Everything you need to know about dental veneers

Porcelain veneers are considered a rather simple dental restoration option. This helps improve your smile as well as solve your dental issues such as broken, cracked, uneven, or discolored teeth. Let’s find out about dental veneers to understand their pros and cons as well as their aftercare. 

What are dental veneers? 

A veneer is a thin porcelain laminate with a shape and color similar to those of natural teeth. It is placed on the front surface of your tooth to help cover any flaws, boosting your confidence every time you smile. Porcelain veneers will be created and adjusted so their size, shape, and color best resemble your natural teeth. This is to make your new teeth as natural-looking as possible. 

In fact, dental veneers are usually made of two common materials – porcelain and resin composite. However, porcelain veneers are preferred for several reasons as follows: 

• Better anti-stain and anti-discoloration properties 
• High longevity, possibly from 10 to 15 years 
• A more natural appearance that blends well with your real teeth 

The advantages of porcelain veneers 

Porcelain veneers offer the following benefits: 

1. The color of porcelain veneers can “match” that of natural teeth perfectly 

Without paying close attention, people around you may not know you have dental veneers at all. These veneers can “imitate” the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth perfectly. 

2. Porcelain veneers won’t make you feel uncomfortable 

At first, as your dentist still has to readjust your veneers, these may feel “odd” to you. But fret not! You will quickly get used to them without experiencing any discomfort or obstruction in your mouth afterward. 

3. Porcelain veneers won’t affect your other natural teeth 

Most of the time, all of your original teeth won’t be affected by dental veneers. The super-thin veneer will be bound to the tooth surface whose enamel has been filed down a few millimeters and polished. This is unlike dental crowning, a procedure in which the tooth is trimmed into a smaller size to attach porcelain or metal crowns on top. 

The problems with porcelain veneers 

After getting porcelain veneers, a few mild side effects, such as increased tooth sensitivity – may occur. Nonetheless, these problems will improve by themselves over time. 

The cost of porcelain veneers may be higher than that of dental crowns or dental fillings (both inlays and onlays). You can check out the cost of dental veneers at different dental clinics. However, be sure to make your decision based on service quality, facilities as well as a team of experienced dentists for the desired results. 

When should you get porcelain veneers? 

Porcelain veneers can help you with many “concerns” regarding anesthetic problems or actual oral health issues. Issues that can be improved by dental veneers include: 

1. Whiten stained teeth 

If you are not satisfied because your teeth are currently not white, shiny or they have uneven stains, porcelain veneers can help even out your tooth color. 

Learn more: What causes teeth to turn black and how to whiten them?

2. Replace eroded teeth 

If you don’t practice frequent oral care, your teeth may wear out and become sensitive to temperatures, resulting in sharp pain with eating too hot or cold foods. Porcelain veneers are the solution to beautifully even teeth in a short period of time. 

3. Cover broken, cracked teeth 

Your teeth may get broken or cracked with great forces, which affects the look of your teeth and mouth. If that is the case, consider getting porcelain veneers to improve your teeth.

4. Fill the gaps between teeth 

Porcelain veneers also help cover the gaps between your widely-spaced, misaligned teeth, bringing you a better-looking set of teeth.  

5. Make your teeth straight, even 

Uneven, misaligned teeth will shake your confidence every time you smile. Porcelain veneers can help improve that problem. 

Learn more: How to fix misaligned front teeth?

Dental veneer procedure 

First off, your dentist will talk to you and examine your oral health before proceeding with the veneer bonding procedure. The staff at the dental clinic will make impressions of your teeth to create the veneers in the most appropriate shape and size. A small portion of the tooth enamel will be removed to prepare for veneer placement.

To ensure the most natural look for your teeth, the dentist will try the veneers on your teeth to test for the fit and color match. Finally, after adjustments have been made, the veneers will be secured in place, be polished, cleaned, and roughened with a specialized adhesive. 

What are the requirements for receiving porcelain veneers? 

If you want to get porcelain veneers, your oral conditions should meet the following requirements: 

• Healthy teeth and gums with no history of dental fillings 
• No habit of frequent teeth clenching as it can make your veneers cracked, chipped or broken. If you have the habit of grinding your teeth regularly, your dentist can give you a mouthguard to use at night. 
• Your enamel layer is thick enough so that even after being filed down to make room for veneers, your teeth aren’t severely affected. 
• Dental veneers won’t help with severely misaligned teeth. If that is the case, your dentist will recommend you other alternatives 

Do porcelain veneers last forever? 

Dental veneers don’t last forever and need to be replaced after some time. The longevity of a veneer is about 7 to 20 years, depending upon the performance of the dentist as well as how good your oral maintenance and hygiene practices are. 

Porcelain veneer aftercare 

To optimize the durability of porcelain veneers, keep in mind the following in your daily life: 

• Avoid hard foods such as toast, grains, and hard candies, etc. 
• Slice foods, such as apples, pears, and chocolate into small pieces before eating  
• Do not bite your fingernails 
• Be careful when playing sports 
• Clean your teeth and mouth every day as directed by your dentist.

Some cases at The East Rose Dental

Learn more: How much is dental veneer?