Are you self-conscious about the way your teeth look when you smile or laugh? Whether it is a small gap or stubborn stains, front teeth imperfections can be a major threat to an attractive and confident appearance. If you find yourself closing hiding your laugh with your hand or closing your lips when smiling for pictures, we have a game-changing cosmetic dentistry solution for you to consider. Dental veneers are becoming more and more popular as patients realize how easy it is to transform their smile and regain the confidence they deserve.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers involve thin wafers of natural-looking porcelain or composite that are permanently bonded to the front surface of the teeth. Veneers are custom-fit to your smile and designed to correct the shape, color, position and size of a tooth while maintaining their thin size.
The process of getting veneers is quite easy. To ensure that the veneer remains strongly bonded to your teeth for everyday dental function, your cosmetic dentist will shave off a mere 0.3 to 0.5mm of your natural teeth before placing the veneers. Typically, only 2-3 visits are required in the entire process, and you may be given temporary acrylic veneers to wear until you return to your actual porcelain, lab-made veneers.
Veneers can be used on one unsightly tooth or placed across multiple teeth of your smile depending on your level of concern. For example, you may have one front tooth that has a gray tint because you fell when you were a child. In such cases, you may opt for a single dental veneer over that tooth. Don’t worry; veneers are uniquely fabricated to cover up your dental flaws yet blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. Other patients choose to have a full set of veneers placed on all the visible teeth of their smile. This is recommended for those that have several aesthetic concerns or want to achieve an overall whiter and more balanced smile.
Composite Versus Porcelain Veneers
After a little research, you may discover that dental veneers can be made of composite or porcelain. Most dentists offer porcelain cosmetic veneers because they are more durable, longer lasting and stain-resistant. Composite veneers, on the other hand, can easily stain and they don’t have the 10-15 year lifespan of porcelain veneers. When it comes to veneers, porcelain replicates the shade, translucency and shape of natural teeth better than any other dental material.
What Issues Can Be Fixed with Dental Veneers?
Cosmetic dental veneers are highly versatile and can solve a wide range of issues, including those you were born with and those that may have occurred over time or after a traumatic injury. The following are just some of the imperfections that can be fixed with veneers:
- Stained, discolored and grey or yellowing teeth
- Misaligned or slightly crooked teeth
- Small gaps between your teeth
- Broken or cracked teeth
- Teeth with different lengths
- Overly pointy teeth
- Small, peg-looking teeth
Are Dental Veneers the Right Option for You?
Only you and your cosmetic dentist can ultimately determine if veneers are your best choice for transforming your smile. It will involve a simple discussion about what imperfections are bothering you about your teeth and why they occurred. For instance, if you have discolored teeth, you may be able to address the issue with teeth whitening. However, whitening is not a permanent solution like veneers and is not going to fix stains that were caused by nerve damage, trauma or tetracycline staining.
On the other hand, if you have crooked teeth, you don’t automatically qualify for dental veneers as your “instant orthodontics.” Not all misalignment can be properly addressed with veneers, especially if you have issues within your bite or position of your back teeth. It is important to also remember that dental veneers cover up your imperfections instead of actually fixing them. Therefore, if your tooth chip is compromising the health of that tooth, it will need to be properly bonded or restored prior to placing a veneer on top.
If you are unsure about whether dental veneers are your answer to a more attractive and confident smile, call Group Health Dental. We are more than ready to help you choose the cosmetic dentistry option that is best for your needs and budget.
