Dr. Goodman has restored and transformed 1000’s of smiles with his expertise
Doctor Goodman is an expert in porcelain veneers, Lumineers, DaVinci veneers and no-prep veneers. We sat down with Dr. Goodman in his Beverly Hills office and asked him about cosmetic dentistry and how to achieve a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers.
BHT: Many patients want porcelain veneers,what are they exactly and is everyone a good candidate?
JG: Imagine an old piece of furniture made of wood. Naturally, this wood has been scratched, chipped, discolored, or is missing an entire corner. You then cover this furniture with a very thin wooden laminate to make it look nice and new again. The furniture is the same piece but you are giving it a new look. Veneers are based on the same principle: A very thin (porcelain) laminate is securely bonded on the front part of your teeth. If you have a gap, uneven teeth, or permanent stains, these porcelain laminates (veneers) will cover the entire facial surface of your teeth and give you a beautiful, new “refreshed” look.
BHT: What should patients know before they start the procedure? Can everyone enhance their smiles?
JG: Most patients are candidates. Patients who have tetracycline stains (permanent grey and brown stains) can achieve dramatic results by covering all the surfaces with ultra thin veneers. Patients with gaps can have them closed in a matter of days, and patients with worn down teeth (grinder) can achieve a more youthful smile by lengthening their teeth. There are certain cosmetic principals and guidelines which must be applied.
BHT: What kind of principals are we talking about?
JG: There are too many to mention. One principle is that the proportions must be right. That means the length and width must be in perfect harmony. Also, the gum and tooth proportions must be right: Too much gum or too much tooth can ruin a smile. We can correct all this. Veneers must be delicate, thin and must have a natural appearance. Translucency, texture, and contours must be taken into consideration. Every veneer case is different: men have a different smile than women. Women’s teeth are more rounded and softer. I would also like to mention that in order to achieve the most beautiful smile by means of veneers, they must be slightly imperfect. This way you can get the most beautiful results.
BHT: What kind of imperfections are we talking about?
JG: Teeth are not 100% straight. They are are a little uneven at the tip. Also, they must not be too white, too opaque or too thick. They must not only consist of one single shade, but different shades blended together into perfection. In our lab we build and blend in many shades to achieve a natural appearance. Also, a smile is rarely 100% symmetrical, otherwise it looks too perfect. Unless you want a perfect (Hollywood type) smile, there are a lot of characteristics which must be built in to achieve the most beautiful veneers. The result: veneers and porcelain crowns that are so natural-looking, they cannot be noticed by the person across from you. They are real looking teeth with all the imperfections and irregularities of natural teeth.
Joseph Goodman, DDS, DMD
Advanced Cosmetic, General, & Holistic Dentistry
241 1/2 S. Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (310) 860-9311
www.BeverlyHillsVeneerDentist.com
