It’s not rare to flip through a magazine and have it be chalk full of beautiful celebrity smiles. They all must have good genes, right? Like the rest of us, celebrities were not born with perfect teeth; their shiny white smiles often come from porcelain veneers. However, before you jump to it, we have some pros and cons to consider if you are looking into getting veneers.
What Is A Tooth Veneer?
A picture-perfect smile is brought to you with pieces of porcelain so thin you can barely see them. These are molded to fit your teeth and attached to the front of the tooth. They are used for a variety of reasons: fix broken or chipped teeth, brighten teeth discolored from fillings and root canals, shape teeth and to fix gaps between teeth. A porcelain veneer can last up to 15 years before they need to be replaced.
Types of Veneers
Porcelain: These are the most natural looking for your teeth. They are personally fit to each tooth fitting the exact size and shade of the natural teeth. They are the most expensive.
Composite: Similar to the porcelain type, the composites are made from the same thing as cavity fillings. Composites usually address small chips or gaps in teeth. They are not as durable as porcelain veneers.
Instant: This type of veneer is already made and can be easily applied to broken or missing teeth. They do not match your exact teeth.
Removable: These are a combination of porcelain and instant. These can be removed if you need dental work on the underlying teeth. They are the least expensive type but do not last as long as the other types of veneers.
The Pros of Veneers
A gorgeous smile increases your confidence making you ready to face any challenge. You cannot usually tell any difference between the veneers and your teeth. One great thing is your teeth are bonded together with the veneers meaning you don’t have to face the dreaded dentist drill. They also come in various levels of white so you select the perfect shade for you. Veneers are also an excellent treatment for teeth with enamel erosion, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry while being aesthetically pleasing at the same time.
The Cons of Veneers
Once you select the shade you want, veneers will not change color. This means your natural teeth will change color over time so you might have an uneven smile. If you stay on top of this with regular visits to the dentist you should have no worry. Porcelain is delicate and might chip and crack. If you bite your nails or grind your teeth, your teeth will be more prone to chipping. A veneer doesn’t keep your teeth from decaying so you might have to have crowns or root canals after the tooth decays under a veneer. Steer clear of veneers if you have gum disease or weak enamel.
Dental Veneer Procedure
If you decide to take the plunge, know the process is not instant. Your dentist will want to make impressions of your teeth and do X-rays. The veneer is made in a lab and takes about a month.
The dentist will need to remove one millimeter of your enamel to apply the veneer. This might sound drastic, but dentists remove much more than a millimeter during a crown or filling. Each tooth will be polished and etched so the adhesive will properly bond. The veneer is then coated in a cement and placed directly on the tooth. A special light cures the cement. Then you’re ready to shine!
Contact Your Dentist
The first step toward your bright smile is contacting your dentist. All of us at Oso Marguerite Dental in Mission Viejo, California will help you make the final decision. Contact us today to make an appointment.
