How to decide if dental veneers are suitable for you

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are a thin coating of a special clear material bonded over the front of the teeth with special dental cement. Dental veneers are one-time procedures which cannot be reversed. It is permanent. These are used in cosmetic dentistry to make the smile of the patient more beautiful. There are mainly two materials used for veneers, which is porcelain and composite resin.

Since veneers are attached to the frontal surface of the teeth, they do not affect the position of the teeth. They only hide or camouflage the dental issues which are bothering you while smiling. So, even when you are wearing dental veneers, the issues are not removed, only they do not appear to be so. So for example if you have crooked teeth, they will remain crooked, except that they will look straight to other people. Therefore, Dental veneers will be put on your teeth once the dentist has ascertained that real dental issues have been addressed adequately and will not affect your dental health.

Why do you need veneers?

A pleasant smile is a major part of personality. The first impression you make on people is the outer look, which includes a happy smile. We inherit a set of teeth over which we have no control, but we can control how our teeth look at to a certain extent. When you want to hide little imperfections of the tooth, like a chipped or cracked tooth, stained teeth, a tooth which shorter than other adjoining teeth, teeth which are shorter in comparison with the visible gums.

With advanced technology, the use of veneers is on the increase. Many people who want to have a better smile than what they have now consult their dentists for having dental veneers put for them. Since dental veneers are permanent, it is advisable to consider the factors that make you the right candidate to have them.

You can opt for dental veneers if you have any of the following conditions.

Stained teeth

Teeth get stained because of drinking coffee in excess amounts. Smoking is also one of the factors that stain your teeth. Red wine and other foods that have artificial colouring also plays a part in staining your teeth. The enamel that has been stained can be whitened but this bleaching of teeth is not long lasting. Dental veneers is a very good solution for the problem of yellowed or browned teeth due to food because these are stain resistant, so you can have a permanent solution for your stained teeth with dental veneers.

Cosmetic and aesthetic dental issues

If you happen to be a sports enthusiast, or play games professionally, you encounter situations where accidentally your tooth gets impacted. It may develop chips or cracks which does not look nice when you smile. Even when there is an accident where your face gets injured, you may get injuries in your teeth. These injuries and traumatised teeth can be corrected with the help of dental veneers. They are hidden from view permanently. Many people have gaps between their teeth which is not a dental issue but does make the smile less than perfect. Some people have misaligned teeth which work very well for eating but do not look great for a beautiful smile. All of these problems can be corrected with dental veneers and the wearer is rewarded with a smile that he wants.

Enamel substitute

Dental enamel, the uppermost surface on your teeth is very strong. But it can and does get damaged. When you scrub it beyond a limit, or eat very acidic foods, the enamel gets thinner and eaten away. Some people have acidic reflux disease, which also affects enamel on your teeth. Enamel is one of the substances which cannot be grown again if once depleted. Dental veneers are considered to be one of the best ways to replace lost enamel due to enamel erosion and enamel abrasion on your teeth.

Cost

Dental veneers are expensive. Depending on the location and the type of policy you hold, the prices vary. The cost will also depend on how many teeth will have veneers and how much restoration is needed. Dental veneers are cosmetic and usually does not cover your dental insurance. This is why when you opt for dental veneers, you must keep the cost in mind and discuss it with your dental health professional.

‘One time procedure’

Dental veneers are permanent. You cannot get them removed without dental injury once they are attached. That is why you need to spend time thinking about how you want your teeth to look and give your ideas and convey your thoughts about the look of your teeth that you want exactly in so many words to your dentist so that you get what you want. Once they are attached, you cannot change them.

Sensitivity

Dental veneers may make your teeth sensitive to cold or hot initially for a few days. It goes away after a few days. Your dentist will give some dental products to get relief from increased sensitivity in your teeth. You can control it with some over the counter products also.

Procedure of getting dental veneers attached

The whole business of getting dental veneers start with discussing your problem with your dentist. After you have given thought to opting for dental veneers, it is best to discuss at length all your views and your desire about how you want your smile to look with dental veneers on. When you agree with your dentist about the procedure, the first step toward getting veneers is scrapping of a little enamel from your teeth. This step is irreversible. Then the dentist will take impressions of your teeth to get the veneers made. Till you get your veneers from the lab, some dentists give temporary veneers to patients so that the interim period is covered up. This step also will tell you how you like your veneers and if you want any change. After the veneers come from the lab, the temporary veneers are removed and permanent veneers are attached with a special dental cement which are bonded for life.

A little soreness and discomfort are normal, which goes away in a few days.

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