Have you ever felt self-conscious about a flaw in your smile? Cosmetic dentistry is here to help you feel confident about your smile. Porcelain veneers are a simple way to hide minor tooth discoloration, reshape teeth and repair chips.
They look like natural teeth and catch light just like your own. With proper care, they can last 10-15 years.
Natural-Looking Teeth
We’ve all seen pictures of celebrity smiles with perfectly straight, white teeth. While this smile type used to be popular, it has become much more common for people to want their teeth to look less “perfect.” Dental veneers can help make your smile appear natural-looking by correcting cosmetic imperfections like chips, stains, crooked or gapped teeth, and minor tooth length discrepancies.
Before you commit to veneers, it’s important that you choose a dentist who is experienced in delivering natural-looking results. You should check out each dentist’s before-and-after smile galleries and read independent reviews to make sure you find the right doctor for you.
Veneers can be made of a variety of materials, but porcelain is typically preferred because it closely resembles the color and appearance of your natural teeth. In addition, porcelain is translucent, so it can give your teeth a certain amount of dimension and light reflection.
Typically, veneers are considered elective cosmetic dentistry rather than necessary dentistry, so they aren’t covered by private dental insurance plans. However, our practice offers dental financing options through CareCredit and Lending Club that can make this treatment more affordable for many patients. We also recommend addressing any other oral health issues before getting veneers, such as cavities, gum disease, or teeth that are already chipped or broken. This helps ensure that your new veneers are long-lasting and attractive.
Straighter Teeth
While crooked teeth can be corrected with orthodontics that uses metal braces or plastic aligners, veneers can give you a straighter smile almost instantly. These cosmetic restorations can hide gaps between the front teeth, overlapping, misalignment and other flaws to create a straighter appearance that you’ll be proud of showing off.
Porcelain veneers have a natural color and texture that resembles enamel, making them virtually indistinguishable from your real teeth. They also resist staining, so your crooked teeth will look bright and white for years to come. However, you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene and address any ongoing issues like bruxism (teeth grinding) that can damage the veneers.
Composite resin can bond directly to your tooth and improve its appearance without removing much of the enamel, so it’s a quicker option for fixing cosmetic problems such as chipped and gapped teeth. Your dentist will match the resin to the surrounding enamel shade so that you and others can’t tell where the tooth ends and the filling begins.
Porcelain veneers require more time, expertise and resources than composite to apply, so they tend to be more expensive initially. However, since they last longer than composite, you’ll spend less on repair or replacement costs over the long run.
More Durable Teeth
Porcelain veneers are able to resist stains much more easily than natural teeth. This is because porcelain is a ceramic material, which has a glass-like texture and naturally resists stains. Veneers can last up to 15 years or more with proper care.
They also resist stains more easily than dental composite (which is the material most often used to make tooth veneers). This makes porcelain veneers a good option for people with stained teeth who are concerned about how long they will have to deal with the discoloration.
Porcelain has a higher Mohs hardness rating (7 compared to enamel’s 5-6 and dental composite’s 5-7). This means that porcelain is less likely to chip or crack than enamel. This can be important for people who grind their teeth or clench their jaws at night.
Because of their durability, porcelain veneers can be a good solution for people who have damaged their teeth. They can be a quick and easy way to cover up cracked or chipped teeth and can be customized to look like a natural part of the smile.
However, it’s still essential to practice proper oral hygiene to keep your veneers in good condition. This includes using an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash on a daily basis to kill bacteria and prevent the growth of plaque that can wear down your veneers. It’s also vital to see your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings on a bi-annual basis to discover any issues before they worsen.
Less Expensive Teeth Restorations
A common tactic is for some dentists to offer veneers with a much lower original price in order to lure potential patients. However, a quality cosmetic dentist will always give their customers the best treatment options that are available within their budget. They will never try to skimp on steps or use inferior materials in order to save money.
When you opt for porcelain veneers, it’s important to make sure that your dentist has the experience and skills necessary to completely customize them to match your natural smile. Porcelain veneers require more attention to detail and skill than composite veneers, so they are typically priced higher. However, they are less expensive than other types of restorations over time as they don’t need to be replaced as frequently.
During your consultation, your cosmetic dentist will evaluate your mouth to determine whether or not veneers are right for you. They will also help you determine the best sequence of dental work to do before getting veneers. For example, if you need to have a root canal done before getting veneers, it’s a good idea to do that first.
Porcelain veneers are a great option for those who want to improve the appearance of their teeth but aren’t interested in having major dental work done. They can be used to correct minor cosmetic issues such as stains, chips, misalignment, and gaps. Veneers can last up to 10-15 years if they’re properly cared for.
