Having a perfect smile is important for everyone and if you find yours less than appealing, there is a solution. Trying to avoid smiling in public places simply because your uneven teeth would make you look bad is just unfair.
Thankfully, the field of dentistry has come up with the perfect cosmetic procedure that can make your smile look perfect even without natural teeth. The solution we are talking about is dental veneers and in this article, we will tell you everything about them.
What are Dental Veneers?
To put it in simple words, dental veneers are thin shells made using various materials to look exactly like teeth. These can either be porcelain veneers or composite veneers and you can get either of them based on requirement and preference.
Typically, a dental veneer is used to cover up a tooth that has been chipped or broken. You can also use it to hide stains or worn enamel which can happen naturally.
Cosmetic dentistry has grown advanced enough that the look you get after getting a dental veneer procedure is just like natural teeth set.
Do Veneers Look Like Natural Teeth?
This is the most important question that any patient looking to get porcelain veneers or even composite veneers would want to know about.
Given how much technology is involved in creating them and how precise the process is, you get veneers that look exactly like a normal tooth.
Even temporary veneers can have a great look to it, as long as you have a good cosmetic dentist to place it in your mouth.
Whether it is porcelain veneers or composite veneers, the shape can be customized to your specific needs easily so that it fills any gaps and unevenness perfectly.
How Do Dental Veneers Work?
The best thing about dental veneers is the simplicity of their function. Regardless of whether you are getting porcelain veneers or composite resin veneers, the application process is the same.
The veneers create a wafer-thin layer on top of your existing teeth and to do that, your cosmetic dentist removes less than half a millimeter of material off the affected tooth if needed. This allows you to maintain proper tooth pressure and makes replacements easy.
Skilled cosmetic dentists like Sunny Isles Dental also have the ability to install partial veneers if needed and seamlessly match them with the existing color of your teeth for the perfect look.
Different Types of Veneers in Cosmetic Dentistry
While you can find a variety of materials being used for tooth preparation in cosmetic dentistry, the two most common types of veneers are traditional porcelain veneers and composite resin veneers.
The reason we called porcelain veneers traditional is that they have been in use for uneven tooth alignment the longest. They also have a high shine and reflection to them, just like your natural teeth would have.
However, if you are strapped for cash, you have the option of getting composite resin veneers as well. These are cheaper but do not have the same long life that porcelain veneers do.
Where Can I Get Dental Veneer Procedure?
Given how simple the entire process of getting veneers is, you can get it done from most dental offices. However, the more finesse the job has, the more beautiful your teeth would look.
To do that, you can go to a proper cosmetic dentist. To make sure you are getting the best option before your treatment begins, you can ask for before and after pictures of patients from your dentist.
You may also want to look into the procedure that each dentist follows. Some may require proper treatment planning and local anesthetic use while others may be able to do it without any aids. Choose the option that gives you the most confidence that you will end up with perfect teeth once you are done.
When is the Right Time to Get Veneers?
There are a number of different situations where you may need to get yourself a composite veneer installation. Most common situations where people opt to get porcelain dental veneers or even ones made using composite material is when they face situations like:
- a traumatic injury
- a noticeable discoloration of an entire tooth
- chipping or breaking of one or more teeth
- seeing a gap develop between teeth from improper gum cleaning
- other issues
Any of these issues can stop you from enjoying a beautiful smile and call for veneer placement in your teeth.
Advantages of Getting Composite or Porcelain Veneers
There are quite a few advantages that you can get from installing a porcelain veneer or even a composite one. While they vary for each patient depending on why they are getting it, here is a list of things that can be common for all patients:
- The procedure is quite painless and is almost not invasive at all
- There is very little shaping involved in veneers as compared to other dental implants which means your tooth structure is not at risk in any way
- They are a great alternative for people getting crooked or broken teeth fixed as you can avoid the painful and expensive procedures involved in other procedures.
- Advanced products like no prep veneers require no tooth preparation at all and can be installed like a lens in your eye.
Risks of Getting Veneers Installed
Like any other dental or medical procedure, installing veneers also comes with some risks. However, these are quite minimal and cosmetic dentists tell you about it as well during your diagnostic and examination phase. Here is what you can expect:
- Removing and replacing veneers is a bit complicated since they stay on permanently. You can only remove them to get new veneers to retain a good front surface look.
- Initial days after getting a veneer installed can make your teeth feel sensitive for a few days.
- Getting other cosmetic procedures around the mouth can affect the look of your veneer.
- Getting your teeth whitened after a veneer process can be a problem as you will not be able to match colors.
Steps Involved in Dental Veneer Procedure
If you choose a good dentist like Sunny Isles Dental to get your dental procedure, you will typically be going through three stages. Here is what you can expect during each of these steps:
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Initial Diagnosis and Examination
Before your treatment can start, all dentist places start off with a diagnostic and examination phase where your oral health is examined thoroughly to determine your veneer needs.
Your dentist will examine your teeth for any dental issues that they can identify and even take x-rays if needed. This will help them gauge the type of treatment you can get and also the veneers cost. The color is also decided at this point.
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Installing Temporary Veneers
Before your dentist can go about installing any actual veneer in your mouth, the affected teeth get treated with the installation of temporary veneers.
These are made of composite materials that you place in your mouth for several days to get used to the new shape of your teeth. This also gives the dentist the time and information needed for the next stage.
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Installing the Permanent Veneers
Once you are used to the veneers in your mouth and the cosmetic dentist has finished creating your permanent veneers, you go for your third visit which is when the actual veneer placement happens.
The dentist will make all the necessary adjustments needed before examination and tooth preparation, followed by gluing the veneers into place.
At this point, you would have already decided if these are going to be porcelain veneers or composite veneers. The process also involves tooth reduction and dental cleanings as needed to prepare the area and this can cause soreness for a few days.
Typical Life of Dental Veneers
This is something that depends entirely on the type of dental veneers you are getting.
The cheaper option which is the composite veneers, do not last too long but you can replace them when needed.
However, even with that, you can use them for up to 3 years which is a lot for anyone who does not intend to use them permanently.
As for the porcelain dental veneers, the life span is much longer and usually, you can use them for up to a decade without needing replacement.
One thing that you must keep in mind for both options, though, is that if you ever get them damaged, restoration should be done immediately to avoid further problems.
If you do not get them checked after an issue, you may end up causing harm to not only your veneers but also the tooth enamel and other teeth surrounding it.
How to Take Care of Teeth After Dental Veneer Procedure
Once you have had your porcelain dental veneers installed, you will need to take good care of them to maximize their life. This will also ensure good overall oral health and will make your investment worthwhile.
Some common steps that you can include in your routine can be avoiding hard and chewy foods, protecting your teeth with a mouthguard when playing any type of contact sports, chewing on cold or inedible things, and using a retainer at night.
In addition to that, you should also focus on protecting the color of the veneer. Items like red wine and coffee can stain your teeth quite easily. It is extremely important that you avoid drinking red wine, coffee, or any other food or beverage that can cause staining and damage the normal tooth color.
Lastly, make sure that you include regular examinations in your routine, as just one visit for the treatment would not provide you with a full understanding of your condition after the procedure.
Your dentist may also recommend a visit plan to make sure you do not have any bite issues, discoloration, or any other unexpected dental issues.
For people who want to get other treatments done, it is extremely important that they discuss their treatment options beforehand to make sure there is no potential danger to their veneers or their oral health in general.
Summing Up
As you can see, installing and taking care of veneers is not complicated at all. The choice of a dentist may be the only key difference in your experience with veneers. We strongly recommend choosing Sunny Isles Dental as they offer excellent quality services and you can book an appointment using their online booking option. You can also call them directly on their phone for more information.