Your smile is one of the brightest and most beautiful parts of you that you share with the world every day. But when your teeth are damaged or discolored, you might start to hide that smile out of shame. Dental veneers can be a great way to restore your smile to its most beautiful state and boost your confidence along with it.
Porcelain veneers are a popular option for people considering getting this procedure done. Read on to learn more about porcelain veneers and if they’re the right choice for you.
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shell that mimics the appearance of teeth and sits on top of your natural tooth. Unlike implants, getting veneers does not require getting any teeth removed, and they are not meant to replace missing teeth.
Instead, they are meant to hide discolorations and provide a more attractive cover for teeth that are damaged or discolored.
If you’re considering getting dental veneers, it’s important to note that you don’t necessarily have to get veneers on every tooth. Many people choose to get veneers only on their front few teeth since those are what show the most when you smile.
You’ll need to work with your dentist to figure out how many veneers you’ll need to make your smile look natural and beautiful.
Who Should Consider Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers can be a good choice for patients who have a number of different dental issues.
- One of the primary target groups is people who have severe, permanent tooth discoloration. Large fillings, root canals, and some medications can cause discoloration that cannot be fixed with whitening treatments, and veneers may be the best option for restoring a beautiful, pearly smile.
- Veneers can also be a good option for people who have worn, chipped, or broken teeth.
- Some patients also use dental veneers to cover teeth that are abnormally small or to fill in dental gaps.
- Depending on the severity of the problem, you may be able to use veneers to reshape the tooth surface and hide minorly misaligned or uneven teeth instead of going through the ordeal of braces.
Benefits of Veneers
One of the biggest benefits of dental veneers is that they can go a long way toward improving your self-confidence. Our smiles accompany us at the happiest times of our lives, and you don’t want those times overshadowed by shame about your smile. Getting dental veneers can free you to show your gorgeous smile to the world.
Veneers can also have some practical benefits, including correcting minor bite problems. Going through orthodontic corrections can be expensive, painful, and time-consuming. The veneers process can take as few as three appointments and is relatively pain-free.
Why Porcelain?
There are two primary types of materials veneers are typically made with: porcelain and composite. Although porcelain can be a little more expensive than composite veneers, it can offer a number of benefits.
- One of the primary benefits is that, unlike some composite materials, porcelain is well-tolerated by gum tissue and won’t cause any allergic reactions.
- Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, which means you can drink as much red wine and coffee as your doctor recommends with no worries.
- They’re also easy to maintain, requiring only the normal brushing and flossing your natural teeth do.
- And porcelain veneers come in a variety of different shades so you can get a perfect match to your normal teeth.
Porcelain Veneers Consultation and Prep
If you decide to get veneers, you’ll have to begin with a consultation with your dentist. During this appointment, your dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, both visually and using imaging techniques. They may also talk to you about your oral hygiene habits and your dental aesthetic goals.
Your dentist will decide during this visit if you’re a good porcelain veneers candidate or if you may need to pursue some other treatment course first. For instance, they may recommend getting braces first if your teeth are severely misaligned or uneven. Your dentist will also work with you to decide how many veneers you need at this point.
During your second appointment, your dentist will prepare your teeth for your new veneers. This may involve trimming off some of the enamel on your teeth in order to help the veneers fit better and look more natural. They’ll also take a mold of your teeth and send it off for veneers to be made.
Veneer Placement
Your third visit to the dentist will be when you can get your veneers placed. Your dentist will start by thoroughly cleaning your teeth to make sure there isn’t any plaque or debris stuck under the veneers. They’ll also etch the surface of your teeth to help the veneers stick better to your natural teeth.
Your dentist will check the veneers against your natural teeth to make sure they’ll be a good fit and that they’ll look good. From there, they’ll begin applying permanent cement to your teeth and placing the veneers.
They’ll use a curing light to harden the cement and then will clean up any excess cement on the surface of your surrounding teeth or new veneers.
Learn More About Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers may be a good option for patients who have permanent damage to their teeth. These veneers can restore your smile and maybe an easier way to manage minor dental problems. Talk to your dentist about if porcelain veneers are a good option for restoring your most beautiful smile.
If you’d like to learn more about porcelain veneers, check out the rest of our site at TheDentalTeam.com We are committed to excellence with compassionate care for our clients. Find a location near you today and let us get you smiling again.
