramatic results we get from taking a little extra time to design a custom solution for every unique situation. In the end, a beautiful smile from a patient is a rewarding thing indeed!

If you would like to learn more about porcelain veneers and related cosmetic dentistry service offerings at Gordon Dental, please call (816) 505-2222 or visit our Kansas City office on NW Barry Road. Patients come to Gordon Dental from Overland Park, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, and Shawnee. We’d love to see you and your family too!

Have a great day!
Dr. John