When it comes to restoring your smile or creating one you love to share, you often need to find a solution that is beneficial to your dental health while also being aesthetically pleasing. Dental veneers are one such solution, providing you with a way to easily reshape, whiten, and even repair teeth in usually two or three dental visits.
What are Porcelain Veneers?
Veneers are a cosmetic dentistry option consisting of super thin shells created to custom-fit the surface of your teeth. These shells can closely match the color shading of your natural teeth or go brighter if you are getting several placed on adjacent teeth. Your dental team can mold and shape veneers for your specific needs, then bond them in place for long-term results.
Porcelain veneers are recommended for patients with any of the following dental issues:
- Discoloration/staining from foods, beverages, tobacco usage, or medications (e.g., tetracycline)
- Gaps between teeth
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Irregular shaping of teeth in the smile zone
- Teeth suffering enamel erosion
The Top Benefits of Veneers and How They Can Transform Your Smile
Knowing all you can before committing to veneers will help ensure you make the right decisions for your smile. Here are the top 7 benefits of veneers and how they can transform your smile.
1. Brightens Up Your Smile
Even one stained or discolored tooth that shows when you smile can ruin your confidence and even challenge the first impression you give to others. Porcelain veneers can help with this by brightening up your smile in just two or three visits. Also, since veneers are non-porous, they can resist excessive staining and the formation of cavities going forward. As long as you continue to practice good oral hygiene, you can keep your smile brighter over the long term.
2. Evens Out Your Smile
Since veneers can be crafted to custom-fit your needs, they can also help even out your smile. Patients with misshapen teeth, smaller teeth, and gaps between teeth can benefit. Veneers can cover up those imperfections that interfere with your perfect smile and solve a variety of cosmetic issues.
3. Creates a Natural Look and Feel
Veneers create a natural look, and others you interact with will have no idea that you have them in place. Your dentist will match the color shading to the surrounding teeth or lighten up all your teeth in the smile zone. These porcelain veneers will also feel smooth and natural, so they won’t feel different or out of place inside your mouth. You may even forget you have them as well.
4. Involves a Non-invasive Process
Unlike with dental crowns and implants, the bonding of veneers to the surface of teeth requires only a short, non-invasive procedure. An ultra-thin layer of enamel is removed from the tooth’s surface to accommodate the veneer and create a better fit and look. While you shouldn’t experience any pain, your dentist can provide anesthesia to ensure the process is as comfortable as possible.
During the first appointment, your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate, which may involve the taking of x-rays to check oral structures and the health of your teeth. Conditions that may rule out veneers include gum disease and the need for a root canal.
At the second appointment, your dentist will remove the thin layer of enamel and prepare your teeth for application of the veneers. Impressions and molds will be completed and forwarded to a dental lab to fabricate the customized shells. While you wait for these, your dentist will provide you with temporary ones to protect your teeth.
Once the lab completes the veneers, often in one to two weeks, you will return for the bonding of the veneers to the prepared surfaces of your teeth. The fit may need adjusting to make sure a natural look and feel occurs.
5. Improves Your Dental Health
While veneers create an aesthetically pleasing appearance, they also serve your dental health in profound ways by adding strength and protection to the natural tooth underneath. Whether you have cracked, chipped, or broken teeth, veneers can help repair these damages and protect you from further issues, allowing you to smile more often.
6. Requires No Excessive Care
Care for your veneers will be much like your natural teeth. Brush and floss daily, and schedule regular professional cleanings and dental exams to keep them looking their best. Further steps to take to ensure they stay protected include the following.
- Avoid chewing or biting down on hard items such as ice, nuts, and hard candy
- Stop using teeth as a tool to open packages
- Break the habit of biting your fingernails or chewing on pens or pencils
- Seek help from your dentist if you have bruxism or believe you grind your teeth at night as you sleep
7. Offers Durability and Long-Lasting Results
With proper care and maintenance, porcelain veneers can last for ten years and possibly longer. Be sure to make regular dental appointments so your dentist can examine and ensure the veneers remain well-fitted and are serving your needs in the best ways possible.
Find Out How Veneers Can Benefit Your Smile Today!
When it comes to your smile, finding ways to keep it looking its best is essential. Find out how veneers can benefit you and transform your smile into one you can’t wait to share by scheduling an appointment with Lifetime Dental Health today! Call our Columbus office at 614-321-1895 to get started.
