Dental Veneers Can Bring Back Your Smile
Are you dissatisfied with your teeth? Do you find yourself hiding your smile with your hand or feeling embarrassed about smiling? If so, dental veneers may be the solution you need. Here’s a brief overview of the basics so you can decide if this solution is right for your smile.
What Are Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers are very thin layers of porcelain or composite that are permanently placed on the teeth. They can correct shape, color, orientation and size of the teeth while maintaining their thin size and create an unforgettable change in your appearance. Veneers can be no-prep veneers or the ones that need about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm of teeth to be polished off. The no-prep veneers are still so thin that they can be compared to the thickness of contact lenses. If the patient qualifies for the no-prep veneers, there will be no tooth reduction but the impressions will be taken and sent to the lab to fabricate the new set of veneers.
What’s the Difference Between Composite and Porcelain Veneers?
With both composite and porcelain veneers, the basic premise is the same. The only difference is that composite veneers are made from resin composite, while porcelain veneers are made of porcelain. Generally, porcelain is the standard choice for dental veneers because it makes the veneers more durable and longer lasting and there won’t be any staining of the porcelain, contrary to the composite veneers that can easily stain. In general, porcelain veneers last 10 to 15 years, whereas composite veneers don’t last as long and have lost their place in cosmetic dentistry as they do not duplicate the shade, translucency, strength, and life-like shape and color of teeth like porcelain veneers do.
What Issues Can You Fix With Dental Veneers?
If you want a new smile, dental veneers can help to fix a range of issues. Here are just some of the issues you can remedy with dental veneers:
- Stained, discolored and grey or yellowing teeth
- Misaligned or slightly crooked teeth
- Small gaps between your teeth
- Broken or cracked teeth
- Teeth with different lengths
- Overly pointy teeth
- Small, peg-looking teeth
Are Dental Veneers the Best Option?
Ultimately, the best option varies based on your exact situation. For instance, if you have discolored teeth, you may be able to address the issue with teeth whitening, but that is not a permanent solution like veneers. Additionally, teeth whitening cannot help teeth that are discolored due to nerve damage, trauma, or tetracycline staining. In contrast, dental veneers can help to correct that issue. Ideally, you should speak with your dentist about your particular issue and they can help you decide if veneers are the right option.
Can You Fix Crooked Teeth With Dental Veneers?
In a lot of cases dental veneers can be the perfect solution to fix crooked teeth. They reshape the teeth in a way that makes them look straighter. However, they don’t work in all situations. If you have extremely crooked teeth, you may need to explore orthodontic treatment rather than veneers or in conjunction with veneers.
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Veneers?
Typically, you start with a consultation where you talk with the dentist and decide if dental veneers are right for you. Then, the dentist takes a mold of your mouth and some diagnostic records to help determine the shape of your teeth and whether you are a good candidate.
On the day of veneer preparation, once they are prepped and the impressions of the prepared teeth have been taken, they will be covered by temporary acrylic veneers and then you return to get the actual porcelain, lab-made veneers.
Ready to bring back your smile? Then, contact us at Buckhead Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today.