Recently you may have noticed something different about me – any guesses? I got porcelain veneers! In today’s post I’m sharing my veneers before and after reveal thanks to the pros at New York Dental Office. My dentist Dr. Adi Kedem, Boris Abayev and David Abayevare truly the best and the team there made the entire process so easy and stress free. Click through to read more about my experience plus my shocking before and after photos!
The entire process spanned out about month and involved three different office visits. The first appointment was a consultation where I explained what I wanted, talked through the details and cost with my dentist and ultimately where we decided on a plan for my procedure. We decided all I needed done was my top four front teeth.
On the second appointment they took impressions of my mouth and prepped me for the application of my veneers. I was so so nervous! Yes, to get veneers there is some removal of your existing teeth involved. They shaved down my teeth using an instrument that reminded me of what manicurists use to prep nails before applying acrylic gel. My teeth were already on the small side, so the removal on me was minimal. Since veneers are completely custom (a dental technologist literally handcrafts each individual veneer out of porcelain) I had to wait a week after my prep while my veneers were created. So I didn’t go around looking like a jack-o-lantern with nubs for front teeth, the empty space around my teeth was temporary composite veneers. It sounds weird but it was hardly noticeable to the eye unless you really, really looked up close.
The third and final procedure took about only an hour. They removed the temporary veneers, numbed me up with some novocaine (your teeth will feel super sensitive) and applied my brand new veneers! The first reaction I had was total shock. I think Dr. Kedem and the team thought I hated them because I literally didn’t have anything to say. For 24 years of my life I was used to my teeth looking a certain way, feeling gaps in my mouth, closing my mouth for pictures etc. and then suddenly it’s a just a totally different view when I look in the mirror.
As you can probably tell from these photos, I love the end result! It had been a dream of mine to get porcelain veneers ever since I got my braces removed at age 16. My natural teeth were so tiny and square – even with braces it was impossible to close all the gaps in my smile. My mom and I looked into veneers before I went to college, but ultimately the cost was just too much for her. Veneers are cosmetic and not something typically covered by insurance. If I wanted it done I had to pay for it myself.
So eight years later and after finding the right dentist, I took the leap and paid for the procedure myself. In my case veneers were definitely not 100% necessary. By no means did I think my old smile was glaringly bad, however it did cause me insecurity and was something I noticed any time I saw myself in a photo.
If you are based in the New York area I highly recommend Dr. Kedem and the team at New York Dental Office. Their dedication to their patients and improving lives is very obvious. I’m a very anxious person so I really appreciated how they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and relaxed from start to finish. Nick is so obsessed with my results he is going in for his own consult next week! HAH
Would love to hear what you think of my new smile! xo
Emily says
You look beautiful! Porcelain veneers are on my list for next year and I can’t wait. I have small teeth, too, and your results look so amazing I’m even more excited!
Emily | Life With Emily says
I was so curious if you were going to blog about the process! I loved your smile before (you’re so cute!) but a smile is so much better when you feel secure in it!!
I don’t need veneers, but I do need to do invisalign… before I had braces I had a HUGE (no joke) gap in my two front teeth. After having braces I had a permanent retainer put in for safety measures although they assured me everything would be fine. Well, it broke in college & I now have a small (but noticeable to me all the time) gap. I want to get it fixed soon so I can feel more confident when smiling and not seeing that gap when I look at photos!
great look friend! happy for you!
Rae says
They look great! Beautiful smile 🙂
-Rae
studentsandstyle.wordpress.com
Kristina says
Wow the end results are great! It’s so freaky that they have to shave down your teeth, I think I would be too scared to get something like this done.
Kristina does the Internets
Brittany says
Thank you so much for sharing! I was also not very impressed with my teeth after my braces came off and veneers were something I considered. Your smile looks great!
Brittany | thechicette.com
Erin Her Heartland Soul says
Your teeth look beautiful!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
David Abayev says
Katie,
It is such a pleasure having you as our patient. And even more pleasurable was helping you attain your goal and make you smile only always. As you personally experienced, we strive to provide the best dental experience available, and your blog about your visit tells me we are doing just that.
We hope that this small step will have a powerfully positive effect on your life and all those around. Wishing you only success in all your endeavors.
See you soon.
-David
212.889.8870
Gloria says
I am totally impressed with your beautiful new smile. The veneers have given you the confidence
you always wanted and your smile shows it. I am so proud of you that you took the step. You show
such beauty in what you have strived to accomplished.
Rachel says
Aloha!
Love the results. If you don’t mind me asking, how much were they? I have been thinking about getting them and I live about 45 minutes from the city.
Anita Mas says
So it takes a few visits to have veneers put in? That’s good to know, since I’ve been considering getting veneers before the wedding. We will have to make sure that we have time for everything to be done before the big day. I imagine that it would feel odd to not have my normal gaps in my teeth anymore, but I’m looking forward to the experience.
Katie says
I had to visit my dentist 4+ times for consults, prep, the application, etc. Definitely make sure you discuss the timeline before you start the process. If your big day is coming up the sooner the better!
Dr. Susan Millar DDS says
Veneers are great to hide broken, stained tooth without having pain. your porcelain veneers look beautiful, best thing about porcelain veneers is that they can stay strong up to 10 year with normal brushing and flossing.
Dentist Cerritos says
Hi Katie,
Thank you for sharing your experience and insight into the whole process- I’m glad you have no regrets about the treatment because your results look great! Our practice offers the best veneers Cerritos has to offer.
GLO Modern Dental says
Honest and entertaining write up. Glad you had a positive experience with your veneers. Sometime those can be an involved dental procedure.