12,000 Veneers and counting

Understanding Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers represent the pinnacle of cosmetic dentistry, offering a transformative solution for patients seeking to enhance their smile's appearance. These ultra-thin shells of dental ceramic are custom-crafted to cover the front surface of teeth, correcting a wide range of aesthetic concerns while preserving the natural tooth structure beneath. At Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh's Beverly Hills practice, veneers are approached as an art form—each case meticulously planned and executed to achieve results that are indistinguishable from natural teeth.

What Can Porcelain Veneers Correct?

Porcelain veneers are remarkably versatile, addressing multiple cosmetic concerns simultaneously. They effectively correct tooth discoloration that doesn't respond to whitening treatments, including tetracycline staining, fluorosis, and intrinsic discoloration from root canal treatment. Veneers also reshape teeth that are chipped, worn, or irregularly formed, closing gaps between teeth and correcting minor misalignment without the need for orthodontic treatment. For patients with teeth that appear too small or short, veneers can restore proper proportions and create a more balanced, youthful smile.

Beyond individual tooth improvements, a full set of veneers can completely redesign the smile's architecture. Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh considers factors like tooth-to-lip relationship, smile line curvature, facial symmetry, and golden proportions when designing veneer cases. This comprehensive approach ensures results that not only look beautiful but also harmonize with each patient's unique facial features and personality.

The Difference Quality Makes

Not all porcelain veneers are created equal. The quality of the final result depends on three critical factors: the skill of the cosmetic dentist, the expertise of the dental ceramist, and the quality of materials used. Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh has practiced since 2012, with advanced training from institutions including Italy's renowned Fradeani Education program for fixed prosthodontics and UCLA's aesthetic dentistry program. This extensive background in both the art and science of cosmetic dentistry ensures predictable, beautiful outcomes.

Equally important is the ceramist who hand-crafts each veneer. Rather than using mass-production laboratories, Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh works exclusively with master ceramists who layer porcelain by hand to replicate the natural optical properties of enamel—the subtle translucency, color gradations, and surface texture that make teeth look alive. This artisanal approach takes significantly more time and skill but produces results that are virtually impossible to distinguish from natural teeth.

Conservative Preparation: Preserving Your Natural Teeth

Traditional veneer preparation required removing substantial tooth structure—often 1mm or more of enamel. Modern techniques and advanced ceramics have revolutionized this process. Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh specializes in minimal-preparation veneers requiring only 0.3 to 0.5mm of enamel removal—about the thickness of a contact lens. In select cases where teeth are already small or properly positioned, no-prep veneers can be placed without any tooth reduction whatsoever.

This conservative approach matters because enamel doesn't regenerate. Once removed, it's gone forever. By preserving maximum tooth structure, minimal-prep veneers maintain the tooth's long-term health and strength while still achieving dramatic aesthetic improvements. Should veneers ever need replacement decades later, there's still healthy tooth structure to work with.

Longevity and Care

High-quality porcelain veneers are remarkably durable, typically lasting 15 to 20 years or longer with proper care. The porcelain itself is highly resistant to staining—more so than natural enamel—and won't discolor from coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco. The bonding material at the veneer margins can stain over time, however, making good oral hygiene essential for maintaining pristine results.

Caring for veneers is straightforward: brush twice daily, floss regularly, and maintain routine dental checkups every six months. Patients who grind their teeth should wear a night guard to protect their investment. Avoiding habits like nail biting, ice chewing, or using teeth as tools helps prevent chipping. With this basic care, veneers provide decades of confident, beautiful smiles.