Choosing a cosmetic dentist in York and Shrewsbury, PA is easier when you know what a good veneer consultation should cover. Most practice websites say they do veneers, and that alone tells you little. Here is what to ask and what the first visit looks like at Southern York Smile Care.
A good result or a disappointing one is usually decided at that first consultation, long before any veneer is made. The questions asked, the exam done and the options explained all shape the smile you end up with. This guide walks you through each part.
What to look for in a cosmetic dentist in York and Shrewsbury
Start with experience in the work you want done. Ask how long the dentist has been doing veneers and smile makeovers, and where the cosmetic training came from. At Southern York Smile Care the answer is specific. Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, has run the practice in Shrewsbury since 1992, trained in cosmetic dentistry through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum with Dr. Larry Rosenthal, and has more than 35 years in practice. Dr. Haywood was also seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover. You can read the full background on the meet the doctor page.
Then ask how the plan gets made. A cosmetic dentist worth choosing should:
- Look at more than the teeth you want changed.
- Explain more than one option, including what each one involves.
- Be willing to say when veneers are not the right first step.
- Show you real before-and-after results from the practice, such as those in the smile gallery.
If a consultation ends with the same recommendation for everyone, that is a signal to keep looking.
What the first consultation actually covers
A veneer consultation should look well beyond the front of your smile. How your teeth meet when you bite, and whether grinding or clenching is part of the picture, affects how long cosmetic work holds up. A veneer placed on a tooth that takes heavy force from a misaligned bite is more likely to chip. That is why the plan is built from an exam of your mouth, not from a photo you bring in.
Expect the visit to include:
- A conversation about your goals. What bothers you, what you would like to change and how natural or dramatic you want the result to look.
- An exam of teeth, gums and bite. Healthy gums and a stable bite come first. Any decay or gum disease is treated before cosmetic work begins.
- Imaging. Low-dose digital X-rays and a digital scan with the iTero Element 3D scanner show what is happening below and around the teeth.
- A look at the options. Whitening, bonding, veneers, Invisalign or a combination, chosen for your goals rather than a fixed package.
Questions worth asking
- Which of my teeth would change, and why those?
- How much of my natural tooth would need to be reshaped, if any?
- Is there a less invasive option, such as whitening, bonding or Invisalign, that could get me most of the way there?
- How will my bite and any grinding be protected?
- Who makes the veneers, and how is the shade chosen?
- What upkeep will I need over the years?
A smile makeover can involve more than veneers. You can see how the pieces fit together on the complete smile makeover page, and cosmetic imaging can help you picture a result before treatment.
Porcelain veneers or prepless veneers: what is the difference?
Veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth to change their color, shape or length. The main difference between types is how much of your natural tooth has to be reshaped first. The American Dental Association has a short guide to porcelain veneers.
Prepless and minimal-prep veneers
Prepless veneers, such as Lumineers and Durathin, need little or no shaping of the natural tooth and can often be a reversible way to improve your smile. The practice's custom-designed CK veneers are guaranteed for five years, and most last 20 years or more.
Traditional porcelain veneers
Traditional porcelain veneers are still the right choice when a no-prep approach is not possible, for example when extensive older dental work is failing or teeth are badly crowded or rotated. Neither type fits every mouth, so the choice comes from the exam, not from a preference.
How many veneers you might actually need
There is no standard number. Veneers can address worn, uneven, discolored, gapped, chipped or oddly shaped teeth. Sometimes one tooth is the whole concern. Other times the goal is a broader change across the teeth that show when you talk and smile. The reasoning is laid out in how many veneers do I need?
Alignment matters too. Dr. Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider, so the treatment discussion does not have to start with veneers just because you have a cosmetic concern. Moving teeth first can change how many veneers you need, if any. See veneers or Invisalign for how that decision is made.
How many visits it takes
Porcelain veneers usually take about three visits over a few weeks: a planning visit, a preparation visit where the teeth are readied and scanned, and a fitting visit where the finished veneers are checked and bonded. That gives you a clear schedule to plan around. If dental visits make you anxious, oral sedation is available.
Caring for veneers
Veneers are not high maintenance. Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth daily, avoid biting hard objects such as ice or pens, and keep your regular cleanings. If you grind your teeth at night, a custom night guard helps protect your investment.
Paying for a smile makeover
Southern York Smile Care is out of network with every insurer. You pay at the visit, and the office files the claim with your insurer for reimbursement. Most insurance plans treat purely cosmetic work as elective, so it is worth asking before treatment. Costs are discussed with you after the exam, once the plan is clear. CareCredit and Cherry payment plans are available if you would like to spread the cost over time, and Kelley Fisher, our Patient Care and Treatment Coordinator, can walk you through the options. See the financing page for more.
Booking a consultation
Southern York Smile Care is at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury, PA, and serves Shrewsbury, York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County, MD. Before your visit, collect photos of smiles you like, note what bothers you about your own, and write down the questions that matter most, such as cost, how much of the natural tooth might change, and whether the result will look natural. Those are exactly the questions a consultation is for. When you are ready, call (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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