At LPS Dental, we use custom veneers to improve teeth that look stained, chipped, worn, uneven, undersized, or out of proportion with the rest of your smile. Our Chicago cosmetic dentists plan each case carefully, with options that include traditional porcelain veneers and more conservative no-prep veneers when appropriate. Consultations are available in Lincoln Park, Downtown Chicago, and Norwood Park.
4.9 Overall Rating
Serving Chicago
Across Chicago
Trusted by Chicago — our associations, accreditations and partners.
What We Offer
At LPS Dental, we use custom veneers to improve teeth that look stained, chipped, worn, uneven, undersized, or out of proportion with the rest of your smile. Our Chicago cosmetic dentists plan each case carefully, with options that include traditional porcelain veneers and more conservative no-prep veneers when appropriate.
Porcelain veneers give us considerable control over tooth color, shape, length, and proportion. They can be especially useful when several aspects of a tooth need to change at once or when discoloration cannot be improved enough with whitening. Traditional porcelain veneers usually require some enamel preparation so the restoration can sit naturally against the tooth.
For some smiles, veneers can be placed with very little or no removal of natural enamel. This is commonly called a no-prep approach. It can be a good option when the teeth already have enough room for the added ceramic without making them appear bulky. Not everyone is a candidate, which is why we evaluate tooth position and proportions first.
You do not automatically need veneers across your entire smile. A single chipped, undersized, worn, or unusually shaped tooth can sometimes be treated on its own. The challenge is getting that veneer to disappear into the surrounding smile, particularly when neighboring teeth are untreated.
When several visible teeth have differences in color, wear, spacing, or proportion, treating multiple teeth together can provide better control over the overall balance of the smile. How many teeth are involved depends on how much tooth you show when you smile. We do not start with a preset package of six, eight, or ten veneers.
A small chip or gap does not always justify porcelain. Aesthetic composite bonding can often make limited changes while preserving more natural tooth structure. It may be worth considering when the concern is confined to a small area or only one characteristic of the tooth needs to change. Contextual link: https://www.lpsdental.com/aesthetic-composite-bonding-chicago/
Sometimes the teeth are not the wrong shape. They are simply in the wrong position. Moving teeth with Invisalign before cosmetic work can create a better starting point and, in some cases, reduce how much restorative treatment is necessary afterward. Contextual link: https://www.lpsdental.com/invisalign-chicago/
Comfort, Expertise, And Trust
Patient story from Lincoln Park Smiles
Tell us what you notice. The recommendation comes after we understand the problem.
Treatment should look like your smile, not a one-size-fits-all result.
We evaluate the health of the teeth and gums, existing restorations, tooth position, and bite before treatment.
We explain why something is recommended, what alternatives exist, and what treatment involves before you decide.
How It Works
Some patients bring photos. Others point to one tooth the moment they sit down. You do not need dental vocabulary. Tell us what catches your eye when you smile, whether you want a subtle improvement or a more noticeable change, and what you definitely do not want. That gives us somewhere useful to start.
Before talking about shapes and shades, we make sure the foundation makes sense. We look for decay, gum concerns, damaged restorations, grinding, bite issues, tooth position, and the amount of healthy enamel available for bonding. If something should be treated first, we will explain it.
Digital scanning and smile planning help us evaluate tooth proportions and communicate what we are considering. This is also when we decide which teeth, if any, need preparation and whether porcelain veneers, no-prep veneers, bonding, orthodontics, or a combination will give us the most sensible result.
For appropriate cases, a mock-up or temporary phase allows you to experience the proposed tooth length and shape before the final veneers are completed. This is useful because something that looks good on a computer screen still needs to look good when you talk, smile, and see yourself in the mirror.
The final veneers are made to the planned shape and shade. Before bonding, we evaluate their appearance, fit, relationship to the gums, and the way your teeth come together. Once both you and the dentist are satisfied, the veneers can be bonded into place.
Meet The LPS Dental Team
LPS Dental's roots in Chicago go back to 1999, when Dr. Jack Manikowski opened Lincoln Park Smiles.
Today, LPS Dental has three Chicago offices and a team whose experience extends across cosmetic, restorative, implant, periodontal, prosthodontic, and general dentistry.
Treatment planning that considers appearance, tooth structure, function, and long-term health together.
Dr. Jack Manikowski is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Digital scanning and planning tools help us evaluate and communicate proposed treatment.
It is normal to have questions before treatment. Here are some of the things patients often want to understand first.
Veneers are thin custom restorations bonded to the front surface of existing teeth. They are primarily used to change appearance, including tooth color, shape, length, proportions, spacing, and the appearance of minor chips or wear. They are different from crowns, which cover considerably more of the tooth.
The major difference is how much tooth preparation is needed. Traditional porcelain veneers usually require some enamel to be removed so there is enough room for the ceramic restoration. No-prep veneers are designed for cases where a thin layer of ceramic can be added with little or no tooth reduction. Neither option is automatically better. The right one depends on the position, size, color, and shape of the teeth you are starting with.
There is no rule that everyone needs four, eight, or ten veneers. We look at how many teeth show in your natural smile, which teeth actually need to change, whether untreated teeth will blend with the veneers, and what result you are trying to achieve. Some patients need one veneer. Others benefit from treating several visible teeth together.
No. If your natural teeth already have a color and shape you like, there is no reason to cover them simply to reach an arbitrary number. Treating fewer teeth can also be the more conservative option when we can make the result blend naturally.
They should not. The very bright, perfectly uniform "veneer look" some patients worry about is a design choice, not a requirement of the treatment. Shade is only one piece. Translucency, edge shape, surface texture, proportions, symmetry, and how the teeth relate to your lips and face all contribute to whether veneers look natural. Tell us what you like and what you do not like. Those preferences matter.
Traditional porcelain veneers normally require some enamel preparation. The amount depends on the starting tooth and the changes being made. No-prep veneers may require little or no tooth reduction in selected cases. We will explain what preparation would be necessary for your teeth before you agree to treatment.
Porcelain veneers are considered a long-term treatment, and traditional veneer preparation is not reversible because enamel has been altered. The veneers themselves can eventually chip, wear, loosen, or need replacement. How long they last depends on the case, bite, habits, home care, and other factors.
Porcelain is generally more resistant to staining than natural tooth enamel or composite bonding. The natural teeth around the veneers can still change color, and plaque can still collect around veneer margins. Good oral hygiene and regular professional care remain important.
Tell us what you would like to change and what you want to keep. We will look at your teeth, explain whether veneers make sense, compare porcelain and no-prep options when appropriate, and talk about more conservative alternatives if they can get you where you want to go.
Schedule a veneer consultation at whichever LPS Dental location is most convenient for you.
