Are Dental Veneers Worth It?
Dental veneers efficiently improve the esthetics of your smile. Veneers can cover various cosmetic issues at once. They use advanced materials like porcelain and composite resin, eliminating the need for multiple costly procedures.
Veneers can correct the appearance of the following:
- Misshapen teeth
- Slightly crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Stained or discolored teeth
- Chipped teeth
Types of Veneers
Porcelain Veneers
Dentists regard porcelain as the superior material for veneers. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin but robust. They are stain-resistant and have a lustrous shine like healthy tooth enamel.
Composite Veneers
Composites are a less costly alternative with versatile applications. Compared to porcelain, they are slightly more prone to chipping and staining, but they represent an excellent value.
How Veneers Work
Veneers are delicate, thin sheets of porcelain or composite material that your dentist designs to wrap around the forward surfaces of your teeth. Your teeth will look natural immediately.
Steps in the Veneers Process
Consultation: Your dentist will compare porcelain and composite and determine the best fit.
Preparation: The dentist takes extensive photos and digital impressions of your teeth to ensure your new veneers fit perfectly and achieve the shade you want.
At the end of your first appointment, your dentist will prepare the forward surfaces of your teeth by removing a slim enamel layer. Removing a small amount of enamel allows the veneer to sit flush against your natural tooth.
Installation: Your final veneers will arrive from the lab in days or weeks. Cementing them in place only takes one appointment. You will immediately go home with a perfected but natural-looking smile.
Caring For Your Veneers
Brush carefully twice daily and floss well once daily. Use an approved fluoride toothbrush. Avoid abrasive tooth products like baking soda and activated charcoal, as they can scratch veneers.
Patients with certain personal habits should consider stopping them before receiving veneers. These habits can damage your veneers and cause you to lose your investment:
- Pen or ice-chewing
- Opening plastic bags with your teeth
- Teeth grinding (bruxism): Ask your dentist for a custom night guard to protect your teeth
- Tobacco use of any kind stains veneers a yellow hue
The Unique Power of Veneers
Dental patients often look into veneers because they do not want to undergo two or more procedures to correct their smiles' appearance. Veneers can take your natural smile and perfect it using a subtle and non-invasive method.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Veneers
Why do veneers chip?
Veneers can chip if you are not careful with them or habitually grind your teeth. A composite veneer is reasonably easy to repair, but a porcelain version will need replacement.
Are composite veneers stain-resistant?
Composites have many advantages but are more prone to staining than porcelain varieties. To protect your teeth's appearance, avoid highly pigmented foods and beverages and cease all tobacco use.
Call Fallin Family Dentistry
If veneers appeal to you, please call our Zachary, LA, office at 225-654-2212. We would love to meet you and explain how veneers can transform your natural smile into a brilliant one.