Are Porcelain Veneers Permanent?

Dental Atlanta

Everyone loves a beautiful white smile. A gorgeous smile helps you stand out from the crowd and get noticed for your striking and overall happy appearance. As time goes by, our teeth can stain or become damaged, taking away from that confidence we feel whenever we interact with the world. While teeth whitening is a quick solution to improve your smile, it’s not permanent. If you’re looking for a long-lasting solution, you want porcelain veneers.

If you’re considering porcelain veneers in Atlanta, GA, Buckhead Cosmetic & Family Dentistry provides the most natural porcelain veneers that enhance the color and shape of your smile so you can enjoy life year after year, knowing your smile will never fade.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin layers of natural porcelain that we layer over your teeth. This is one of the many resources available at Buckhead Cosmetic & Family Dentistry that helps deliver amazing solutions in cosmetic dentistry to improve the look of your smile and restore proper functionality. Veneers go beyond specific cosmetic concerns, as they are a treatment option that can cure functional issues and aesthetic imperfections related to chipped teeth, damaged dental structures, or dental staining.

We make sure to review the exact shape, color, and size that will match your vision of a dazzling smile and begin a makeover process where each veneer has the right dimensions and specifications to complement the rest of your teeth.

Are Porcelain Veneers Permanent?

Yes. First of all, you should consider that Veneers are permanent in the sense that you cannot remove them at will. These thin layers of porcelain have to remain bonded over your teeth thanks to a special agent, meaning you can’t take them off whenever you wish to.

Second, when your dentist comes along and bonds your new porcelain veneers, they will cure the dental veneers for added durability, making them incredibly strong and extremely durable. In terms of longevity, you should know that even a clinical study revealed that 96% of installed porcelain veneers will last well past your first decade with them.

Granted, this will vary a lot depending on specific circumstances. Patients who have composite veneers instead of porcelain ones will have to be more careful, as the material can be prone to chipping and breaking up. Even though either option will last for several years, you should know that composite veneers won’t be as durable as porcelain veneers. That’s right, the material used in creating your veneers will impact your treatment’s length, as the more durable material will last longer without suffering from unexpected complications.

Next up, you should know how oral hygiene can help keep your veneers in top shape and avoid other concerns. Please don’t forget to maintain good, thorough, and daily oral care. If you don’t brush or floss your teeth regularly, you might increase the risk of suffering from tooth decay and gum disease.

Permanent veneers require proper attention. If you want your porcelain veneers to last longer, avoid:

  • Smoking,
  • Stay away from hard, crunchy, and chewy foods.
  • Avoid beverages that stain.

Can Veneers Stain Over Time?

Fortunately, porcelain veneers don’t stain just as natural teeth might. That’s primarily because the material used to create your veneers is not like the enamel that covers your teeth. The porcelain is non-porous, which means it won’t absorb staining agents, such as coffee, wine, and other beverages or foods that you might be apprehensive about.

Remember how we said you could choose between porcelain and composite veneers? Well, one thing you might want to consider is that the resin used for composite veneers can stain just like your natural teeth. While composite veneers might last for a long time, you might still need to replace them after five or seven years, making them far less durable than porcelain veneers.

How to Choose the Right Shade of Porcelain Veneers?

Designing your cosmetic treatment is an art. One thing that both patients and specialists have to consider is that your teeth don’t have a singular color across both arches, meaning the process of choosing the right shade is not as straightforward as some might think.

Crafting a smile perfectly tailored to you means considering several factors and expert craftmanship from an experienced ceramist.

When we consider what your smile will look like, we need to ensure that patients feel happy about the final result, so the shade used has to be translucent enough that it will blend naturally with the rest of your smile. Likewise, face and shape will vary considerably from one case to the other when you consider the patient’s facial characteristics.

All in all, we look at the following criteria before making a suggestion regarding your veneers:

  • Shade of white.
  • Translucency.
  • Facial characteristics.
  • Remaining teeth.

You might be interested: How we choose the right shade of porcelain dental veneers.

What Is the Process?

If you are interested in getting porcelain veneers in Atlanta, you will first need to schedule a consultation at our award-winning office. This is where we can answer any of your questions and concerns and determine if you are the right candidate for dental veneers.

We’ll examine your medical history and perform a routine evaluation before discussing your desired outcome for your new porcelain veneers.

Before you come in for your veneer prep appointment, you will sit down with Dr. Nia to design your custom smile. At this appointment, you will discuss the shape, color, length, and other aspects of your new veneers. They will also take impressions to send to the master ceramist to create a mock-up of what your new smile will look like prior to starting the veneer process. We take in the exact shape, shade, and gingiva of your natural teeth so your new dental veneers perfectly complement your overall smile.

After you have seen your new smile, we prep your teeth for your new veneers and place temporary ones on them. Once your dental veneers are ready, we then fit your veneers to your teeth for a permanent bond. We then test for function and durability before you leave our office with your new stunning smile.

What if I Need a Root Canal?

Root canals are not a treatment option that prevents patients from getting veneers and vice-versa. Your dental care provider can still perform a root canal on teeth that have veneers, but we highly recommend patients first get endodontic treatment before we consider a veneer, as the tooth will change coloration following the removal of the soft tissues inside.

Similarly, you should consider that there are other cosmetic treatments that will help your smile shine as you get a root canal. Depending on the severity of your case and how much work will go along the root canal procedure, you might want to consider a dental crown instead.

Porcelain Veneers at Buckhead Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Dental veneers are a long-lasting solution for beautiful, white teeth that help you feel confident every time you look in the mirror. If you’re tired of hiding a smile that you know could be better, and you want a solution that lasts much longer than teeth whitening, porcelain veneers are the answer.

To learn how you can set up a consultation at our award-winning facility, contact us today and let us help you get started with a beautiful smile that will last you for years to come!