Porcelain veneers designed by Dr. Nelly Silva, a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, and previewed on a model of your own teeth before the lab makes a single shell.
Each case is a patient of Dr. Silva, photographed in our office before treatment and again after the veneers were bonded.
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BeforeAfterA veneer is a shell of porcelain about as thin as a contact lens, bonded to the front of a tooth. Because it replaces the visible surface, it can change a tooth's color, length and shape.
A dental ceramist handcrafts each shell from light-reflecting porcelain that catches light the way enamel does. Dr. Silva plans the design with you, and you see it on a model of your own teeth before the lab begins.
We favor veneers that need only minimal enamel reduction. Some enamel is usually reshaped, so veneers are a long-term commitment, and we explain that before you decide.
Veneers suit healthy teeth whose look bothers you more than how they work.
Active decay, gum disease, heavy grinding or too little healthy enamel can rule veneers out until treated, so every plan starts with a full exam.
We handle these steps in house. Dr. Michael Strassberg provides periodontal care, and Dr. Silva completed a TMD residency through the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, which guides how she protects veneers from clenching.
Many smiles need less than a full set of veneers. These are the options we weigh with you.
| Treatment | What it changes | Tooth preparation | Often chosen when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain veneers | Color, shape, length, small gaps and mild misalignment | Minimal enamel reshaping in most cases | Several concerns show on the same front teeth |
| Zoom! teeth whitening | Color of natural teeth | None | Teeth are well shaped but yellowed or stained |
| Invisalign | Position of teeth | None, the aligners are removable | Crowding or spacing is the main concern |
| Crowns | Full shape and strength of a tooth | Reshaping on all sides of the tooth | A tooth is cracked, heavily filled or weakened |
Most cases take two or three visits over a few weeks.
We examine your teeth, gums and bite, talk through what you want to change, and Dr. Silva explains her recommendation.
Your proposed shade, size and shape are shown on a model of your teeth, and we refine it until you approve.
We reshape a thin layer of enamel and scan your teeth with our iTero® Element™ scanner. You wear temporaries while the ceramist works.
We confirm fit and shade with you, bond each veneer and fine-tune your bite. Then brush, floss and keep regular cleanings.
iTero® Element™ ScannerThe Wand® AnesthesiaAnxiolysis Available
Dr. Silva earned her DMD at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry, where she now teaches as a Clinical Associate Professor. Her veneer work draws on her training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, a postgraduate center for aesthetic and neuromuscular dentistry.
She designs every veneer case herself and asks patients to call her Nelly.
"I just had new veneers done today and couldn't be happier."
Barbara W., Google Review
"Takes time for questions and gives detailed explanations. I felt very comfortable and relaxed."
Lynn M., Google Review
Your fee depends on how many teeth are treated and any care needed first. You receive it with your plan before treatment begins, and payment plans let you spread the cost.
Short answers to what patients ask before choosing veneers.
Fees vary across Pennsylvania because each case differs in the number of teeth, the porcelain and any care needed first. We give you a fee for your specific plan after an exam, and payment plans are available.
Untreated decay, active gum disease, heavy grinding or too little healthy enamel. Most of these can be treated first. If veneers still are not the right fit, whitening, Invisalign or crowns may reach the same goal.
With good home care and regular cleanings, porcelain veneers often last many years. Composite resin veneers are less durable and tend to need repair or replacement sooner. A night guard helps protect either kind if you clench.
No toothpaste creates a veneer. Veneer and whitening toothpastes can lift surface stains, but they cannot change a tooth's shape, close a gap or repair a chip.
Often, yes. Porcelain keeps the shade it is made in, so we brighten the surrounding natural teeth first with Zoom! in-office whitening and match the veneers to that result.
Preparation is done with local anesthetic delivered by The Wand, a computer-controlled system that makes numbing more comfortable. Anxious patients can ask about anxiolysis, a mild form of conscious sedation we offer.
Dr. Silva will look at your smile with you, show what veneers can and cannot change, and help you choose the option that fits.
399 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
