Can You Try Porcelain Veneers Before Committing in Bountiful, UT?

Published by Millcreek Family Dental.

If you're considering porcelain veneers in Bountiful, UT, there's probably one question under all the others: what will my smile actually look like? You don't have to guess. With us, you see a wax model of your new smile and wear temporaries based on it before your permanent veneers go in. Below, we walk through how that works, what happens at each step, and what to weigh before you decide. You can also read more on our porcelain veneers page.

Can you try porcelain veneers before you commit?

Yes. You see a wax model of your new smile first, then wear temporaries based on that model, so by the time your permanent veneers go in, you've already approved them. In Dr. Baird's words, "No one is locked in until they decide they want to be."

The wax model comes first, so you see it before anything happens. It shows you the shape, the color and the proportion of your front teeth, which is what people notice when you smile. The temporaries go a step further. You wear them, you live with them, you get photos, and you tell us what you love and what you'd like adjusted.

"The whole process exists so that you can see what's possible before you decide," Dr. Baird says.

What happens at each step of getting veneers?

Getting veneers with us follows a plan built around what your mouth actually needs, with checkpoints where you see and approve the design. Here's the usual order:

1. A conversation first. We look at your actual situation and walk you through what the process would look like for you. Then you decide whether you want to move forward.
2. Anything that should come before veneers. Depending on your smile, we might start with whitening so your veneers match a brighter baseline, or with Invisalign if alignment is the real issue to fix before adding cosmetic work on top.
3. A wax model. We make a wax model of what your teeth could look like, and you see it before anything happens.
4. Temporaries you live with. We make temporaries based on that model. You wear them, take photos, and tell us what you'd like adjusted.
5. Delivery day. Your permanent veneers go in, and you've already approved them. No surprises.

Dr. Baird doesn't skip the trial step. "I want patients to have worn the temporaries first," he says. Delivery day, the day the permanent veneers go in, is his favorite appointment, because there's no waiting to see how it heals or settles. You see it that day. As he puts it, "That moment is always worth it."

What is the downside of porcelain veneers?

The main downside is that porcelain veneers are a change you can't take back. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of your teeth to change their color, shape or size, and placing them usually means removing a thin layer of enamel, which isn't reversible, as the ADA's patient guide to veneers explains.

Porcelain also doesn't lighten with teeth whitening. If you'd like a brighter smile, whitening needs to happen first so your veneers can be matched to it. That's why the order of treatment matters, and why the wax model and temporaries matter too: because the last step is permanent, you get to see the result and live with it before anything is final.

Can veneers be done in stages?

They can. Dr. Baird had a patient who wanted the work but couldn't do it all at once. We did her front teeth first with veneers and put transitional restorations in the back until she was ready for the permanent work there.

We also offer financing through Sunbit and CareCredit, plus an in-office membership plan. Ask us which option fits your plan when we talk through your smile.

Why do Bountiful patients choose Millcreek Family Dental and Dr. Baird for veneers?

Because your veneers aren't designed by someone who's never met you. The lab tech Dr. Baird works with on cosmetic cases doesn't just sit somewhere making teeth from a scan. He meets with you in our Bountiful dental office, reviews the wax mock-up with you, and takes notes on what you like and what you don't. On delivery day he's usually there too, so if anything needs adjusting on the spot, he can do it right there.

"You're not getting a smile designed by a stranger," Dr. Baird says. "You're part of the design conversation the whole way through."

Dr. Anthony Baird is a Utah native and a Kois Center-trained dentist who has practiced in Bountiful since 2003. His Kois Center training shapes how he handles worn-down bites and full-mouth rebuilds, and it's why he keeps that complex work in-house instead of sending you elsewhere.

Curious what your new smile could look like? Call us at 801-292-4009 or send us a note through our contact page, and we'll walk you through what the process could look like for you.

Published by Millcreek Family Dental (Dr. Anthony Baird).