A person’s smile is one of the first things we notice, right? There’s just something about a bright, healthy smile that helps us have confidence as we interact with others.
Veneers might be an option if you’re self-conscious about your smile due to cosmetic imperfections. Veneers are extremely thin pieces of material—often porcelain—that are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth to present a more aesthetically pleasing smile.
Unlike crowns that cover the entire surface of a tooth to support the health of a tooth, veneers are purely cosmetic and cover only the front surface to enhance your existing smile. Nearly anything that makes your smile less appealing looks better with veneers. Veneers can create a flawless smile by covering:
- Discoloration
- Cracks
- Chips
- Smaller-sized Teeth
- Misshapen Teeth
- Gaps or Spaces between Teeth
A common complaint with dentures is that they often appear obviously fake. Still, we match veneers to your own teeth. They blend in for a natural look. Most often, they are permanent, but there are options for veneers that you can remove daily as well. They work more like a retainer. This option is far less common, and a drawback is it can interfere with speech.
How are Veneers Installed?
To install veneers, we first take an impression of all teeth the veneers will be covering. Then we remove a small amount of enamel from the teeth the veneers will bond to. We send the impression to a dental lab where we create individualized veneers for you.
Once we create the veneers, we fit them to your mouth, make any necessary adjustments and bond them to your teeth using dental cement.
Do Veneers Require Special Care?
The same routine you need to care for your current teeth is precisely what you need to care for veneers: daily brushing, flossing, and trips to your dentist for checkups. They make veneers of highly durable materials, but it is a wise precaution to chew crunchy foods with your back teeth to avoid damage. Veneers are stain-resistant, but continual consumption of dark foods such as berries or red wine could start to discolor them.
Most patients can return to normal activities the same day they receive their veneers with a short adjustment period. With proper care, veneers typically last 10-15 years. Since we removed some enamel to bond them to your existing teeth, new veneers will be attached again. In other words, it is a permanent decision that many people have found to be life-changing, giving them new-found confidence.
Are Veneers an Option for Me?
Perhaps the idea of veneers might be intimidating for you. You would be attaching a permanent fixture to your teeth, so we understand the need to have all the information before you move forward. We encourage you to set up an appointment, so we can further discuss the process with you in person.
Veneers are becoming more popular every year as people begin to see the drastic difference and the improvement they make to a smile. Veneers create a gorgeous smile that is sure to have a positive impact on your life. Patients who once self-consciously put their hands over their mouths when they laughed or smiled are finally confident enough to smile widely and freely once they receive veneers.
Witnessing this transformation for patients is one of the best parts of being a dentist and one we would be thrilled to bring to you as you consider veneers for your smile.