Are Porcelain Veneers Right For You?

     

Dentist Bentleigh East

Everyone wants to have a smile that leaves a lasting impression on others. While some are fortunate to have a beautiful smile with a perfect set of teeth, many have to work on achieving it.

If you have chipped, stained, broken, or gaps between your teeth, you may feel self-conscious to smile during public gatherings. It can greatly hamper your confidence levels diminishing your worth and performance.

Porcelain veneers can come to your rescue if you are looking for an effective, non-invasive and long-lasting treatment to fix your improper teeth. However, are they right for you? Let’s discuss in detail.

What are veneers?

Thin pieces of tooth-coloured porcelain are placed on the front surface of your teeth. A small part of your original teeth is removed to fit in the veneer so that the resultant teeth look like the original ones. Attaching veneers will remove the chips, stains, gaps, etc. on your teeth, giving you a beautiful and natural-looking smile.

What are they used for?

Porcelain veneers are suitable for fixing minor cosmetic problems like missing teeth, gaps, stains, and chipped or broken teeth. They are also used for fixing improperly shaped teeth, misaligned teeth, short teeth, and crooked or crowned teeth. Veneers are primarily opted to have a beautiful, radiant, and confident smile.

Additionally, veneers are used for replacing the teeth that have damaged enamel. As those teeth cause sensitivity while eating or drinking, you can choose them to cover the enamel-damaged teeth so that you don’t face problems while consuming food.

Who is a suitable candidate?

If your teeth are healthy with no internal problems but only have cosmetic issues that hamper you from smiling a confident smile, then you are suitable to have veneers.

However, if you have gum issues, experiencing pain or sensitivity and other serious problems, then you should have comprehensive dental treatment suggested by a professional dentist.

What is the process?

Usually, the application of veneers is a lengthy process consisting of an initial consultation, the making of the veneers themselves and the application of the veneers. The whole process may take 3-5 weeks.

The doctor first examines your teeth manually and by taking an X-ray. The goals and limitations of the treatment are discussed with you.

The next step is preparing your teeth to attach the veneers. The doctor will shave down your teeth so that you have a perfect fit of the veneers. The shape of your teeth is sent to the laboratory where they take 2-4 weeks to prepare the veneer set. Meanwhile, temporary teeth are fitted to you so that you don’t have a problem with shaved teeth.

The final step is the application of veneers to the teeth. The doctor will adjust the shape and position as needed and then bonding cement is applied to seal the veneers to your teeth.

Veneers might cause pain or swollen gums initially but should subside.

Factors to consider when choosing veneers

Irreversible process: while veneers give you the smile that you desire, you have to know that the process is irreversible. As the original teeth are shaved, you cannot remove them at any time. You have to always put on veneers or other crowns to get the normal look.

Cost: Compared to having braces and teeth whitening treatments, veneers are expensive. That being said, the procedure is effective and long-lasting and you have minimal problems if you care for them properly.

Sensitivity: some people complain about having sensitivity issues after attaching the veneers. While they occur occasionally, it can cause discomfort and it’s important to discuss the side effects with your doctor beforehand.

Proper maintenance: You cannot remove veneers like you do with the original teeth. For instance, biting on hard objects should be avoided so that your veneers are not affected. Also, always maintain proper oral hygiene so that the food particles do not get stuck in the joints. If you develop a gum problem on veneer teeth, then treatment might get complex.

Consider veneers if you strongly desire to have a flawless smile and look to boost your confidence. Think about the limitations and weigh the pros and cons to make an informed decision. Also, choosing a professional and qualified doctor is necessary as the process is irreversible. Get a beautiful smile without any worry.